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COMMENTARY By Ira
Rohter |
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When Republican
Linda Lingle decisively defeated former Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono in 2002, for the
first time in 40 years the Democrats no longer controlled the governorship.
Although former
Gov. John Waihee said the state was merely entering
"an interlude" where the Democrats were not in power for awhile,
others recognized that the Democratic Party needed to remake itself after years
of corruption, cronyism and stagnant leadership.
The public
definitely agreed with Lingle's call for change.
With the 2006
elections fast approaching, Democrats are still desperately searching for a
viable candidate to challenge Lingle.
For years,
Democratic campaigns resembled the "Tortoise and Hare" Aesop fable:
For a long time only fairly low-key activities occur, then weeks before
election day, they run a frantic sprint. While this strategy may have worked in
the past, today's voters are far less loyal and no longer willing to
automatically check off the Democrat ballot column. And a revived — and
well-funded — Republican Party, employing sophisticated turn-out-the-vote techniques,
understands that it's not the flashy, but the slow and steady,
that ultimately wins the race.
Only U.S. Rep.
Neil Abercrombie with his multiple connections has the muscle to knock the
heads that it takes, and access to resources, to put together a modern campaign
machine. And he's already said he won't seek the governor's seat.
The public in
general as well as disaffected Democratic activists are looking for tangible
results from their leaders, not more flowery talk and generic promises. Given
the most recent national test results showing
The party's
failure to proactively explain the gas cap bill, which has a logical rationale,
to the public has allowed the Republicans free rein to attack the majority
party as devoid of common sense. The implementation of the bottle recycling law
is so flawed that even boosters have to be apologetic.
Repeated
wrangling over budgets seems more evidence of a body endlessly stuck in
special-interest turf battles and political timidity. The public is looking for
legislators capable of solving commonly recognized problems, not more excuses
and half-steps.
Democrats need
to build credibility on issues moderates within both parties and Democratic
activists care about. That means enacting flagship programs effectively dealing
with healthcare, affordable housing, the environment, transportation and
genuine campaign spending reform. They must show they are innovators, not just
captive agents of powerful special interests.
Part of the
reason Mazie Hirono lost in
2002 was the defection of the Democratic traditional base. Old-timers did not
cast their votes, and many liberal reformers disaffected from a party dominated
by an old-boy network either sat on their hands or voted for Lingle, who seemed destined to at least shake up the status
quo.
These base
voters need to be drawn back into a truly reformed party with a solid track
record. The Republicans are likely to run attractive candidates similar to new
GOP House leader Lynn Finnegan, current House members Kymberly
Pine and Corinne Ching, or Charles Djou, Honolulu City Council member and former state
representative.
Though not the
ideal candidate, only Abercrombie would have had the ability to draw together
old-time Democrats, labor leaders and Howard Dean/Dennis Kucinich-type liberals.
With his extensive knowledge of the legislative process, the backing of Sen.
Daniel Inouye, access to Mainland funding sources, and a cooperative majority
in the Legislature, Abercrombie could have been a formidable force in reviving
the fortunes of
Since none of
the other potential candidates mentioned in the press come anywhere near
possessing these political qualifications, it looks as if the Democrats will
continue to muddle through.
Ira Rohter is
a professor of political science at the