Posted on: Friday, February 1,2002
Editorial
Clean campaigns are all about being positive
When you think about it, why would anyone have to propose that Hawai'i's political parties formally "pledge" to run clean campaigns this election year?
Does this suggest that without some kind of a blood oath, they simply won't be able to keep themselves from getting a little rough?
The proposal came from Democratic Party Chairwoman Lorraine Akiba, who was obviously trying to get the goat of the local Republican Party. Akiba, contending she has already seen evidence of dirty tricks from the other guys, proposed a mutual "clean elections" pact between the two major parties.
Micah Kane, executive director of the state Republican Party, was not about to take the bait. The GOP, he said, already is committed to running clean and factual campaigns. No new pledge is required.
All of this, of course, is so much posturing. But it does point to a serious problem that continues to taint our local political system. Voters have been increasingly turned off to politics, and it's no wonder.
Not a campaign goes by without one side accusing the other of dirty tricks, of trying to buy the election or some other kind of skulduggery. It's no wonder people are staying home.
Just look at the recent special election for the City Council from the Manoa-Makiki-Mo'ili'ili district. That race, witch fills a vital seat, drew little more than a big snore.
It is doubtful that the two parties could keep the hundreds of candidates flying their banner in line even if they did make the clean-elections pledge. And what looks like negative campaigning to one side may feel like tough honesty to the others.
If the two sides want to do something to elevate the quality of local campaigns (and the turnout that comes with them), they should take a personal vow not to accuse the other side of dirty politics. Run your campaign as you wish, negative or positive, soft sell or hard sell. But knock off the accusations that the other side isn't playing fair.
All it does is reinforce the idea in the mind of the voter that all politics is dirty. And we know that isn't the case.
