I also think that primaries challenges can be a good thing!

I disagree with your characterization of her.

The U.S. senator has wrongly been accused by her colleague from Hawaii of fomenting religious bigotry.

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, Democrat of Hawaii, is under attack.

She stands for women, both as a champion of a woman’s right to choose and as a defender of those who have been sexually assaulted; she fought Trump and the Republicans in defense of the Affordable Care Act, against the Muslim ban and the Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination. She is being attacked because she has become one of the most eloquent and effective voices of the values Indivisible Hawaii cherishes.

The attack comes not only from rightwing ideologues, it now comes from Hawaii’s own member of the House of Representatives, Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat who on Friday announced her candidacy for the presidency. Her article in The Hill accuses Democratic Party members of the Senate Judiciary Committee of “fomenting religious bigotry” and “weaponizing religion” during their questioning of nominee Brian Buescher to the U.S. District Court in Nebraska.

snip//

Members of Indivisible Hawaii and other groups have visited Sen. Hirono’s offices, as well as those of the other members of Hawaii’s Congressional delegation, dozens of times since President Donald Trump’s Jan. 20, 2017, inauguration. We know firsthand that she has championed our beliefs because we have talked with her and her staff many times. We have followed her votes, watched her on television, read her Facebook Page and emails, and attended her town halls.

snip//

We witnessed what Gabbard did at, during, and after the Democratic Party Convention in 2016 to attack not Trump or the Republicans, but former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party. Since Trump’s election Gabbard’s silence in response to Trump’s efforts to dismantle the institutions of our democracy has been deafening and stands in stark contrast to Sen. Hirono’s forthright, clear and courageous actions to fight the racist, misogynist, and authoritarian actions of Trump and the GOP. The Hill article mimics her past behavior — why does she choose to do this again?

More..
https://www.civilbeat.org/2019/01/why-is-tulsi-gabbard-attacking-mazie-hirono/

Gabbard is not potus material.

just not in her political views. And Trey Gowdy likes her.

Do you like that?

The article below was published in Jan. 2016.

https://www.ozy.com/rising-stars/tulsi-gabbard-a-young-star-headed-for-the-cabinet/62604

She’s not “reflexively partisan,” says Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, with whom she’s worked on privacy bills, among other topics; thanks to her service (necessary nod) and in part to those Obama disagreements, he says, his party has somewhat of a soft spot for her. “If ever a Republican won the White House,” he muses, well … “there’s a tradition of picking someone from the other side for one of your slots.” Gabbard, he figures, might be ideal.

SNIP

About 10 years ago, Gabbard violated some of the tenets that now make her so popular as a Democrat with an EMILY’s List endorsement to boot — she was neither pro-choice nor pro-gay-marriage, and in fact fell in line with her erstwhile Republican father. “She’s definitely distanced herself since,” says Jacqueline Lasky, professor of state politics at the University of Hawaii. “She wouldn’t have been successful otherwise.”

SNIP

Fittingly for her narrative, though, the explanation for her changed ideology feints us back onto familiar territory — the military. It was, she says, the days in the Middle East that taught her the dangers of a theocratic government “imposing its will” on the people. (She tells me that, no, her personal views haven’t changed, but she doesn’t figure it’s her job to do as the Iraqis did and force her own beliefs on others.)

I’m glad that she addresd the question of the evolution of her own beliefs, and not just her public policy position.

Did she explain why she, unlike Mazie Hirano, didn't support Hawaii's marriage equality bill in 2013?

How many young Democrats would have felt like she did in 2015? To have been personally opposed to marriage equality in 2015? No one who should be representing EVERYONE.

Anyone can make a self-serving video. This is too little, too late.

Come to think of it, you're the first person I've seen who says they were impressed by it.

In 2016 the Hawaiian LGBT caucus did not support her re-election campaign.

Among other things, Gabbard has been faulted for refusing to get involved in Hawaii's 2013 campaign for marriage equality -- though Mazie Hirano, among others, offered support for it.

https://mauitime.com/news/politics/heres-why-the-hawaii-lgbt-caucus-doesnt-support-rep-tulsi-gabbards-reelection-campaign/

“Fittingly for her narrative, though, the explanation for her changed ideology feints us back onto familiar territory–the military,” states the article. “It was, she says, the days in the Middle East that taught her the dangers of a theocratic government ‘imposing its will’ on the people. (She tells me that, no, her personal views haven’t changed, but she doesn’t figure it’s her job to do as the Iraqis did and force her own beliefs on others.)”

