Sen. Inouye urges end to Democrat infighting
| • | Harris gave few signs of decision to quit race |
| • | Three candidates make their pitch at convention |
| • | Sen. Daniel Inouye's speech (for delivery) |
By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Capitol Bureau Chief
U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye bluntly warned his party yesterday that it must clean up, fight fair and make up before the November election or the Democrats will lose control of state government.
Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser
"Let's make no mistake about it, we are fighting for our political lives," Inouye told about 700 delegates and another 400 spectators at the state Democratic convention in Waikiki. "Let's be honest with ourselves, we have made mistakes."
Gov. Ben Cayetano and U.S. Reps. Neil Abercrombie and Patsy Mink react following U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye's remarks yesterday at the opening of the state Democratic convention at the Sheraton Waikiki.
Inouye blamed party infighting since the 1980s for propelling Republican gubernatorial candidate Linda Lingle into political power. She defeated three quarreling factions of Democrats to win her first term as Maui mayor, Inouye said, adding, "we gave it to her because we could not heal ourselves in 1990. We are not going to do that again."
For all of the internal turmoil in the party over the past few days, Inouye, the spiritual leader and singular power of the state Democratic Party, was greeted with enthusiastic applause by a cheerful convention crowd at the Sheraton Waikiki. He smiled and shook his fist at the crowd to acknowledge the welcome, joking to the delegates: "Keep it up and I might just run for governor."
It was a particularly appropriate one-liner at a convention thick with speculation about who will be the Democrats' gubernatorial nominee. The obvious front-runner, Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris, abruptly withdrew from the race Thursday, saying polls showed he couldn't beat Lingle.
Inouye said he returned from a trip to Asia the same day Thursday and was greeted by "gloom." In an effort to heal the party's freshest wounds, Inouye offered gentle words for Harris and his supporters at the convention, and Harris was given a standing ovation when Inouye introduced him.
"It wasn't an easy decision to make, it must have been heart-wrenching for you, but you've got the guts, you made it," Inouye said. "Yes, there were some who were angry, some who were disappointed, but you were honest with yourself. That's the thing that counts."
Inouye's comments, in part, were aimed at disappointed Harris supporters, who include veteran Democratic campaign operatives who helped elect Gov. Ben Cayetano and former Govs. George Ariyoshi and John Waihe'e. Democrats agree they will need that campaign know-how and energy to win in November.
Leading Democrats have said they won't try to manipulate the candidates to engineer an advantage for a particular front-runner, but many in the Democratic Party are looking to Inouye to focus their energy on a particular candidate.
Inouye declined to anoint anyone yesterday. He said that once the convention ends he does not expect any other major Democratic candidates to enter the race for governor. "It will stay at three," he said. "If I were someone who was thinking about it, I would have made my move before this."
Not everyone agrees. Harris told reporters he is not steering his supporters toward any particular Democratic camp because "we don't even know who's running yet. We'll know in a couple of months," he said, referring to the July 23 candidate filing deadline.
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Previously, Inouye and Cayetano had said it was likely more candidates would enter the race.
Sen. Dan Inouye, right, had nothing but kind words last night for Mayor Jeremy Harris and his supporters.
In a speech in which he frequently departed from his prepared remarks, Inouye warned convention delegates that they have been in power for so long that the party has become complacent. Democrats have controlled the Legislature since the mid-1950s and the governor's office since 1962.
"Some of us may not realize it, but we get arrogant, and that's bad," he said. "Let's straighten up."
Alluding to a series of recent scandals that have ended the careers of prominent Democrats in local and state government, Inouye blamed "stupidity" and said those Democrats tarnished the image of the party.
"We have given the Republicans ample ammunition to shoot at us," he said. "We are just lucky that their aim has been lousy. Unfortunately, they are getting better."
In themes that are likely to crop up again and again this year, Inouye sought to tie the Hawai'i Republicans to policies and problems of the national party, including the Enron scandal, the abortion issue and efforts to achieve self-determination for Native Hawaiians, which have been blocked largely by key Republicans.
"Where was Linda Lingle? When we say we're for Hawaiians, we mean what we say," he said.
He also noted the state Republicans removed a plank from their platform last month that acknowledged a woman's legal right to have an abortion, leaving the state Republican platform silent on the issue.
An array of union leaders were on hand to watch the convention, and where those unions throw their support will be an important variable in the weeks to come. Union members have traditionally been major players in determining the outcome of Democratic primaries.
While Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono commands a great deal of loyalty from some key unions, especially those representing public employees, she has struggled to drown out the buzz in some Democratic circles that she isn't a strong enough candidate to win a general election race against Lingle.
Some in Hirono's camp blame Harris supporters for that gossip, but the damage may be done. Hirono's decision to leave the governor's race to run for mayor late last year, and then to re-enter the governor's race when Harris withdrew, hasn't helped her to look determined or decisive.
Eric Gill, financial secretary-treasurer of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Local 5, said Hirono has been supportive on labor issues, but he said he doesn't know where organized labor will land.
"There are some unions that made some commitments elsewhere after she pulled out," Gill said. "I'm not at all sure if there's going to be a re-evaluation on those people's part."
One example is the United Public Workers union, which has endorsed D.G. "Andy" Anderson. The third announced Democratic contender, state Rep. Ed Case of Manoa, has clashed with union leaders on a number of issues and will likely have a difficult time winning labor endorsements.
Eusebio Lapenia Jr., president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142, said his organization has not decided who to support in the governor's race.
"I guess the long and the short of it is we just wait and see how the dust settles," Lapenia said.
Both Lapenia and Hawai'i Government Employees Association Deputy Director Randy Perreira said their unions may make an endorsement before the September primary election.
"I can tell you whoever the nominee is, labor will certainly close ranks behind the Democratic nominee," Gill said. "I'm not sure how much of a consensus will emerge among labor in the primary. I'm quite sure there will be a consensus in the general."
