Posted on: Friday, October 11, 2002

Lingle, Aiona denounce Web site

By James Gonser
Advertiser Staff Writer

Republican gubernatorial candidate Linda Lingle and her running mate James "Duke" Aiona yesterday accused the Democratic Party of Hawai'i and its lieutenant governor candidate, Matt Matsunaga, of an "underground smear campaign" by using Lingle's name on a Web site in violation of the state cybersquatting statute.

They said the use of the Web site is "tarnishing and disparaging the name and reputation of the candidate."

But Andy Winer, director of the Democratic Party's Coordinated Campaign, said the site is perfectly legal and does not disparage gubernatorial candidate Lingle. He said the site is protected by free speech and simply tells the truth about her and her campaign.

During a press conference yesterday at the Lingle/Aiona headquarters before about 40 Republican campaign workers, Aiona, the GOP lieutenant governor candidate, said because the Web site, www.linglefacts.com, is not connected to the Democratic Party's official Web page and is a link from Matsunaga's Web site, it is deceptive.

"It is sick and disgusting," Aiona said. "The intent is to deceive the people of Hawai'i."

The cybersquatting law was signed by Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono, acting as governor in June 2001 and prohibits the "bad faith" registration of domain names on the Internet and established penalties for violations.

The Web site in question contains commentaries questioning Lingle's leadership, support and advertising strategy that Aiona says are "outright lies."

Lingle said she has no plans to file a lawsuit against the Democrats because that would not help the public understand the issues so close to the election.

Hirono said the cybersquatting law has not been violated in any way and if Lingle really thought it had been, she would have filed a lawsuit already. Hirono said the site clearly belongs to the Democratic Party and is entirely based on facts.