VOLCANIC ASH
They weren't political smears
By David Shapiro
John Carroll, dark-horse Republican candidate for governor, ran into Mayor Jeremy Harris at the Pacific Club and ribbed the Democratic front-runner about the $1 million campaign war chest Harris reported last week.
"How much did you report raising?" Harris asked.
"About $700," Carroll replied.
Harris paused for a beat and then deadpanned, "I'd put it all in TV."
Most candidates for major office have a sharp wit and enjoy a laugh at their own expense or that of their opponents. It's too bad voters so seldom see it.
A little humor in politics would be a welcome relief from the self-righteous bellyaching of candidates who take themselves way too seriously. Particularly annoying is the blazing speed with which candidates cry "smear" whenever they're criticized.
In the recent 5th District City Council election, Republicans claimed Sam Aiona was smeared by reports of his illegal campaign mailing. Democrats saw a smear in criticism of campaign contributions to Ann Kobayashi by individuals associated with HECO.
And Harris is mounting an aggressive "smear" defense against the criminal investigation of his campaign finances.
Let's define the term: A political smear is an orchestrated underground campaign to discredit a candidate with scurrilous rumors — usually of a personal nature. The anonymous attacks often come late in the campaign when the candidate has no chance to respond.
The classic smear was in the 1986 Democratic primary for governor between John Waihee and Cec Heftel. Late rumors spread about Heftel by unknown parties were credited by some with turning the election in Waihee's favor.
The recent instances weren't smears because they all involved legitimate matters of public concern raised by identifiable and credible parties.
It was Common Cause — not the Democrats — that first accused Aiona of illegally including campaign materials with absentee ballot applications he mailed to voters.
This was a fair issue with no sneaky undertones. Voters could accept or reject Aiona's explanation that he made an honest mistake.
Similarly, Kobayashi's HECO contributions were first pointed out by Life of the Land, not the Republicans. Campaign spending disclosures are intended to help voters evaluate where candidates get their money, and it was a fair issue to debate. Kobayashi was free to argue that the donors gave her money as longtime friends and not as HECO employees.
The Harris allegations were made in public by the executive director and four members of the Campaign Spending Commission, who can be held accountable if the charges turn out to be unfounded.
Harris' response of nuclear indignation might have gone down easier if he had leavened it with a little of that understated humor he displayed in the encounter with Carroll.
Of course, political humor can cut you back if applied ham-handedly.
State Sen. Bob Hogue called a news conference to make fun of state traffic cameras that cited him for driving 61 miles per hour in a 45-mph zone on the Likelike Highway while he was at the Capitol listening to the governor's State of the State speech. Hogue declined to "rat out" whoever was actually driving his car.
It's baffling why Hogue thought it reflected well on him to make light that somebody was driving his car 33 percent over the speed limit —dangerously fast by any measure. Isn't his duty to promote safe driving and respect for speeding laws, even if he sincerely believes cameras are a bad way to enforce the law?
If the senator can't distinguish between opposing camera surveillance and winking at irresponsible driving, he'll end up the butt of his own joke.
David Shapiro can be reached by e-mail at dave@volcanicash.net.
