by Andrew Walden
Mainland gay activists are doing everything they can to make sure that Hawaii remains under the thumb of child-molester advocate Rep Joe Bertram (D-Kihei) and HB444 sponsor Rep Blake Oshiro (D-Aiea). The multi-million dollar Washington, DC-based Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund names Oshiro as one of its “featured candidates” pumping mainland gay money into Oshiro’s campaign as he faces off against a strong Democrat Primary challenge from Honolulu Councilmember Gary Okino, a firm opponent of HB444.
The Okino vs Oshiro showdown is seen by many observers as a test of whether Democrat legislators have pushed the gay agenda too far beyond their political base. If Okino drives the incumbent out, it could be taken as a sign that gay marriage is politically dead.
Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund is also directing contributions to Rep Joe Bertram. Bertram showed up in a Maui court on April 1, 2009 to ask for leniency for convicted child predator Mark Marcantonio leading to national headlines and a denunciation from Marc Klass, father of Polly Klass. Bertram also employed convicted child molester Leon Rouse as a legislative aide for the 2007 legislative session. In 2008 Bertram was the only legislator to vote against increased penalties for predators who solicit sex with children on the Internet.
According to the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund website, “Hawaii’s LGBT community needs more voices like Joe’s in the state legislature.”
Charles Wolfe, President and CEO of Gay and Lesbian Victory, also got his start in gay politics by targeting children. He played a central role in the so-far unsuccessful effort to force gay scout masters on the Boy Scouts.
The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund seek to impose its chosen candidates upon communities nationwide. Oshiro is one of only four “featured candidates” for Gay Victory in the Western US. They are backing over 100 local candidates nationwide.
Ironically, Bertram’s primary opponents include Netra Halperin, who touts her legislative experience working as a “Legislative Aide, State Rep Rida Cabanilla, 2009 session” which means that Halperin worked under Cabanilla’s office manager, who just happens to be the very same Leon Rouse earlier employed by Bertram. Kihei may be the only place in America, if not the world, where voters will be given a choice between two competing molester-connected candidates. (BTW Kihei’s State Senator Roz Baker hired molester Rouse for the 2006 legislative session as a committee aide.)
Kihei’s only molester-free HD 11 candidates are Democrat Johanna Amorin and a strong Republican contender, George Fontaine.
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