So after all this time, Gabbard still personally opposes same-sex marriage, but won’t say or do anything politically about it? This puts her campaign statement on same-sex marriage that we cited above in an entirely different light.

SNIP

This really burned Golojuch. “Just so you know the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) does not speak for the entire or even a majority of the LGBTQ community, especially after they endorsed Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth’s republican challenger for the US Sentate [sic],” Golojuch added in his email to Tsuji.

“The HRC has been out of step with local politics and needs,” Golojuch told MauiTime. He also said he felt insulted that “a straight person” would try to school the Caucus on who they should support. And, he added, the Caucus had “reached out to” Gabbard during the 2013 Legislative Special Session on same-sex marriage, only to be rebuffed. “We were told that Congresswoman Gabbard doesn’t get involved in state politics,” he said, though he noted that Representative Colleen Hanabusa and Senators Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz had sent people to testify in support of the same-sex marriage bill.

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/01/19/hawaii-news/sen-kai-kahele-challenges-tulsi-gabbard-for-her-seat/?HSA=bd6d499c27b0df3d8e80e24f6f035c9a540ee384&fbclid=IwAR36_laUWzmlvTOP7jlxKSsN_nHawPDupuEYPQI18lc9afxVuauDpAwRUW8

supporting Gabbard’s presidential run."

That link msongs provided down thread got us through the pay wall.. Thank Goodness!

Mahalo for all your help on this Issue, pnwmom!

A big innocent-looking, wide-eyed grin should be here.

alas, all I have is

Here's hoping you get the better Rep you deserve, Cha. Gabbard should be put out to pasture.

Things(facts) are finally coming out about TG that we were hoping would have before the midterms( in the debates she wouldn't show up for).

All I saw were signs.. which mean nothing without substance.

Best of Luck to Kai Kahele!

Link to tweet

Glad she's not facing just softball questions.

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/01/19/hawaii-news/sen-kai-kahele-challenges-tulsi-gabbard-for-her-seat/?HSA=bd6d499c27b0df3d8e80e24f6f035c9a540ee384&fbclid=IwAR36_laUWzmlvTOP7jlxKSsN_nHawPDupuEYPQI18lc9afxVuauDpAwRUW8

supporting Gabbard’s presidential run".

Mahalo for the link, msong

That's pretty much how I feel, too, so far.

To what Dean said, I'd add her post election meeting with Trump in the Tower.

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/01/19/hawaii-news/sen-kai-kahele-challenges-tulsi-gabbard-for-her-seat/?HSA=bd6d499c27b0df3d8e80e24f6f035c9a540ee384&fbclid=IwAR36_laUWzmlvTOP7jlxKSsN_nHawPDupuEYPQI18lc9afxVuauDpAwRUW8

doesn't hold back.. Thanks Dean!

Best of Luck to Kai Kahele!

http://kaikahele.com/

Thanks

Why Is Tulsi Gabbard Attacking Mazie Hirono?

The U.S. senator has wrongly been accused by her colleague from Hawaii of fomenting religious bigotry.

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, Democrat of Hawaii, is under attack.

She stands for women, both as a champion of a woman’s right to choose and as a defender of those who have been sexually assaulted; she fought Trump and the Republicans in defense of the Affordable Care Act, against the Muslim ban and the Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination. She is being attacked because she has become one of the most eloquent and effective voices of the values Indivisible Hawaii cherishes.

The attack comes not only from rightwing ideologues, it now comes from Hawaii’s own member of the House of Representatives, Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat who on Friday announced her candidacy for the presidency. Her article in The Hill accuses Democratic Party members of the Senate Judiciary Committee of “fomenting religious bigotry” and “weaponizing religion” during their questioning of nominee Brian Buescher to the U.S. District Court in Nebraska.

snip//

Members of Indivisible Hawaii and other groups have visited Sen. Hirono’s offices, as well as those of the other members of Hawaii’s Congressional delegation, dozens of times since President Donald Trump’s Jan. 20, 2017, inauguration. We know firsthand that she has championed our beliefs because we have talked with her and her staff many times. We have followed her votes, watched her on television, read her Facebook Page and emails, and attended her town halls.

snip//

We witnessed what Gabbard did at, during, and after the Democratic Party Convention in 2016 to attack not Trump or the Republicans, but former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party. Since Trump’s election Gabbard’s silence in response to Trump’s efforts to dismantle the institutions of our democracy has been deafening and stands in stark contrast to Sen. Hirono’s forthright, clear and courageous actions to fight the racist, misogynist, and authoritarian actions of Trump and the GOP. The Hill article mimics her past behavior — why does she choose to do this again?

