Thursday, March 28, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Obama takes sides in Hawaii’s contentious Senate Democratic primary
By Malia Zimmerman @ 7:30 PM :: 7080 Views :: Democratic Party, Politicians, Obama

Obama takes sides in Hawaii’s contentious Senate Democratic primary

 PALS: President Obama endorses U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz in contentious Democratic primary

by Malia Zimmerman, Watchdog.org, April 2, 2014

HONOLULU — President Barack Obama has inserted himself into Hawaii’s most contentious political race, endorsing U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz over challenger U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa in the state’s upcoming U.S. Senate election.

“I have worked with Senator Schatz on the issues that matter to Hawaii. Brian’s deep commitment to the people of Hawaii and his effective leadership are why I believe it is important to return him to the Senate,” Obama said.

The president pointed to Schatz “protecting Hawaii’s values and fighting every day on behalf of middle-class families” as why he is the “right choice.”

The president’s endorsement was followed by a second endorsement for Schatz by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Appointed to the seat by Gov. Neil Abercrombie after U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye died, Schatz has served since December 2012. Schatz’s appointment was extremely controversial in Hawaii politics, and set off a war in the Democratic party.

That’s because from his deathbed, Inouye wrote a letter that was hand delivered to Abercrombie by two of Inouye’s key supporters, asking the governor to appoint Hanabusa to his Senate seat. The governor, who refused to release the letter to the media, ignored the request, instead selecting Schatz, his lieutenant governor, to fill the vacancy.

Inouye, the second-longest serving U.S. senator in history after Robert Byrd of West Virginia, and a Medal of Honor-winning World War II veteran, brought billions of dollars in “pork” to Hawaii during his nine terms in the U.S. Senate, particularly when he served as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Inouye was widely recognized as one of Hawaii’s most important economic engines.

 A FAVORITE: U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye died in 2012 after nine terms in the US Senate.

Many Democrats said Abercrombie disrespected Inouye’s last wish by appointing Schatz. Inouye’s former staff and key advisers, along with Hanabusa’s supporters, teamed up to ensure she takes the seat this November that many Democrats say was rightfully hers to inherit.

In a statement, Schatz said the president’s endorsement is an “enormous boost” in a critical election and called himself one of the president’s “most steadfast allies” in the U.S. Senate.

“President Obama personally understands Hawaii’s values and is committed to making sure that everyone who works hard and plays by the rules is given a fair shot.  I will work together with President Obama to continue moving Hawaii and America forward,” Schatz said.

 CHALLENGER: U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, D-HI, received Obama’s endorsement in 2010

Obama, who spent much of his childhood in Hawaii, has inserted himself into local politics a number of times, most recently in December by endorsing Abercrombie in his race for a second gubernatorial term.

Peter Boylan, spokesperson for Hanabusa, said this election will be decided by the people of Hawaii, and pledged Hanabusa will continue to listen to the public’s concerns and work hard to provide them the representation they expect and deserve.

“Colleen is a skilled legislator with a proven record of leadership and bipartisan accomplishment and has always fought to provide for Hawaii’s hard working families while protecting our values,” Boylan said. “The people of Hawaii are looking forward to their first opportunity to vote for their next U.S. senator and we believe they trust Colleen to continue fighting for them in the U.S. Senate.”

Hanabusa has been endorsed by two retired Democratic governors, George Ariyoshi and Ben Cayetano, and former U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, but is still trailing in her fundraising numbers with a $1.6 million campaign war chest compared with Schatz’s $3.4 million to date.

---30---

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

808 Silent Majority

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federalist Society

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Homeschool Association

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Smokers Alliance

Hawaii State Data Lab

Hawaii Together

HIEC.Coop

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Moms for Liberty

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

Investigative Project on Terrorism

July 4 in Hawaii

Kakaako Cares

Keep Hawaii's Heroes

Land and Power in Hawaii

Legislative Committee Analysis Tool

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

Malama Pregnancy Center of Maui

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Military Home Educators' Network Oahu

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Christian Foundation Hawaii

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

No GMO Means No Aloha

Not Dead Yet, Hawaii

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Oahu Alternative Transport

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

OurFutureHawaii.com

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

PEACE Hawaii

People vs Machine

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

P.U.E.O.

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

ReRoute the Rail

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

Robotics Organizing Committee

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Sink the Jones Act

Statehood for Guam

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

UCC Truths

US Tax Foundation Hawaii Info

VAREP Honolulu

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii

Yes2TMT