Christopher Shays (R-CT) Bush Administration

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|spouse= Betsi DeRaismes Shays| children = Jeramy Alice Shays| alma_mater=Principia College, New York University| residence=Bridgeport, Connecticut| occupation=elected public official}}Christopher H. Shays (born October 18, 1945) is an American politician. He was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 4th District of Connecticut. Shays was the only Republican congressman from New England elected to the 110th United States Congress in the 2006 midterm elections. His loss to Jim Himes in the 2008 election makes New England's House delegation entirely Democratic in the 111th Congress. He was the most senior member of House of Representatives to be defeated in the 2008 election.Born in Stamford, Connecticut, Shays grew up in Darien, attended the Christian Science Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, and received an MBA and MPA from New York University. He lives in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport, Connecticut.Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S001144 SHAYS, Christopher H.] Retrieved October 9, 2006. Shays is a Christian Scientist; in September 2006, Shays said in an interview that he was questioning his faith.[http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/091906/shays.html Chris Shays is Fired Up, Feels Campaign Heat.] The Hill. Retrieved October 11, 2006.Urban, Peter. [http://www.connpost.com/news/ci_4341909 Shays says his faith changed: No longer follows Christian Scientist views on healing.] ''Connecticut Post'' September 15, 2006.Shays married the former Betsi DeRaismes in 1968. They served together in the Peace Corps in Fiji from 1968 to 1970. They have one daughter. Based partly on this service, Shays' Congressional successor Democrat Jim Himes recommended to President-Elect Barack Obama on December 18 2008 that Shays be nominated as Director of the Corps.http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/1208/Connecticut_Dems_endorse_Shays_for_Peace_Corps_job.html?showallAfter returning from Fiji, Shays worked briefly as a political aide in Trumbull, Connecticut. He was a member of the Connecticut state house of representatives from 1975 to 1987 before his election to Congress.In 1987, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election held to fill the vacant seat of the late Stewart McKinney. Between 1988 and 2004, Shays easily won re-election each time by margins between 34,000 and 53,000 votes.State of Connecticut. [http://www.sots.ct.gov/RegisterManual/SectionVIII/SecVIIITOC.htm Register & Manuel.] Accessed October 8, 2006.In 2004, however, Shays defeated Democratic opponent Diane Farrell, a Westport First Selectwoman, by a margin of 5 percentage points to win reelection.[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/elections/2004/ct/ Connecticut.] ''The Washington Post'' November 24, 2004. In that race, Shays eschewed the use of negative television ads, despite pleas from some Republicans to do so. [http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/11/03/house.connecticut4/ Incumbent Shays fending off Farrell.] ''CNN'' November 3, 2004. The district had once been a bastion of the moderate Republicanism that long dominated New England. However, like the rest of the state, it has swung heavily toward the Democrats in recent years. The Democratic candidate has carried the district in the last five presidential elections.In his eleventh term in Congress, Shays served on the Government Reform and Financial Services Committees.Shays and his spouse are well-known, prominent residents of Bridgeport. Prior to moving there in 2000 Shays was a long time resident of Stamford, which he had represented in the CT House of Representatives for many years prior to his election to Congress. Joe Lieberman; in the middle is Curt Welling, president of the charity (AmeriCares).]]Described in the press as a social liberal in the style of a "Rockefeller Republican," Silvers, Susan. [http://www.connpost.com/news/ci_4352324 Shays works both sides of politics.] ''Connecticut Post'' September 19, 2006.* [http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=7912667 The independent man.] ''The Economist'' September 14, 2006.