Posted on: Friday, June 21, 2002

Democrats' rationale unseemly

By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Columnist

That forces within the Hawai'i Democratic Party would be encouraging millionaire banker Walter Dods to run for governor says so much about what's in their heads.

The good thing is that they seem to realize that Hawai'i voters are sick to death of

career politicians, particularly career politicians whose main focus is to keep or further their career as politicians. Dods has never held elected office and, goodness knows, he already has enough money, power and influence. It's clear he doesn't need the job, and that's one of the most attractive things about his potential candidacy. Hawai'i voters are so weary and cynical, a candidate for governor having no prior experience in elected office is seen as a strength, not a weakness.

It also says a lot about what party members think about current front-running gubernatorial candidate Mazie Hirono's chances of pulling off a victory in the general election.

But encouraging a millionaire banker to become the standard-bearer of the Democratic Party sure doesn't sound like the Democratic Party. In fact, it seems downright Republican.

Not to in any way disparage Walter Dods. He has certainly been a successful businessman and a good corporate citizen, serving on a long list of boards and commissions, helping many charitable organizations, establishing a million-dollar scholarship fund out of his own pocket for the University of Hawai'i specifically for public-school graduates, and so on. He has made a lot of money and he has spread a lot of money around. He has been the Democrats' rich, generous Uncle Walter, coming through with a nice check when called upon to help someone's worthy cause.

But does that make him gubernatorial material?

In his fiery pep-talk at the Democratic convention earlier this month, Sen. Dan Inouye spoke of the tie between his party and the working people. He said:

"Forbes cites with horror that 24 percent of Hawai'i's working people are represented by unions. I say good for them. The union movement began decades ago in the agricultural fields, when working people needed a voice. Labor has been with us because they, too, fight for working people. We fought together to ensure that a larger part of our community is able to enjoy a good life — to own a home, send their children to college and save a small nest egg for their golden years. It is a balance. I am very proud to call labor my friends, our friends."

Where does a millionaire banker fit in with that image of the party?

It's clear that the Democrats want to win, above all else. It's clear that Walter Dods has been good to the Democrats. But to take the next step and try to put Dods in office seems to take him out of the place where he can be most helpful to the Democrats and to take the Democratic Party away from a place where it can be most true to its core beliefs.