Monday, June 05, 2006
More on Akaka Bill
The Akaka Bill follies are heating up again. Today there are two excellent pieces on the Akaka Abomination. Duncan Currie, of the Weekly Standard, points out both the historical lies that the pro-Akaka bunch are using and the nasty ramifications of the Bill:
John Fund, who has been covering this story for the Wall Street Journal, notes that the Akaka Bill is not very popular in Hawaii:
It what would appear to be an unrelated issue, the chairman of the Hawaii Republican Party, Sam Aiona, had a letter to the editor in today's Honolulu Advertiser:
Except when it comes to the Akaka Bill, that is. In that case neither party wants any input from either the public at large or their own rank-in-file. A little over a year ago at the Hawaii County Republican Convention, I was told by the Lt. Governor, Duke Aiona (Sam's cousin), that there is no room for discussion on this topic within the Republican Party. As far as the Lingle Machine is concerned it's been "decided."
Both the Democratic and Republican have decided this issue for the people of Hawaii in some smoke filled back room. This is hardly the "clear choice" as promised by Aiona. In fact, like the Democrats, the Republicans intend for this issue to be settled in Washington D.C. Their strategy is to use highly paid lobbyists with assistance by junkets to D.C. by Lingle and the OHA nomenklatura all paid for by the long suffering Hawaii taxpayer.
The Aiona's and Lingle are all for citizen being "involved" in the political arena. Unless, of course, said participation results in the rejection of their pet projects. Like the Democrats, the current Republican leadership wants the public's involvement limited to sign waving and convention "unity." "Unity" meaning toeing the Party Line on Akaka. To the current leadership of the Republican Party, the damage which the Akaka Bill will cause to both the state and national social fabric is far less important than their political ambitions.
The Party of Lincoln is now, in Hawaii, the Party of Apartheid.
* The lies and half-truths about the Mexican-American War never end.
START WITH THE REVISIONIST HISTORY. The Akaka bill largely stems from the 1993 Apology Resolution, in which Congress expressed its "deep regret" for the January 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, an event that led to U.S. annexation of Hawaii five years later. The Apology accused U.S. minister to Hawaii John L. Stevens of conspiring with American military forces and "non-Hawaiian" insurgents to topple the monarchy. It further hinted that the interests of American sugar planters were central to the conspiracy....
This raises serious constitutional questions. Everyone agrees that Congress can recognize existing Indian tribes. But can it create a new "tribe" at the behest of a particular ethnic lobby? Probably not; and if so, only in the rarest of circumstances. Surely there are Hispanic separatists in the American Southwest who would love to get their own sovereign "nation" as reparations for the Mexican War. [*] The Akaka bill would encourage them to press their case.
John Fund, who has been covering this story for the Wall Street Journal, notes that the Akaka Bill is not very popular in Hawaii:
In Hawaii, debate over the ramifications of the Akaka bill has been stifled, as almost all of its elected officials have signed on to it for fear of being branded insensitive or racist. But none of them want to test the measure by consulting the state's voters directly on the Akaka bill. A Grassroots Institute poll last week showed some two-thirds of Hawaiians oppose the bill, including a near-majority of Native Hawaiians.
It what would appear to be an unrelated issue, the chairman of the Hawaii Republican Party, Sam Aiona, had a letter to the editor in today's Honolulu Advertiser:
The two major-party conventions this past weekend demonstrated the importance of having citizens involved in politics and taking time to know the issues and the candidates. I can assure you the Hawai'i Republican Party will do its share to offer candidates who will give the voters a clear choice on election day, and we will continue to work hard to ensure a strong two-party system in Hawai'i.
Except when it comes to the Akaka Bill, that is. In that case neither party wants any input from either the public at large or their own rank-in-file. A little over a year ago at the Hawaii County Republican Convention, I was told by the Lt. Governor, Duke Aiona (Sam's cousin), that there is no room for discussion on this topic within the Republican Party. As far as the Lingle Machine is concerned it's been "decided."
Both the Democratic and Republican have decided this issue for the people of Hawaii in some smoke filled back room. This is hardly the "clear choice" as promised by Aiona. In fact, like the Democrats, the Republicans intend for this issue to be settled in Washington D.C. Their strategy is to use highly paid lobbyists with assistance by junkets to D.C. by Lingle and the OHA nomenklatura all paid for by the long suffering Hawaii taxpayer.
The Aiona's and Lingle are all for citizen being "involved" in the political arena. Unless, of course, said participation results in the rejection of their pet projects. Like the Democrats, the current Republican leadership wants the public's involvement limited to sign waving and convention "unity." "Unity" meaning toeing the Party Line on Akaka. To the current leadership of the Republican Party, the damage which the Akaka Bill will cause to both the state and national social fabric is far less important than their political ambitions.
The Party of Lincoln is now, in Hawaii, the Party of Apartheid.
* The lies and half-truths about the Mexican-American War never end.
# posted by Grant Jones @ 5:28 PM 
