Challenging The "Old Guard"
From an article in the Hawaii Reporter
Bucking the Old BoysEd Case Says Chance Em, Makes a Run for Congress Despite Threats from Some of Hawaii's Most Senior PoliticiansBy Malia Zimmerman, 1/20/2006 11:01:10 PM
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Protocol in Hawaii's dominant political party dictates a Democrat incumbent would not challenge a fellow Democrat with more seniority because it could result in the party icing out the challenger and ending his political career. The Democrat old guard, which has controlled politics in the state for more than 40 years, would do its best to ensure this very real threat is realized.
Abiding by proper protocol, Case would wait for Akaka to retire or die and then he"d seek the blessing of Inouye, who is considered the party's godfather. But that can take decades -- Akaka was in the U.S. House from 1976 to 1990 before he made a bid for the Senate and he only vied for the Senate after the much-loved U.S. Senator Sparky Matsunaga died in office. Case followed the same tradition running in a special election in 2003 to replace U.S. Rep. Patsy "Pink" Mink who died in office just before the November 2002 election.
"I am motivated by giving voters a choice. Do voters want to be forced to accept a candidate that was pre-selected for them or break the mold and have a choice in the next election?" Case asks.
The old guard in the Hawaii Democratic Party is already gunning for Case. They say he is disrespectful, that he should wait his turn, that he should get in line and do what he is told, that he'll never win, and that he will ruin his career.
Comments by Pat
Wow, I thought the Democrats in Chicago were controlling! To me it sounds as if they are talking to a little child "Go back to your room (congress) you are not ready to take over Grandpa's store (senate)." How dare you challenge your elders! We control things around here mister.You know you must wait for the incumbent to retire or die this is how we have always done things and we are not about to change for a young whipper snapper like you.
I think the voters will have a say in this matter. For now I say give the kid a chance, the old guard may chew him up and spit him out, but it will make for an interesting campaign.Let's see how the Democratic "Old Guard" Hawaians roast a challenger.
Bucking the Old BoysEd Case Says Chance Em, Makes a Run for Congress Despite Threats from Some of Hawaii's Most Senior PoliticiansBy Malia Zimmerman, 1/20/2006 11:01:10 PM
.
Protocol in Hawaii's dominant political party dictates a Democrat incumbent would not challenge a fellow Democrat with more seniority because it could result in the party icing out the challenger and ending his political career. The Democrat old guard, which has controlled politics in the state for more than 40 years, would do its best to ensure this very real threat is realized.
Abiding by proper protocol, Case would wait for Akaka to retire or die and then he"d seek the blessing of Inouye, who is considered the party's godfather. But that can take decades -- Akaka was in the U.S. House from 1976 to 1990 before he made a bid for the Senate and he only vied for the Senate after the much-loved U.S. Senator Sparky Matsunaga died in office. Case followed the same tradition running in a special election in 2003 to replace U.S. Rep. Patsy "Pink" Mink who died in office just before the November 2002 election.
"I am motivated by giving voters a choice. Do voters want to be forced to accept a candidate that was pre-selected for them or break the mold and have a choice in the next election?" Case asks.
The old guard in the Hawaii Democratic Party is already gunning for Case. They say he is disrespectful, that he should wait his turn, that he should get in line and do what he is told, that he'll never win, and that he will ruin his career.
Comments by Pat
Wow, I thought the Democrats in Chicago were controlling! To me it sounds as if they are talking to a little child "Go back to your room (congress) you are not ready to take over Grandpa's store (senate)." How dare you challenge your elders! We control things around here mister.You know you must wait for the incumbent to retire or die this is how we have always done things and we are not about to change for a young whipper snapper like you.
I think the voters will have a say in this matter. For now I say give the kid a chance, the old guard may chew him up and spit him out, but it will make for an interesting campaign.Let's see how the Democratic "Old Guard" Hawaians roast a challenger.
posted by Patricia at 7:19 PM
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