Meet Six Candidates For U.S. Senate
by Christine Stuart | September 27, 2009 11:56 AM
Posted to Election 2010
At a senior living facility in West Hartford on Saturday morning, six candidates challenging U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd gave what were billed as their first stump speeches.
Hosted by the Federation of Connecticut Taxpayers five Republicans and one candidate seeking the nomination of four minor parties made their pitches, shook some hands, and met each other for the first time.
Former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons said he shook hands with Peter Schiff and said, “I recognize you from TV.” Schiff, the broker and financial pundit who entered the race a few weeks ago after receiving more than $1 million in campaign contributions, said he too recognized Simmons from television.
“He’s a very smart, capable guy with a lot to offer on economic issues,” Simmons said of Schiff.
Schiff, who was the first candidate to speak Saturday, talked about why he entered the race. Having admittedly advised his clients for years to invest their money abroad, Schiff said he’s concerned about what Washington has been doing to the American dollar.
Rather than simply observing as a spectator and trying to protect his 15,000 clients from what’s happening in Washington, Schiff said he decided maybe it was time for him to go to Washington.
“Instead of trying to protect them from the misguided policies in Washington, maybe it’s time I actually went to Washington and tried to do something about it,” Schiff said.
When speaking about the current economic crisis and the housing bubble that burst, Schiff said, “all of this is the consequence of the stimulus under Bush.” He said the only difference between President George W. Bush’s stimulus and President Barack Obama’s stimulus is that Obama’s “is bigger and is going to do more damage.”
Schiff said Bush embraced the rhetoric of a free market system, but in reality was “the Herbert Hoover of our generation.”
While Schiff played up his financial expertise and downplayed partisan politics, Simmons talked about his military experience, his opposition to taxes, and his disdain for the policies of the current administration.
“I didn’t spend 20 months in Vietnam and I didn’t spend 10 years in the CIA fighting communism during the Cold War to come back home to my country, to come back home to my home state, to see the principles and the values for which we fought now put aside,” Simmons said.
Simmons, who has embraced the tea party movement, said he added a tea bag April 15 to the copy of the U.S. Constitution he carries around in his pocket. He said one of the biggest problems the country faces is apathy and now with the tea parties and town halls people are engaged in the political process.
“I’ve have done my best to oppose higher taxes, which I say take away our freedom,” Simmons said.
John Mertens, the Trinity College engineering professor who is seeking the nomination of the Green, Libertarian, Independent and Connecticut for Lieberman Party nominations spoke about how sending candidates from the two major parties has not solved “our huge, long-term” problems.
“I offer you calm, intelligent, nonpartisan problem solving,” Mertens told the crowd. He went on to talk about his solutions for Medicare, Social Security, and the national debt.
He advocated for getting rid of the alternative minimum tax and increasing the top tax rate as the only way to deal with the national debt.
None of the first three candidates even uttered Dodd’s name until state Sen. Sam Caligiuri spoke.
Caligiuri, the youngest of the candidates and perhaps the underdog on the Republican side, received several bursts of applause during his speech.
He talked about his career in politics in Waterbury and Hartford, his family, his desire to push for Congressional term limits, and the need to defeat Dodd.
“I believe Chris Dodd has failed us by not doing his job,” Caligiuri said, adding that when Obama was asked the reason for the economic crisis during his first few weeks in office, the president cited the housing bubble and the credit crisis.
“He’s right,” Caligiuri said, “but when he said what he said, he was indicting Chris Dodd’s failed leadership as chairman of the Senate Banks Committee.”
He said Dodd stopped doing his job because “he came to take our vote for granted a long, long time ago.”
“We’re not just going to hit Chris Dodd hard and on the issues, but I’m willing to take us into the future and away from what Chris Dodd has come to represent, which is career politicians that have been in power for so long and with so little accountability that they literally think they can do and say anything they want and still get themselves re-elected,” Caligiuri said. “I’m telling you, my friends, as sure as I’m standing before you this morning, that I am committed to changing Washington in ways career politicians simply cannot do.”
Caligiuri who said he has refused to take campaign contributions from political action committees, said he knows he is looking at a huge fundraising disadvantage. However, he said the power of his message ultimately will win him the Republican nomination. He said he knows he needs money to get his message out to voters, but also that the positive response he received Saturday from the breakfast crowd was “not the exception, it was the rule” thus far in his travels across Connecticut.
Both Simmons and Caligiuri said they understand the political process better than the other GOP candidates and have been seeking delegate support to win the Republican primary, while self-funded candidates like Linda McMahon have been blanketed the state with advertising.
McMahon was accompanied Saturday by lobbyist and campaign strategist Patrick Sullivan of Sullivan and LeShane.
McMahon spoke mostly about what motivated her to get into the race and she didn’t appear to stray far from the dialogue in her campaign commercials where she talks about going through a bankruptcy and rebuilding her company.
