Hawaii's Political Future

Can A Moderate Coalition Arise?

for Price of Paradise radio show

7/27/97

Over 40 years ago the Democratic Party overthrew the Big Five connected Republicans who controlled the state. They created greater economic and social equality for groups left out when sugar was King. But the world has changed. The global economy is different, and we are more developed and urbanized. Unfortunately today's Democratic leaders seems incapable of responding to Hawaii's current social and economic dilemmas.

The `98 election brings this issue of ineffective leadership and political paralysis to a head. My "Right to Rule" essay sought to stir up many groups, and motivate them to join together in building a New politics.

To the younger Democrats in the legislature, and grassroots activists, my message is: "step up and challenge the existing leaders, who habitually resist real change." Continuing to "go along" means you may not be here soon.

To average citizens, especially those who are disillusioned and disgusted with those in office, my message is "Pay attention folks." Watch out for Trojan Horse candidates who, posing as "mainstream conservatives" and spouting great-sounding slogans, really have a hidden radical program you may not want to buy.

Under the guise of "restoring morality" in America, Mainland promoters of religious orthodoxy have promoted a long list of initiatives in legislatures and school boards around the country. They sought to restrict freedom of expression, and curb reproductive rights and AIDS and sex education programs. They tried to amend the U.S. Constitution so that the First Amendment's church-state separation provision is eviscerated. They have worked to reshape public education, introduce prayers into public schools, and censor curriculums that discuss civil rights, environmentalism, history and social issues. They tried to strike down civil rights laws being applied to gay men and lesbian women. They supported efforts to abolish the Departments of Education, Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, and Energy as well as the office of the Surgeon General and the National Endowment for the Arts. They urged ending government funding for family planning, the arts, public broadcasting and legal services to the poor.

It should be obvious from this partial list of objectives that Republicans cannot be automatically lumped into the Religious Right. Likewise many devoutly religious people, or deeply conservative ones, do not subscribe to the Right's overall political goals. But it is naive to ignore the existence of a sizable movement of people organized to use government to enact their version of religious orthodoxy on the rest of us.

Ralph Reed, until recently head of the Christian Coalition's political wing, has advocated a "stealth campaign" strategy. He encourages activists to run for school boards, city councils, and other low-profile posts without announcing their affiliations or full political programs. Typically, campaign organizers work through church directories for "get-out-the-vote" efforts and distribute flyers in church. They mount highly effective campaigns with little visibility to opposing candidates or the general public.

Groups such as the Christian Coalition and Focus on the Family have worked diligently on grassroots organizing and media-based fundraising. In 1994, the Christian Coalition's grassroots network disseminated 35 million voter guides, 17 million Congressional Scorecards and phoned 3 million voters. The Christian Coalition claims that their constituency of religious conservatives accounted for 33 percent of the national vote.

Some Republicans seem unaware of or blissfully ignore the Christian Coalition and other religious rightists. They should know that the Right has openly said they intend to take control of state and county Republican Party organizations. They are doing well. A Campaigns and Elections survey taken in the summer of 1994 found that the Religious Right possesses "dominant strength" in 18 state Republican parties, while in 13 other states, their strength is "substantial."

Our 1998 election promises to be messy. Big money and organizing help will be coming in from the Mainland from the Religious Right, and to a much lesser degree, from national gay-lesbian groups such as the Human Rights Campaign.

I hope that a moderate coalition — which includes Republicans — will emerge that will fosters a clean and well informed discussion of the many economic, social, and environmental issues challenging the Islands today. Otherwise we will be engulfed by the emotional issue of same-sex marriage, and the next four years will be a continuing war in the legislature and courts between polarized groups and special interests.