Obsitnik issues “report card” slamming Himes, who pushes back in 4th Congressional District Race

Steve Obsitnik, the Republican former Navy officer who is challenging U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, today issued a traditional “report card” on the second-term Democrat. At the end, it alleges that Himes has voted with Democrats 94-percent of the time, but the non-partisan OpenCongress.org reports that Himes has voted 90.5 percent of the time with his party, ranking 147 out of 190 House Democrats in going along with party leadership. Hime’s total of 1,741 votes is among the top 10 in the Democratic caucus for attendance.

After waiting several hours, Himes for Congress Campaign Manager Justin Myers slammed back, noting that Obsitnik missed voting while a resident of Westport and previously, in San Francisco. “Obsitnik, whose actual report card details his failing to vote in six elections since registering to vote in Connecticut, is once again desperately misleading voters by fabricating report cards.  As Obsitnik’s campaign continues to flail, he neglects to mention that independent organizations such as USA Today have called Jim a hero for joining with the the bipartisan “Brave 38” in support of a plan to reduce the deficit by $4 trillion, and this Thursday the non-partisan Concord Coalition will acknowledge Jim for his bipartisan work on the budget.”

 Here’s the Obsitnik release that started today’s sparks:

“(Norwalk, CT) With fall approaching and kids settled back at school, report cards are just around the corner. Even President Obama recently graded himself on the economy, giving himself an “incomplete.”  In that light, let’s take a look at what Congressman Jim Himes has accomplished.

In his first year in office, Congressman Himes promised he would bring 41,000 jobs to Connecticut.

Four years later, the reality is painfully opposite. Fewer people in Connecticut have jobs now than in 2009, and the country’s economic growth is at an anemic 1.7%.