* Lightman, David. Centrist Republicans Gain Clout on Capital Hill. ''The Hartford Courant'' March 25, 2001, pg. A1. Shays labels himself a fiscal conservative.Congressman Christopher Shays. [http://www.house.gov/shays/issues/list/index.htm On The Issues.] House.gov. Retrieved October 9, 2006. "As a strong fiscal conservative, I believe national service is one of the wisest and most efficient investments our government can make." ''US News & World Report'' says that analysis of Shays' voting record reveals that he is a moderate, having voted historically more often with liberals than with conservatives, although it notes he voted with Congressional Republicans 80% of the time in 2002.Halloran, Liz. [http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/060529/29shays.htm One Fierce Nor'easter.] ''U.S. News & World Report'' May 29, 2006. Shays has listed former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich as his political inspiration, saying "Newt Gingrich is my hero."Shays does know the details, and he admits that "there's a part of me that wonders if it's as well thought out as I'd like it to be." But, he adds, "I'll take almost any alternative over what we've got now." And on the day the measure passed the House, Shays was standing at Gingrich's side, paying homage with the familiar phrases. "What I had to wrestle with was, in my heart I thought I was a caring person," he said. "But I realized I was a caretaking person. And today, what we have shown is that we are a caring country." And then the unlikely convert concluded with the least likely words: "Newt Gingrich is my hero." Rant, Listen, Exploit, Learn, Scare, Help, Manipulate, Lead, The New York Times, January 28, 1996, Sunday, Late Edition — Final, Newt Gingrich, Section 6; Page 34; Column 1; Magazine Desk, 7786 words, By Jason DeParle; Jason DeParle, a staff writer for the Magazine, wrote about welfare in December.Shays is labeled by his supporters as a "maverick"Keating, Christopher. "Rep. Shays Facing His Toughest Race in 17 Years; Incumbent's Maverick Image Concerns Fellow Republicans". ''Hartford Courant''. Sep 13, 2004. pg. B.1 and "independent thinker", while conservative detractors regard him as a RINO ("Republican In Name Only").Buck, Rinker. [http://www.courant.com/news/local/northeast/hc-ne-shays0611,0,2874612.story?coll=hc-northeast-top Out Of Step.] ''The Hartford Courant'' June 11, 2006. Shays is pro-choice on abortion; and although he voted for the 2003 ban on birth-abortions, he had voted against the bill numerous times prior to that along with most other restrictions on the procedure. Seelye, Katharine Q. "House, by Broad Margin, Backs Ban on a Type of Late Abortion'. ''New York Times''. Mar 21, 1997. pg. A.1 Shays was endorsed by the Brady Campaign for his support for gun control and was one of only six Republicans to vote against banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers and distributors in 2005.Project VoteSmart. [http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=H0681103&type=category&category=Gun%20Issues Representative Christopher H. Shays (CT): Gun Issues.] Retrieved October 9, 2005.. Shays generally votes with the Democratic Party on matters affecting gays and lesbians; he has voted against the federal marriage amendment and co-sponsored a bill to overturn the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. He is one of the few Republicans to oppose amending the constitution to ban flag-burning. In 1999 he was one of 20 Republicans to vote against an ultimately failed bill to ban physician- assisted suicide. The Congressman has long been known for environmental regulations,Congressman Christopher Shays. [http://www.house.gov/shays/issues/index.htm On The Issues.] House.gov. Retrieved October 9, 2006. and was endorsed in the past election by the League of Conservation Voters.D'Arcy, Janice. 4TH DISTRICT HOUSE RACE GAINS ATTENTION. ''Hartford Courant'' Jul 15, 2004. pg. A.17 He also advocates humane treatment of animalsCongressman Christopher Shays.[http://www.house.gov/shays/issues/animal/index.htm On the Issues:Animal Welfare.] House.gov. Retrieved October 9, 2006. and ending discrimination in the workplace.Barr, Stephen. "House Bill Would Offer Domestic Partner Benefits to Unmarried Workers". ''The Washington Post''. Jul 18, 2005. pg. B.02In April 2005, he broke with most of his party over House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's alleged ethics violations. This made Shays the first Republican to say DeLay should step down from the Majority Leader post. He fought to maintain the Republican Party rule that requires an indicted leader to step down — the rule that ultimately resulted in Tom DeLay's resignation. Shays stated that he should resign, saying, "Tom's conduct is hurting the Republican Party, is hurting this Republican majority and it is hurting any Republican who is up for re-election."Associated Press. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7453969 Pressure builds on DeLay.] ''MSNBC'' April 11, 2005.Shays is a staunch advocate of a federal prohibition of online poker. In 2006, he cosponsored H.R. 4411, the Goodlatte-Leach Internet Gambling Prohibition Act.