2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumIt's getting ugly in the Hawaii Senate Democratic Primary...
Last edited Sat Mar 17, 2012, 02:05 PM - Edit history (1)
By Chad Blair 03/16/2012
With the primary election less than five months away, Ed Case is trying to get Mazie Hirono to come out of her protective congressional bubble.
In his latest effort, he accuses Hirono of campaign tactics in the U.S. Senate race comparable to the muddiest exchange in the 2010 Democratic gubernatorial primary.
The strategy didn't work. Hirono basically continued to ignore him.
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Asked about the Compare and Decide attack, Hirono's campaign manger, Betsy Lin, said, "It's unfortunate that Mr. Case misinterpreted the kind words one of our supporters expressed about Mazie's inspirational personal story. The same spirit of optimism and ohana we're certain Ed Case brought to raising his upstanding family should be the same spirit that infuses this election."
More: http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2012/03/16/15237-case-tries-to-shake-up-quiet-senate-race/
Here is the complete letter (not subject to copyright):
To Mazie: Take Back Your Compare and Decide letter
Dear Mazie:
Today your campaign sent out an email saying that you "are the only candidate in this race that has overcome real challenges, the only candidate who knows how important a strong ohana is for success."
Do you think that? Do you embrace that?
Yes, you overcame challenges in your upbringing and I admire you for that. Are you saying that's what qualifies you to be a Senator?
I was fortunate in my Hilo upbringing. A good family, solid education, opportunity that I've tried not to waste, obligation to give back that I've tried to fulfill. I want that for all of us. Are you saying that disqualifies me as a Senator?
Are you saying I haven't faced "real challenges"? Like the challenges of raising our children, of providing for my family in this economy, of running businesses and creating jobs? (Challenges you haven't faced.) Are you really saying you're the "only candidate" to overcome "real challenges" or that your challenges are "real" and mine or anyone else's aren't?
Your ohana comment is just plain offensive. Are you saying your ohana is somehow better than mine, or that you appreciate them more than I do mine? Are you really saying you're the "only candidate who knows how important a strong ohana is for success", or that this is what qualifies you to be a Senator?
You are wrong. It's wrong not just for me but for every other candidate, including Linda Lingle, who I don't doubt has also faced real challenges and values her own ohana.
Folks recognized Compare and Decide from the '10 Governor campaign as an attempt to fan the fires of division and prejudice to divert voters from what really counted. Are you trying to do the same?
Sure, where we came from and who we are is one part of the decision facing voters. But it looks like that's all your candidacy is about, and for me that's just the starting point.
What about the specific challenges facing our country, the specific issues, our records, beliefs, agendas and allegiances, which of us can deliver strong effective leadership for our country? You have steadfastly refused to say, and refused any and all debates and joint appearances where voters can actually consider all of this.
Stop hiding behind your handlers. Come out and engage in a public campaign that shows you deserve consideration as Hawaii's next Senator. Come out and talk with me publicly about which of us can get the job done, how we would do it, and how our upbringings and ohana fit in.
I ask you to publicly acknowledge personally that your email was wrong and should not have been sent.
With aloha,
Ed Case
Source: http://www.edcase.com/news/entry/to_mazie_take_back_your_compare_and_decide_letter
Gotta love that ending...Ed Case has a a lengthy political history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Case - that amounts to him being a DINO and a misbegotten opportunist. There is long-standing animosity between Hirono and Case that dates back to the 2002 Hawaii Gubernatorial Primary that Hirono won by 2 points. I do kinda agree with him that the Hirono campaign email was insulting, but at the same time, I suspect it was an overzealous staffer at work, and I don't think Case is served well by making stink.
It's getting ugly in the Hawaii Senate Democratic Primary...
ellisonz
(27,711 posts)dkf
(37,305 posts)The Case family is pretty tight. They were his stalwart supporters sign waving and all, even his dad who is getting on in age.
I'd say he gets more support from his Ohana than Mazie gets from hers. I've been around both campaigns and I don't recall seeing much support from her family. Her husband comes around but he isn't as active as Ed's wife.
Hmm the odd thing is that in one of the earlier campaigns someone (not Case iirc) made a crack about Mazie because she doesn't have kids. I'm kind of surprised she wants to wade into this area. I wonder if she was daring Case to go there.
msongs
(67,405 posts)dkf
(37,305 posts)Or maybe that's because Mazie isn't the sign waving type while Ed is.
If it was just this email alone, and Hirono was not the author, which is what I suspect, then I don't think it's really Mazie wanting to go there so much as it is a campaign staffer getting full of themselves and going off message. I think she should fire the campaign staffer and anyone who approved it and apologize.
Without knowing if he did, if I was an advisor to Case I would have told him to try go back channel first. Ed Case's wife is my stepmothers second cousin. Oh Hawaii...
opihimoimoi
(52,426 posts)Response to ellisonz (Original post)
Post removed
mahina
(17,656 posts)are all still close, though on different teams.
Storm in a teapot. Mazie is going to win large, btw, bet you dolla!
ellisonz
(27,711 posts)She's gotta run a positive campaign and continue to ignore Case. If she does that, I think he's got an uphill fight. If Hanabusa can take him down, Hirono can too.
Hasn't been any polling since January when it was a dead heat
Civil Beat
I wouldn't take that bet. Mo bettah go Chinatown, play the slots