More..
https://www.civilbeat.org/2019/01/why-is-tulsi-gabbard-attacking-mazie-hirono/

Daniel Akaka also

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=11696742

Combat veteran, from a politically well connected family, a sitting State Senator, young like she is. Sounds like this will be by far the stiffest challenge that she has faced, Kai has everything that she has and appears to be a progressive running in a progressive district and state. In addition, Tulsi attacked a US Senator who is a many times elected official from the state.

here for me, anyway.

She's been getting a free ride.. it's no wonder she won't debate her opponents for 4 years.

I wonder if he said behind the pay wall why he decided to challenge her?

Senator Kaiali‘i Kahele



https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/memberpage.aspx?member=kkahele

This is the Best News!

I didn't even try to access. Then down thread she gave a link and I tried that and it worked.

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=11697359

"article from star advertiser but its behind a paywall so here is the first few graphs:"

He is no virtual unknown that she can ignore. He is as well connected in the state as she is.

disingenuously attacked Mazie Hirono.. our beloved Senator

I voted for her last two opponents.. Hopefully 3rd time is the Charm!

Now she can concentrate on running for Pres.

she'll be getting facts thrown at her from all sides.

You know there are lots of reasons State Sen Kai Kehele has decided to run against her.

'bout time...let's see if she refuses to show up for debates this time.

I like Blue true's answer..

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=11697812

she'll remember Crowley never bothered to show up to debate AOC. Look at how well that worked for him.

about that.. how it wasn't ok for him but some were fine with her not debating.

What about the Republicans who we must stay focused on fighting? What about the disunity inside the Democratic Caucus this type thing sows? What about the money and resources being wasted on fighting Democrats that is needed to oppose the Republican agenda???

I have problems with Gabbard also. And I support the primary process, especially in entrenched Democratic districts where incumbency tends to otherwise become permanent by default. I welcome this primary contest. I also welcome consistency, something I sometimes see lacking here in viewpoints regarding primary challenges to Democratic incumbents.

Link to tweet

I'll pass it on to some of my Island pals. I been given to understand that "resign to run" doesn't apply for Hawaii office holders running for president

I’m looking forward to learning more about Kai. I loved his Dad. It’s encouraging that he only gets a 27% rating from the American Conservative Union and 33% by the NRA.
https://votesmart.org/candidate/167669/kaialii-kahele#.XEUapxpuihA

I think she only has to resign to run if the new office would begin before the last day in the current office, which it wouldn’t. Cobb v. State by Watanabe, 722 P. 2d 1032 - Haw: Supreme Court 1986

Anyhoo. Kai seems nice but I would like him to answer the questionnaire Ballotpedia sent him which remains unanswered, giving him a 0 in political courage. I’ll ask around!
I think I remember that he was a Republican but that in his Dad’s honor, he was asked to fill his Dad’s seat at his passing. It’s a vague memory and I could be wrong.

Hilo was a political powerhouse in Hawaii, and remains so.

Thanks so much Cha and Pwnmom upthread for all the good info. Aloha all.

on info concerning the District seat.

Aloha.

I see nowhere that Gilbert Kahele or Kai have ever been a repub.

Gil was appointed by Gov Neil Abercrombie to State Senate and Kai was appointed to his dad's seat, when he passed on, by Gov Ige.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gil_Kahele

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiali%E2%80%98i_Kahele

They both have a record of dedicated service.

It was an emotional time for sure, with Gil passing so suddenly.

Aloha no Cha.

I see nowhere that Gilbert Kahele or Kai have ever been a repub.

Gil was appointed by Gov Neil Abercrombie to State Senate and Kai was appointed to his dad's seat, when he passed on, by Gov Ige.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gil_Kahele

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiali%E2%80%98i_Kahele

They both have a record of dedicated service.