Most Staples High School students are not yet eligible to vote.
But Connecticut’s 4th District congressional candidates made their cases yesterday to 120 students, from a half dozen social studies classes.
Scheduling issues prevented an actual debate between Democratic Congressman Jim Himes and his challenger, Republican Jayme Stevenson. They appeared at different times.
But both offered opening statements, and responded to written questions from the teenagers.
Himes began by noting his experience, and his accomplishments during his 7 terms in Washington. He highlighted large spending packages passed by Democrats, like the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment Act.
Congressman Jim Himes speaks at Staples High School.
Stevenson detailed her experience as Darien’s former first selectwoman, and how she hopes to change the political environment in the nation’s capital.
Questions covered a wide-range of topics, including inflation and the economy, crime, school safety and education, climate change, and energy policy.
Himes defended the Democrats’ record under President Biden, highlighting in part the American Rescue Plan while conceding that it did influence inflation.
Stevenson discussed how an all-of-the-above energy policy is necessary to combat gas prices. She said that her oil bill is $500 more this year than last.
Congressional challenger Jayme Stevenson addresses students. Event organizer Spencer Yim is behind her.
Himes was passionate about school safety and guns, promising to deliver more legislation if reelected. He said that the bipartisan gun control bill was a worthwhile step that lacked ambition.
Stevenson explained her proposal to fund school resource officers. She said she supports universal background checks, and has a pistol permit.
On the issue of education, Stevenson advocated for greater parental rights and school choice for low-income students.
Himes seemed open to late-term abortion restrictions, and said he would support returning the standard to Roe v. Wade.
Stevenson explained her pro-choice stand with “common-sense” restrictions, saying she would not support the 15-week abortion ban proposed by Senator Lindsey Graham.
On climate change, both candidates expressed the urgent need for action. Himes called it a “national security threat,” while Stevenson discussed conservation and innovative sustainability efforts.
Part of the large crowd at the Staples High School library yesterday.
Both candidates received the same final question: Despite the political tension and climate, what is one thing you respect about your opponent?
Himes pointed to his “strong working relationship” with Stevenson. He commended her for her leadership in Darien, and her anti-Trump opposition to election denialism.
Stevenson emphasized Himes’ family roots as a father.
The event was organized largely by Staples High School senior Spencer Yim, with help from both campaigns, social studies teacher Suzanne Kammerman and school administrators.
Bringing the candidates to Staples was a goal of the Your Vote Matters Club, which Yim founded. Kammerman is the faculty advisor.
“Today was an amazing opportunity to hear directly from the candidates themselves,” Yim says.
“Even though many students won’t be able to vote in this election, I hope this experience empowered them to explore, engage civically in the community, and be educated about the various issues and candidates so that they can be informed voters in the future.”
I remember in 1962 at Long Los Junior High our representative Abner Sibal and his Democratic predecessor Don Irwin both spoke to us at different times. Sibal won the election but lost to Irwin two years later. Don Irwin, who was born in Argentina and was a classmate of William Buckley, was a pro-Vietnam War Democrat. He was defeated by anti-war Republican Lowell Weiker. At the end of his life he changed his registration to Republican.
This event allowing for statements by both candidates and responses to questions posed by students and faculty is really quite wonderful and demonstrates what a high-functioning electorate, even at the high school level, should look like. No protests attempting to thwart one party or the other, respectful discourse . . . I am so encouraged!
It helps when both candidates seem like grownups
And as I recall, Weicker as a Republican Senator broke ranks with Nixon over Watergate, bailed on the Republican Party and as CT Governor (Independent) initiated the 1st CT income tax which began the state’s long slide. I remember seeing him speak at Staples as a student when he 1st ran for Congress.
Lowell Weciker, like Don Irwin, was on the wrong side of his party, as the GOP coalesced around conservatives. He lost election to Joe Lieberman, a Democrat who was more conservative than he was. In college, I was president of my college’s Young Republicans at Northeastern University, a state where liberal Republicans still reigned. In the 1968 election, we did not endorse a presidential candidate but I resigned when Nixon won the election and being a liberal Republican seemed untenable.
