HIRONO TEAM ATTACKS JOB-CREATING SMALL BUSINESS ORGANIZATION

News Release from www.Lingle2012.com

HONOLULU - Campaign Manager for the Linda Lingle Senate Committee, Bob Lee, released the following statement today.

"In a recent email to supporters, Mazie Hirono's campaign manager blasted the U.S. Chamber of Commerce - the world's largest business organization with more than 3 million member businesses - for formally endorsing Gov. Lingle's campaign for U.S. Senate. In her statement, Mazie's team once again called the organization 'a powerful right-wing mainland special interest group.' This charge is disingenuous and even laughable coming from Mazie, considering just a few months ago she proudly touted to the people of Hawaii that the Visit USA Act which she co-sponsored was backed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

"With jobs and the economy being the most important issue facing our state and nation, the U.S. Chamber is backing a candidate that is focused on the issues and has a plan to get our economy back on the right track. Meanwhile, Mazie Hirono's only focus is on personal attacks and the D.C.-style, insider politics she knows so well. Her latest missive is not surprising to the people of Hawaii, as it is simply the latest example of what the public knows already: Mazie puts partisan politics before people.

"Mazie believes it is more politically expedient to try and disavow her past expressions of support for this group now that they formally endorse Linda Lingle's bipartisan record. The people of Hawaii know that Gov. Lingle is the only candidate who is committed to developing bipartisan solutions which will grow Hawaii's and our nation's economy.

"The choice couldn't be more clear for the voters of Hawaii: A candidate who blindly follows the dictates of her national party's agenda and repeatedly recites their misguided personal attacks; or Gov. Linda Lingle who is a courageous, independent leader who always puts Hawaii's "people first" ahead of blind political party loyalty," Lee added.

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