McMahon, the World Wrestling Entertainment CEO who stepped down from her post last week to focus on the race, said, “I’m running because I think our country is at a point of crisis.” She talked about the mounting national debt, how difficult it is for businesses to get credit, and the recent headlines about a New York terrorism plot.
“I can’t sit on the sidelines. I’ve got to jump into the fray. I’m not a career politician, I’m a business woman,” McMahon said. “I built a company from the ground up, from sharing a desk in the basement to having a company now that’s traded on the New York Stock Exchange. I know what it’s like being a young entrepreneur who can’t get credit. I’ve been there when your house gets auctioned off.”
In closing her speech Saturday, McMahon — who decided to spend her own money to fund her campaign — said she will accept donations from supporters of $100 or less, and that she will not accept money from political action committees.
The final candidate to speak Saturday was Tom Foley, the Bush administration’s former ambassador to Ireland who also was one of Bush’s top fundraisers. According to his bio, Foley also served in Iraq as director of private-sector development for the coalition provisional authority. He oversaw state-owned businesses and developed a plan to re-establish a private-sector economy.
Foley walked through the doors Saturday just in time to hear McMahon before he spoke about getting his son ready to go to college. As his son was filling out college applications last winter, Foley said it occurred to him that his son may not have the same opportunities that were available to prior generations.
“That got me thinking about making sure our government gets this right,” Foley said.
A Greenwich businessman with a degree in economics, Foley jumped into the race in June.
He said he’s not as worried that the “wheels are going to come completely off” the financial and economic system, but is more concerned that the current administration thinks last November’s election was a mandate to push through its policies.
“There’s a movement toward a Europeanization, if you will, of this country, which I don’t think the voters support and I certainly don’t support,” said Foley, who served as ambassador to Ireland from 2006 until January of this year.
He said he’s been traveling all around Connecticut this summer and believes there’s a gathering storm to make change in 2010.
As Foley left the senior living facility Saturday, he turned to Republican Party Chairman Chris Healy and asked if there were anymore candidates getting into the race.
Healy shook his head and said, “Not that I know of.”
Comments (21)
Posted by: Tom Kelly | September 27, 2009 2:06 PM
Why would I vote for someone who has clearly been "on the sidelines" and not voted in elections.
Doctors take the Hippocratic Oath and Politicians take the Hypocritic Oath.
Posted by: John Mertens | September 27, 2009 2:14 PM
Great article, Christine!
One correction: I am seeking the nominations of four parties: the Independent Party, Green Party, Libertarian Party, and Connecticut for Lieberman Party.
All my best,
John Mertens
Posted by: John Mertens | September 27, 2009 2:22 PM
One more thing: yesterday I argued for a combination of actions necessary to deal with the national debt: a cap on discretionary spending, and real pay-as-you-go legislation for entitlements and taxes, in addition to eliminating the alternative minimum tax and increasing the top tax rate on incomes about $250,000.
Thanks again!
John Mertens
Posted by: John R. McCommas | September 27, 2009 6:58 PM
What a great bunch of Republicans. I do hope we don't waste all this talent.
I would like those denied the nomination for senate to run for Congress or Governor or other Constitutional office.
I want Simmons for Senate. He was the best congressman this distict ever had.
Posted by: ctkeith | September 27, 2009 7:20 PM
John R. McCommas,
I'm really glad you pointed out that the candidates in this story are Republicans.I clicked on all the links provided to the websites and couldn't find the word Republican on any of them.
Why do you think that's the case? Are they embarassed to be members of the Republican Party or have they just forgotten?Could you explain that to me?
Posted by: John R. McCommas | September 27, 2009 7:28 PM
Connecticut is a commie state as I am sure you are well aware. People fall for the old class envy trick every time round here.
2010 might be different.
When you are in the other party in a One Party State, you don't advertise your R.
We can see the shambles the Democrats have left this state in. If I were them, I would put my R out front.
Posted by: ctkeith | September 27, 2009 7:36 PM
Wow,
A Commie state?
Last I heard it was the wealthiest state per capita of the 50 states.
How is it possible that a Commie state can be so successful at capitalism that it outdid all those other red,white and blue states at their own game?
Posted by: Jay | September 28, 2009 1:24 AM
I love it a Communist State. These guys are so far out of the mainstream that communism to them is moderation for the rest of us. I am glad they got together to celebrate markets and free enterprise. They have done well in this country wouldn't one argue. So well that they believe that the rest of us working Americans are going to fall for all this lack of vision. The only one to offer any possible alternative to problems was the guy running for 4 different parties. I can say, thought, I don't think the Green party is really for him. The rest are practicing the same divisive politics they always practice. It is one thing to criticize Dodd, no arguments here. But if that is all they can do then none of them have a vision to offer. Americans want more than just obstruction politics, or fake proposals disguised as alternatives. We want genuine answers and so far I have seen nothing new proposed for these problems that have been festering for generations. Off real ideas and people will listen. That is a strategy for a campaign.