If there existed a FOX NEWS back then, Nixon would have probably finished his term. As a side note, I was at the House Judiciary Committee, sitting in the 13th row behind Connie Chung from 6:30 to 6:45. I waited five hours in line to spend 15 minutes inside.
Fox News had no raison d’etre back then because the three networks were reasonably objective in their reportage. Editorially they had their biases but that was OK because they new how to keep their opinions and facts separate.
Hello everyone.
I’m dropping in to leave a note for your community. I grew up in upstate NY (Rochester) and was not far from there for medical school. I was a 3rd year Med student nearby … just across the Long Island sound at SUNY Stony Brook. After a near-fatal car accident, my career in medicine was cut short. I drove through New Haven to get a used car in MA
What brings me here is this post:
https://06880danwoog.com/2022/05/10/staples-grads-taunts-spark-viral-reaction/amp/
Keep your eye on this kid. This is not just harmless banter. I’m an Autistic woman and only found out this past year, and over 90% of us are sexually assaulted, and 49% experience that 10 or more times. I am with the 49%. We can struggle with reading social cues and are prone to getting hurt, lured, taken advantage of, violated, manipulated, talked into things that we don’t want to do, subjugated, conned, and bullied, etc. The guys that hurt us have THE EXACT ATTITUDE THAT IS EVIDENT IN THAT YOUNG MAN. Unfortunately, I have a lot of experience in the sexual assault department, and I know what I’m seeing here. This narcissistic attitude and “I will take what’s mine” demeanor is shocking and frightening.
I saw his posters. I saw this video. I was a bad kid, and I was arrested numerous times. But this guy is a bit past that. He clearly has a sadistic streak, a profound deficiency in empathy or both of these. Derives enjoyment from throwing gas right into the fire of large, complex issues that often involve people who get taken advantage and mistreated and vulnerability due to uneven power dynamics (POC, women).
I am concerned for his girlfriends and date rape. I am concerned about pushing women who don’t want to have sex into situations where they are trapped and afraid and give up on fighting back. I am concerned about the behavior that will stem from this attitude that women are just slabs of meat to treat and talk to however one pleases. I do not believe that this young man can be relied on to take “no” for an answer. Consent is informed, ongoing, and can be withdrawn at any time. We need to raise our children with an awareness of and respect for that concept. Nowadays, younger guys are “stealthing” women; they remove the condom during intercourse. That stems from a misunderstanding of consent and/or a complete lack of respect for women…an attitude of “I’ll do & take whatever I want” and “if you didn’t make me wear a rubber, I wouldn’t have to do that.”
I would not willingly be alone with him in a car, room, or isolated area. This boy has been radicalized from someone or something. His parents should try to figure out where. It’s great that his family is so amazing, but that doesn’t matter since he is not following their example But he needs HELP. I hate that this is what our country has become, and much fault lies with the inflammatory media and personalities that push hate and fringe ideologies on our fellow citizens. I fear that my 2 daughters will certainly become to their 90% statistic. They don’t stand much of a fighting chance with guys like this running around.
This cannot be cast aside and excused as “just words” and definitely not admired as some virtuous act of admirable free speech. Words flow from the heart. Words are chosen in our brains. His words are amplified by his confrontational body language and the smile on his face. The huge red flag is the pattern of at least 2 situations now. Even worse, he has faced little to no accountability for his actions. I saw a few enabling attitudes as well. Guys. This needs to be nipped in the bud.
Being confirmed at a Catholic Church is irrelevant. Judas was in the church. By their fruits we know them, and no amount of works can regenerate the human heart. Only God can – and Max is (at least at this time) utterly devoid of that influence. His alleged convictions have little bearing on the >100 million women in this country. When men allow us to inflict a life-altering medical conditions, they can talk. I had 2 abortions for medical reasons including cervical cancer. Clinics don’t ask why we are there. It isn’t recorded. We are becoming like Ireland and Nicaragua…men with empathy need to examine these and do some soul searching:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/z5q5arrg60xazj2/Victims%20of%20Anti-Abortion%20%28Updated%209-11-22%29.pdf?dl=0
Please share this with his father.
God bless 💙