Hour Staff Writer
NORWALK — Bringing their neck-and-neck congressional race to Norwalk, Rep. Christopher Shays and Democrat Diane Farrell tangled on Iraq, health care and energy at a League of Women Voters debate.
Shays, R-4, and Farrell exchanged sharp words on partisan rancor and the congressman's timeline for withdrawing American troops from Iraq. Thursday night's debate at Norwalk Community College was the second of 11 planned in the 4th District race.
Libertarian candidate Phil Maymin blasted both candidates for supporting government health benefits, backing tax incentives for energy efficiency and concerning themselves with the security of Iraqi civilians.
Gingrich is the combative former Speaker of the House who led Republicans to a majority in 2004 and will stump for Shays in coming weeks.
Pelsoi, said Shays, has barred Democratic congressmen from collaborating with him on legislation, because of the 4th District's targeted status. Democrats hope to pick up 15 House seats in November's mid-term elections to overturn a Republican majority.
Farrell replied that it is the Republicans ratcheting up partisanship in Washington, D.C.
"Democrats in Congress will tell you they have never felt shut out by the leadership as they have by the present (Republican) leadership," Farrell said. "So for Congressman Shays to portray himself as a victim is ironic."
In a debate Wednesday, Farrell questioned whether political motives played a role in his calling for an Iraq war timeline. Shays denied the charge and sought to preempt similar suggestions Thursday night.
"When she says she's not questioning my character, because she'll say that at the end, and she looks so nice when she says it, she will basically say 'Because (Shays wants) to win an election, (he) will sell our troops down the river,'" the congressman said.
Describing his feelings at five funerals for American troops killed in Iraq, Shays said "The worst thing that could happen to me is I lose an election, they lost their 19-year-old son."
Shays has called for a timetable based on the time necessary to train Iraqi troops to take over for Americans. A firm date for withdrawal could spur political progress among warring Iraqi factions, Shays said.
The announcement of Shays' timetable, Farrell countered, came not long after the Aug. 8 defeat of pro-war Sen. Joe Lieberman in Connecticut's Democratic Primary. Shays has said he was considering calling for a timeline after his 13th trip to Iraq in July, but did not make up his mind until after his 14th trip in August.
Shortly before leaving for his 14th trip to Iraq, Shays told The Hour he might back a "timeframe" for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq. That announcement, Shays said Wednesday after the debate, was made "to prepare you" for his plan.
Both Shays and Farrell said the United States should promote reconciliation among Iraqis — a notion that disgusted Maymin, who supports an unconditional pullout of American troops by July 4, 2007.
"We need to make sure that every citizen in Iraq is secure? In Iraq?!" Maymin shouted. "We're in America. We're supposed to elect representatives to secure the rights of Americans."
Staff writer Patrick R. Linsey can be reached via e-mail at plinsey@thehour.com.