Posted by: jim | September 28, 2009 7:28 AM
It seems like Mr. John R.
is dillusional by thinking 2010 will be any better for his R's.
The party has morphed into the Sarah Palin fear mongering party which should make it a fringe party at best.
Can't wait for 2010!!!!
Posted by: John Mertens | September 28, 2009 2:16 PM
Just to make sure it's clear (given the comment above), I am not a Republican. And I am not a Democrat. I'm a problem solver. I'm running for the Independent Party, and also seeking the nominations of the Green, Libertarian, and Connecticut for Lieberman Parties.
Best,
John
Posted by: AndersonScooper | September 28, 2009 3:45 PM
John, putting aside your dream of seeing your name on the ballot four times, let's be clear as to what you are.
1). An also-ran.
2). A narcissist.
3). An unrepentant Naderite.
4). An ally of the GOP.
Have fun with your fantasy, but please think about stepping down from CT for Lieberman, as you're about to cost us that ballot line for 2012. Thanks.
Posted by: ctkeith | September 28, 2009 4:10 PM
Anderson Scooper,
You forgot,A very bad Joke in that list.
At least the other 5 admit the reason they were at this event was because they're seeking the Republican nomination.
Merten won't even man up to the obvious.
Posted by: jim | September 29, 2009 7:35 AM
Hey John R.
Just read an article about the tea baggers in the rolling stone and this nazi element goes back to the Clinton health care plan from there to the 2000 election non recount to swift boaters to now!
All orchestrated by the republican party and (this year the CEO of Columbia Health care) along with right wing morons like Frank luntz and the ex Lt Gov of NY.
In the article they talk about buzz words, Socialists Gov. take-over and your favorite COMMUNISTS!!!
John you have gotten your 15 mins of fame now your time is up GOOD BY!!!
Posted by: Frank DeCrescenzo | September 29, 2009 8:17 AM
Perhaps they don't mention the party on their site is because this race should be about policy, not party. It is about CT and the country. Try to forget what letter is printed after a name and focus on what needs to be done.
Posted by: jim | September 29, 2009 9:36 AM
Funny but they seem to run from that R.
But feel free to call people that have a D after thier name, Liberals, Lefties, Socialists, Communists or anyother derogatory word the REPUBLICAN PARTY asks them to use.
How does that have anything to do with the betterment country and state???!!!
Posted by: ctkeith | September 29, 2009 11:17 AM
Frank,
I'm Proud to be a member of the Democratic Party (Notice the last two letters,Thats the name of our very proud Party not the Democrat Party the wingnuts keep repeating).
The People at this event new dam well that those in attendence at this event would be almost 100% Republicans and were there for exactly that reason (even Merten new that no matter what he says).None of them are candidates for the Senate yet they're all still in the process of trying to get their names on the ballot as the Republican nominee.You'd think when you went to their websites they'd at least mention the Party they expect so much from should they win the Republican Nomination.
Posted by: Zefram | September 30, 2009 12:40 PM
Did anyone else notice that Schiff was the only one to speak honestly, from the heart?
Most voters seem so easily duped by clearly manipulative politicians.
New rule to electing good Congressmen: look for the honest one. You can tell because they don't sound like they're reading from a script. Wise up people.
Go Schiff!
Posted by: Josiah | October 1, 2009 9:54 PM
Peter Schiff is obviously the only one who is sincere and will actually push through real, major change. Any one else will merely nibble at "pork" and "earmarks" and other miniscule side problems. Only Peter Schiff will starve the beast. Only Peter Schiff is truly doing this for the American People and the people of Connecticut, and not doing it to add another trophy to his shelf.
We can't afford, politically or financially, to elect another carbon copy politician. We have to send someone radical to Washington. The time for toying around is over. The brakes of this careening government need to be slammed on, full force, immediately.
Posted by: Chris | October 4, 2009 11:34 AM
The time for divisive politics has passed. Wake up people!
While you can choose to vote based on a party you will be ignoring the problems we face TOGETHER.
I see the bickering in the comments above and hope that others will wake up to the system of control that is in place.
"A house divided against itself cannot stand."
Posted by: Mike | October 4, 2009 7:10 PM
Let's face it. Schiff is the only one who would bring real change to Washington. He speaks from the heart and he has forgotten more about economics than any of these other candidates know. I don't doubt the sincerity of the other candidates, but for those who research Peter Schiff and research economics and monetary policy the choice is crystal clear.
Posted by: Fever | October 23, 2009 2:01 PM
These comments are so hateful and illogical that they are ridiculous. Laughable in fact. My personal favorite is the person accusing Professor Mertens of being a "Naderite" and "An ally of the GOP." Yes, we all know about the huge Ralph Nader wing of the Republican Party. Perhaps it is really the Illuminati that are pulling Prof. Mertens strings. Wow.