[http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.04411: Thomas (Library of Congress): HR 4411] In 2008, he opposed H.R. 5767, the Payment Systems Protection Act (a bill that sought to place a moratorium on enforcement of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act while the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve defined "unlawful Internet gambling").Shays is a member of or supported by the Republican Main Street Partnership,OnTheIssues.org. [http://www.issues2000.org/House/Christopher_Shays_Principles_+_Values.htm Christopher Shays on Principles & Values.] Retrieved October 10, 2006. The Republican Majority For Choice,[http://www.shaysforcongress.org/Endorsements/default.aspx Christopher Shays Endorsements.] Retrieved October 10, 2006. Republicans for Environmental Protection,Congressman Christopher Shays. [http://www.house.gov/shays/news/2006/june/juneglobalwarming.htm Shays, Leader on Environmental Issues, Comments on Global Warming Report.] Retrieved October 10, 2006. It's My Party Too,[http://www.mypartytoo.com/advisory_board/Chris_Shays/ Advisory Board — Christopher Shays.] Retrieved October 10, 2006. and the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus.Shays voted in favor of the 2003 Congressional resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq. In 2003, he was the first U.S. Congressman to visit Iraq after the outbreak of war and he has traveled to Iraq 14 times overall, more than any other U.S. legislator.Associated Press "Rep. Shays Calls for Iraq Withdrawal Time Frame" 24 August 2006From 2003 until August 24, 2006, Shays was a "stalwart supporter" of the War in Iraq, and of a continued U.S. military presence there.Hernandez, Raymond. [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10914FC355A0C728FDDA10894DE404482 Congressman Shifts to Favor Iraq Timetable.] New York Times August 31, 2006."Since U.S. forces attacked in 2003, Rep. Christopher Shays, a moderate Republican from Connecticut's liberal 4th District, has been a stalwart defender of the Iraq war. 'I've been carrying the bucket when it comes to the war,' Shays said in September. But facing an antiwar Democratic opponent in a tough midterm election race, Shays is starting to express reservations. " The Nation; Republicans in Blue States Rethink Iraq; Some conservative defenders of the war, facing opinion polls and antiwar challengers in November, are now talking withdrawal, Los Angeles Times, August 26, 2006 Saturday, Home Edition, MAIN NEWS; National Desk; Part A; Pg. 12, 931 words, Johanna Neuman, Times Staff Writer, WASHINGTONShays has faced a continued political challenge to his views in a district where recent polls show a solid majority of voters disapprove of the 2003 US decision to invade Iraq.University of Connecticut CSRA poll. [http://news.uconn.edu/2006/October/rel06086.html Shays Leads Farrell in Connecticut's 4th District.] October 2, 2006.On April 10, 2003, Shays told the ''Connecticut Post'' that "The war plan has been nearly flawless."Urban, Peter "Great progress,' but caution urged." Connecticut Post. April 10, 2003. "Rep. Christopher Shays, R-4, said the fall of Baghdad is 'obviously a healthy sign' but also cautioned that American and coalition forces are still at risk and the task of establishing a permanent peace remains. 'The successes to date are extraordinary. The war plan has been nearly flawless. Now we need to make sure the peace plan rises to the same level,' Shays said. 'If we are able to help them form a government quickly, we will be viewed as liberators. If we are there too long, we will be viewed basically as conquerors.' " On August 19, 2004, Shays told reporters, "We're on the right track now.""I think he [The President] has to be willing to be very candid about the mistakes we made in Iraq [to be reelected], disbanding the army, the military and the police, having — not having the State Department not being more culturally sensitive. But we're on the right track now. And, you know, you're allowed to make a few mistakes when you make these big decisions."Al-Sadr Standoff; Bush Prepping for Convention; Interview With Congressman Christopher Shays, CNN, NEWS FROM CNN 12:00, August 19, 2004 Thursday, Transcript # 081901CN.V95, News; Domestic, International, 7438 words, Don Shepperd, Christopher Shays, Robin Wright, Jeffrey Gettleman, Wolf Blitzer, Matthew Chance, Elaine Quijano, Christopher Darden On June 24, 2005, Shays said "We've seen amazing progress [in Iraq]."President Bush to Address Nation, CNN, SHOW: INSIDE POLITICS 3:30 PM EST, June 24, 2005 Friday, NEWS; International, 8635 words, Dana Bash, Suzanne Malveaux, Kristy Feig, Jamie