HONOLULU — When it comes to politics, maybe opposites don’t attract after all.
Alaska’s Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, on Monday endorsed fellow-Republican Linda Lingle for Hawaii’s open U.S. Senate seat in the general election Nov. 6. The Alaska representative previously endorsed Democratic U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono in Hawaii’s Democratic primary. At the time, the Hirono campaign released a 90-second ad titled “Opposites Attract,” which touted Young and Hirono’s bipartisan teamwork on Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native issues.
But now Young is backing Lingle, saying the Republican has a strong bipartisan record that will benefit both Alaska and Hawaii.
“Bipartisanship leadership is what is lacking in the U.S. Senate and is what has brought our country to the edge of a fiscal cliff. Now more than ever Hawaii needs a real bipartisan leader to provide common sense governance to Washington, D.C.,” Young said in a letter sent to his Alaska supporters.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, also is in Hawaii campaigning for the former two-term governor.
When Young endorsed Hirono in the Democratic primary he told Hawaii residents in an ad that if they were “looking for a United States senator who doesn’t just talk about bipartisanship but actually knows how to work with both Republicans and Democrats to get things done, Mazie Hirono will be that senator.”
Young spokesman Luke Miller said at the time that the endorsement had little to do with party affiliation but who would best serve the people of Hawaii. But he made clear that the endorsement was specific to the primary.
Lingle said if she is elected she will work on behalf of Native Hawaiians and Alaska Natives.
Hirono and Lingle are hoping to replace U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka who is retiring.
Comments (14)
Add commentyoung's endorsement
I am not too thrilled about Young's two faced endorsements, especially after reading this quote from Lingle:
Lingle said if she is elected she will work on behalf of Native Hawaiians and Alaska Natives.
What about the rest of the electorate. Lingle has made a racist comment! Are the drive by medias going to call Lingle out on this? Or is she going to get a pass on this because she is stating she will champion indigenous tribes over the rest of the electorate? Is she saying that the rest of the electorate is not as important? Well Linda Lingle, just what do you mean by this statement?
Native Hawaiian issues have always been the pivotal
voting block on the Islands. If Native Alaskans were as organized and vocal they too would be an electoral force not to be ignored.
Minorities all over the U.S. have lobbying efforts gaining incredible influence in local, state and federal politics. Are they "racists" if the citizens promote themselves over the interests of others?
Can you say...
...flip flop?
Don should be more worried
Don should be more worried about his own seat...
Definition of racism
@ Ken
Your question: "Are they "racists" if the citizens promote themselves over the interests of others?", does ask a fair question.
My young son tells me that when you do anything for someone and it is based on their race that that is racism. It does not matter if what you do is good or bad. He is 12 and mixed race.
We are all Americans. Elected office winners are to represent us all, not just a particular group.
So, I say yes to your question. If you promote a group based on their color alone over the interests of others based on their non-color then you have committed a racist act.
Hmmm.......
Sounds like the high priests of the Republican party put on the pressure......
Don young's endorsement- now
Don young's endorsement- now that should be a gamechanger (not). That's like getting an endorsement from Palin. People in Hawaii would wonder is that the clown who has been in office forever if they even pay attention.
Akjustice: Astute 12 year old. Here are two deeper questions
which will require some research:
Is Black a color?
Is White a color?
akjustice? You are on your
akjustice? You are on your own on this one bud. New to town are ya? Why not move back to where you came from.
barnardj1: I lived in Hawaii for a number of years.
Don Young and Palin are inconsequential to them. (I agree)
This is playing out on a different level.
triadef: give it time cheechako. 'No man is an island'.
Eventually we all supper at the same table to achieve great things.
Is Black a color?
@ ken
Thanks for the question. As my 12 year old had wise words concerning racism I put the questions to him. His answers:
1 is black a color?
His response was to ask are we talking about real color or the colors we attach to people.
If you are asking about black as in the absence of light he says, "Black is all the colors of the spectrum being absorbed by the object". So the answer is no, black is not a color.
And 2, is white a color? He says, "White is all the colors coming at you at once". So, the answer is yes, white is not just a color but it is all the colors.
@triadef
July of 1974, AMHS Columbia. I was 17 then and it was my second trip to Alaska. I have been here ever since. I am back forever!!!
Ken and AkJustice and other "racists"
I personally find any discussion about "race" based on the color of one's skin, idiotic and totally stupid. I know Innuit who have a very light skin until their skin is exposed to the sun.Over time they become "tanned" or as the Spanish said about Alaskan Natives "trigueno" or "wheat colored. It is the same with people from many parts of the world.
So please let me point out that when people try to categorize other humans based on skin color, just how stupid it is.
There are two "races" in the world. Those who are under 5 feet four inches and those who are taller. As a consequence those who are over five feet four inches tall are born with greater intelligence and ability and short folks are trash.
No... No.... In the world there are two "races" those who are right handed and those who are left-handed.
No.. No .. In the world there are those people who have long noses and those who have short noses, and those with long noses need to be in control of the world.
Then there is this strange reality thing. People around the world, despite the color of their skin, eyes or hair, despite how tall or short they are, are all individual human beings withe the same variety of genetic gifts and deficiencies, with the same variety of intelligence, skills and abilities.
So please, talk all you want about "black" or "white" or whatever and try to link the color of one's skin to what that person is as a person..... then sit back and consider just how stupid that is as a way to evaluate people.
There are two "races" in the world. Those who are biologically male, and those who are biologically females.
Oh yes !!! Males are superior !!! Now how's that for a pile of.... ???
@wmolsan
Well I just want to know one thing, how does one pick their race anyway? I mean really, think about it. Just how much choice do you really have?
I think that once you get to the answer you too will understand why so many of us just think it is both funny and low character to make any decisions based on race.
Ya think???