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Jim Himes, the incumbent Democrat squared off in a debate against his Republican opponent Dr. Michael
Goldstein, and his Independent Party opponent Mr. Ben Wesley.
The debate was moderated by Mr. Gregory Stroud, editor of CTExaminer.com. Mr. Stroud restored my faith in journalism, asking relevant questions, not fact-checking the answers, keeping a sometimes-raucous audience under control and gently but firmly forcing the candidates to follow the time limits.
The debate was educational. Regardless of one’s political views, a voter could watch this debate and make an informed choice on what candidate he or she preferred.
The debate began with Jim Himes coming out swinging, listing his accomplishments while attacking Dr. Goldstein for being a MAGA Republican who attended the Trump rally at Madison Square Garden.
Dr. Goldstein did not take the bait, but merely listed the disastrous results of policies enacted by the Biden administration that Jim Himes rubberstamped – inflation, crime, illegal immigration and traffic.
Mr. Wesley, an engineer from Norwalk, emphasized the need for a ceasefire in Gaza and believes Israel is being too harsh on Gaza’s residents, a point Dr. Goldstein vigorously rebutted.
But it was Mr. Wesley who raised the most interesting issue that has not been discussed during this campaign season, the Ukraine War. Mr. Wesley thought it was ill-advised for the United States to be encouraging Ukraine to invade Russian territory pointing out this increases the chance of a nuclear war. He challenged Jim Himes to respond.
Jim Himes gave an erudite response and rattled off a list of sophisticated weapon systems required to defeat Russia that only a fellow member of the Intelligence Committee could fathom. But he never directly addressed Mr. Wesley’s concerns:
Is our support of Ukraine invading Russian worth the risk of a nuclear war?
Isn’t it reasonable that if Russia’s territory is threatened by armaments we supply to Ukraine, that Russia could attack us?
As Mr. Wesley pointed out (and I paraphrase): “What is the point in having a debate about inflation, illegal immigration and housing prices if we are greatly increasing our chance of a nuclear war?”
Game, Set, Match Mr. Wesley.
The low point of the debate occurred when Dr. Goldstein was asked about illegal immigration in which he gave the standard Trumpian response that we must secure our borders and deport illegals involved in violent crime, sex trafficking and drug sales.
Jim Himes viciously responded by pointing out that Dr. Goldstein was accused of illegally dumping dirt to level the area around his swimming pool. Himes further asserted that Dr. Goldstein had used illegal immigrants to build his swimming pool and dump the dirt.
Most other candidates would have lost their cool by Dr. Goldstein just laughed and pointed out that Greenwich had verbally agreed to allow him to dump this dirt but then changed their mind. He further pointed out that the swimming pool was thirty years old, and no illegal had ever worked on it. Then with another laugh, he pointed out that Democratic Governor Ned Lamont chopped down 200 trees without a permit and Himes said nothing about this.
Jim Himes looked like a fool.
But because of a coin toss, Jim Himes had the last word and with his face etched in anger, viciously attacked Dr. Goldstein stating:
“You can only state that [Harris and Himes] are a risk to democracy if you are not truthful. … His candidate [Trump] has called for a day of dictatorship, suspending the Constitution, has said that the media is [sic] the enemy of the people… Our Constitution is at risk by this abnegation and disdain… that is shown by Donald Trump and Michael Goldstein.”
I found this odd. I had never seen Congressman Himes in person but have seen him numerous times being interviewed on television. Dr. Goldstein and I watched his debate twice with his previous opponent Jayme Stevenson, the Republican nominee in 2022. He always seemed in control and not prone to hyperbole. After all, the Congressman is a Harvard educated Rhodes Scholar.
So why did he behave like this?
Maybe his internal polling shows that Dr. Goldstein is within striking distance? But Jim Himes has raised over $2,000,000 while Dr. Goldstein has raised around $50,000. Furthermore, Jim Himes has easily vanquished better financed and experienced opponents in the past – Dan Debicella, Steve Obsitnik and Harry Arora. And Fairfield County is Bluer now. Compound this with the fact that Donald Trump is at the top of the ticket and lost Fairfield County by 36% in 2020 – it would appear unlikely that he perceives Mike Goldstein as a threat to his seat.
So why the vitriol? Why not be gracious?
The answer is scary. Congressman Himes does not view Dr. Goldstein and Trump supporters as fellow Americans. He views them as “deplorables,” like Hillary Clinton. He views them as “garbage” as recently stated by President Biden. You can see it in the anger on his face. And having elected officials despise those who disagree with them is dangerous for not only Fairfield County, but also the country.
Fairfield County would be much better served by a tolerant mensch like Mike Goldstein.