McIntyre, Abbi Tatton, Jacki Schechner, Bill Schneider On July 27, 2005, Shays said on a local radio program that he was optimistic about the future of Iraq, and that he opposed any timetable for troop withdrawal.Video Monitoring Services of America SHOW: The Brad Davis Show July 27, 2005, Wednesday 08:00–10:00 ET NETWORK: WDRC-AM MEDIUM: Radio TYPE: Local Radio On June 11, 2006 Shays told the ''Hartford Courant'' that his position on the war was a matter of principle and he was not going to stop talking about it.Upon returning from an August, 2006 Iraq trip, Shays explained that his previous views on Iraq had changed, and Shays became the first Congressional Republican to call for a timetable for withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. Shays said he is still a supporter of the war, but supports a timetable in order to "encourage some political will on the part of Iraqis".Asthana, Anushka. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/24/AR2006082401631.html Shays Urges Iraq Withdrawal.] ''The Washington Post'' August 25, 2006; Page A03.Shays has angrily disputed media claims that he has flipflopped his position on Iraq.Clift, Eleanor "Will Voters Buy Shays's Iraq Reversal?" Newsweek. September 16, 2006. "I am not distancing myself from the President," he told the Los Angeles Times on August 25, 2006."I'm not distancing myself from the president," he [Shays] said. "I believe this is a war we have to win. The people fighting this war are doing the Lord's work." The Nation; Republicans in Blue States Rethink Iraq; Some conservative defenders of the war, facing opinion polls and antiwar challengers in November, are now talking withdrawal., Los Angeles Times, August 26, 2006 Saturday, Home Edition, MAIN NEWS; National Desk; Part A; Pg. 12, 931 words, Johanna Neuman, Times Staff Writer, WASHINGTON That same day, he told other reporters, "I totally support the war.""REP. CHRISTOPHER SHAYS (R), CONNECTICUT: Let me just be very clear.First, I totally support the war in Iraq. I believe we have to be engaged militarily, economically, politically 100 percent. I believe it would be an absolutely outrage if we left Iraq right now or prematurely. We would simply — I'm getting talk — people are talking in the background, guys." Iran Nuclear Showdown; War on 'Fascism'; Interview With Congressman Christopher Shays; Storms Strike Both Coasts; New Therapy Promising for Skin Cancer, CNN, SHOW: THE SITUATION ROOM 5:00 PM EST, August 31, 2006 Thursday, NEWS; International, 7482 words, John King, Aneesh Raman, Suzanne Malveaux, Jack Cafferty, Zain Verjee, Reynolds Wolf, Anderson Burns, Sanjay Gupta, Jacki SchechnerOn February 16, 2007, Shays voted against H. Con. Res. 63 (which disapproved of increasing troop levels in Iraq) [http://clerk.house.gov/cgi-bin/vote.asp?year=2007&rollnumber=99] claiming that "The resolution sends the wrong message to the President, to our troops, and to our enemies" [http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2007_record&page=H1637&position=all]On July 13, 2007 Shays called on Congress to approve withdrawing virtually all American troops from Iraq by December 2008. "I believe we need a timeline. I believe the president's wrong," said Shays. Shays' latest plan marks the first time he has specified dates.[http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-shays0714.artjul14,0,6873413.story]On April 13, 2008, Shays defended President Bush's Iraq policy to a town meeting in his home district, telling them, "I support the President on Iraq."[http://www.acorn-online.com/news/publish/weston/Environment-energy-initiatives-are-important_printer.shtml]Along with Representative Marty Meehan, a Massachusetts Democrat, Shays cosponsored the Shays-Meehan bill, which was signed into law as the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002. The American Civil Liberties Union "believes that key elements of Shays-Meehan violate the First Amendment right to free speech because the legislation contains provisions that would violate the constitutionally protected right of the people to express their opinions about issues through broadcast advertising if they mention the name of a candidate and restrict soft money contributions and uses of soft money for no constitutionally justifiable reason."American Civil Liberties Union. [http://www.aclu.org/freespeech/cfr/11047leg20020212.html ACLU Campaign Finance Reform Fact Sheet.] February 12, 2002. Accessed October 8, 2006 The Supreme Court upheld the law (McConnell v. Federal Election Commission).After a series of leaks from within the FBI, CIA, and NSA regarding the disputed legality of surveillance, Shays chaired a hearing on National Whistleblower