by Andrew Walden

Even before he signs SB232 Civil Unions, Governor Neil Abercrombie has made it clear that he doesn’t want to hear from opponents of the bill.  In a news release hailing Senate passage of the bill, Abercrombie wrote:  “This has been an emotional process for everyone involved, but that process is now ended.”

But of course the process is not ended until Abercrombie signs the bill. 

The message to shut up and sit down is not being heeded by the Hawaii Family Forum.  A February 18 HFF email to supporters reads:  

On Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 1:00 p.m., Governor Abercrombie is expected to sign SB 232 into law.  This is your absolute last chance to ask the Governor to VETO the bill.

Take a moment to click on the link below to send a message to the Governor.  Whether or not he decides to sign the bill, you can still let him know what you think.  Once you do that, call his office at (808) 586-0034 and let them know your position on the bill.  Make sure you leave your name and local address.  Ask 5-10 friends to do the same thing.

Many of you have expressed concern about this very issue.  Now is the time to do something about it.  You may not change his mind, but you have a right to let your voice be heard.

We thank each and every one of you who have taken the time to contact your legislators on this issue.  

Click the link below to log in and send your message: http://www.votervoice.net/link/target/hiff/yFBFG22R.aspx

After the HFF email was sent out, Abercrombie decided to move up the signing ceremony to Wednesday at 2PM.

Abercrombie’s unwillingness to listen to those who do not accept the idea that gay marriage is a civil right contrasts sharply with the approach taken by then-Governor Linda Lingle who spent hours meeting with and listening to persons on all sides of the issue before deciding that something as fundamental as the creation of a new family structure should be decided by the people, not imposed by government.

Gay civil unions are opposed by some of Hawaii’s Jewish and Hindu leaders, as well as elected officials and individuals with no great public religious identification, but progressive Democrats and their media have sought to paint the movement as entirely based on Christian beliefs.  Numerous allegedly objective media figures have openly stated their conclusion that gay marriage is a civil rights issue.  By so boldly refusing to consider opposing views, Abercrombie is reiterating his demonization of his opponents who he styled as “Nazi propagandists” as the theme of an October campaign address to a liberal group.

This is the same type of Abercrombie arrogance Hawaii’s pensioners are now seeing on full display.

As David Shapiro explained January 11th:  “efforts of some Democrats to obliterate religion from public life blatantly (target) Christianity over other faiths—a bias that will ultimately come back to bite the Democrats.”

---30---