What They Are Saying

News Release from www.GOPHawaii.com

HONOLULU - The Hawaii Republican Party released the following statement in advance of this weekend's 2012 Hawaii Democrat State Convention:

"With party stalwarts blindly opposing any non-Democrat elected official or candidate, fighting Laura Thielen's candidacy, and attempting to silence a party resolution to restrict elected officials from giving endorsements prior to the August 11th primary, the local Democrat party has embarked on a self-destructive path with its divisive political agenda. As they participate in the political games circulating through the Hawaii Democrat party, one thing is clear: the local Democrats aren't interested in building bridges to benefit the people of Hawaii.

This is why it is no small wonder that party spokesperson Chuck Freedman continues to focus on areas of disagreement instead of places where there is common ground. As the mouthpiece for the Hawaii Democrat party, his repeated attacks on the Hawaii Republican Party and Gov. Lingle make one thing abundantly clear - democrat candidates are not interested in working across the aisle, even if it will benefit the people of Hawaii.

"Moreover, Freedman's and Hawaii Democrat leadership's destructive behavior has allowed their message of divisive politics to seep down into their own ranks to the point where their own Democrat candidates can't even agree on a debate schedule!

"In fact, the Democrats cancelled a debate and in an outrageous and unprecedented move, candidates for the Hawaii Democrat Party were told that if they want to address party delegates, they would have to pay for it - by the minute. Honolulu Civil Beat reported that state Democrats were imposing a $500/minute speaking fee for candidates wishing to directly address the delegates. Unsurprisingly, the only candidate to accept this offer was Mazie Hirono, who plopped down $4,000 to address the convention delegation for a mere eight minutes. Even more unsurprising, today it was announced (by Mazie herself) that the outrageous rule regarding the speaking fee was rescinded. This is par for the course with the Hawaii Democrat Party. Time and time again they are forced to go back on their own rules and decisions."

"The party's controversial revenue-collecting decision prompted Mazie's primary challenger Ed Case to say that this about his fellow Democrat:

'The most important election this year, certainly one of the most important in a generation, and for our party - at its state convention - the principal candidates are not speaking as a result of her refusal. But, she had time to pay $4,000 to buy herself some time to speak to the convention.'

"Case went on to describe Mazie's actions as 'pathetic.'

"When Mazie responded by blasting Case's focus on 'personal pettiness' as a 'divisive' approach, Ed Case refocused by publishing poll numbers showing Hirono and Case in a virtual dead-heat tie. This of course prompted the executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), Guy Cecil, to call their fellow Democrat's poll results 'highly questionable.' The DSCC is endorsing Mazie Hirono and had contributed $40,000 to her campaign.

"Nowhere in this exchange did any candidate or the party address how their agenda will benefit the people of Hawaii. Unfortunately for the people of the Hawaii, the party's message isn't going to change for the better -- in fact it's going to get a lot more divisive beginning with this weekend's Democrat State Convention, where the public can expect nothing more than the same, tired attacks, empty rhetoric and no solutions. The people of Hawaii deserve better, and they can have it better. It just won't come from the (D)ividing Party."