Protection[http://www.house.gov/shays/news/2006/february/febwhistleblower.htm Shays Conducts Oversight of National Security Whistleblower Protections.] February 14, 2006. Accessed November 8, 2007 This hearing was largely opposed by the Republican leadership and the Bush administration, which was attempting to strip intelligence employees of whistleblower protections. The witness list included members of the military, the FBI, the CIA, and the NSA who had come forward about such issues as warrantless eavesdropping and the Abu Ghraib scandal in Iraq[http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/02/17/politics/17whistle.html?n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes%20Topics%2FPeople%2FS%2FShays%2C%20Christopher Bipartisan Support Emerges for Federal Whistle-Blowers] February 17, 2006. Accessed November 8, 2006In 2007 Shays raised his voice slightly to a Capitol Hill policeman, and touched the officer's badge to read the number for not letting tourists through a doorway. "I take full responsibility for this incident and want to ensure it does not reflect negatively on the officer in any way," he added.[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,290227,00.html][http://public.cq.com/docs/cqt/news110-000002555773.html] in October 2006]]In 2006, Shays was in "the fight of his political life",Halloran, Liz. [http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/060529/29shays.htm One Fierce Nor'easter.] ''U.S. News & World Report'' May 29, 2006. facing a strong challenge for reelection from former Westport First Selectwoman Diane Farrell, his opponent in 2004. According to ''U.S. News & World Report'', "With money pouring in from the district and from national groups (Farrell expects to raise close to $3 million, Shays a bit less) and unregulated political interest groups targeting Shays with automated calls and negative telemarketing designed as polls, this one already has the odor of ugly." According to the ''US News'' report, Farrell says that, in 2002, Shays voted in support of Bush's post-9/11 agenda 80% of the time, but other analyses of his voting record reveals that historically he voted more often with liberals.Despite the strong challenge from Farrell, Shays was re-elected to Congress in the 2006 election by a slim margin of 6645 votes (3%). Shays lost Bridgeport, Stamford, Norwalk, Westport and Weston to Farrell, but her margin in those communities was insufficient to overcome Shays's lead in the more Republican towns in the district.After the defeats of Nancy Johnson and Rob Simmons, Shays was the only Republican congressman from Connecticut, and the only Republican congressman from all of New England. In the 2008 election, Shays faced Democratic nominee Jim Himes, an affordable housing executive, businessman and community leader. Shays was defeated by Himes 51% to 48%. Shays was likely swamped by Barack Obama's landslide victory in the 4th. His defeat means that there will be no Republicans representing New England in the House for the first time in almost 150 years.Despite his loss, Shays carried all but three towns in his district, Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford; however his loss was attributed to a landslide loss in Bridgeport, the largest city in the district, where he won only 19% of the vote.*Oversight and Government Reform Committee**Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs (Ranking Member)**Subcommittee on Domestic Policy*Financial Services Committee**Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises**Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity*Homeland Security Committee**Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment*Co-founded the Congressional National Service Caucus*Co-Chair of the Congressional Arts Caucus*Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus *Co-Chair of the Nonproliferation Task Force*Factions in the Republican Party (United States)*Twenty-sixth Amendment*[http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/467/2020870.html Peace Corps Online — Special Report: Fiji RPCV Congressman Chris Shays] news clips*[http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/060616/16shays.htm 15 things about Christopher Shays] 2006 candidate profile, Biographical bullet-points*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp5f5y0fdC4 YouTube] Audio of comments on 10/11/06 regarding torture in Abu Ghraib*[http://thepolitic.org/content/view/31/38/ "The Voice of a Lone Moderate"] Christopher Shay's positions on issues*[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5030871168172279233 Iraq and Terrorism] February 23, 2003 public forum, Westport, CT, one hour excerpt

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