By Jerry Burris
Advertiser Editorial Editor

Ed Case is truly enjoying his gig as a member of Congress.

Policy wonk that he is, he bubbles with enthusiasm over the prospect of a rocking debate, and he says the opportunity to learn new things and meet new people within his home district is an unexpected pleasure.

But as happy as he is with the job, it is clear that Case is less pleased with the state of politics in general, in the nation, in Congress and at home in Hawai'i. A self-described moderate or centrist, Case is unhappy with hard-edged divisive politics on the right or the left.

While the great majority of people in Congress occupy some place in the moderate middle, Case said, attention is focused on noisy occupants of the 20 percent on the far right and the 20 percent on the far left.

That, he said, leads to posturing and publicity instead of compromise and getting work done for the American people.

Case says he has been warmly welcomed by the other three far more senior members of the Hawai'i delegation: Rep. Neil Abercrombie and Sens. Dan Akaka and Dan Inouye. And there's no reason to doubt him: On the big issues of importance to Hawai'i, ranging from military spending to Hawaiian recognition, the delegation speaks as one voice.

But Case has carved out a place for himself that puts him far apart from the others on a variety of issues.

Perhaps the most visible is the Jones Act, the federal legislation that seeks to protect American shipping by prohibiting foreign ships from carrying goods between American ports. The others in the delegation are staunch supporters of the Jones Act and the maritime interests it protects.

Case has begun pushing for an exemption from the act for shipping to and from Hawai'i. While the merits of his position can be argued, it is clear that the unified voice of the tiny Hawai'i delegation will carry only so far.

The most dramatic illustration of the political difference between Case and his colleague Abercrombie comes in presidential politics. Abercrombie early on said he was a supporter of the liberal Howard Dean.

Case is supporting moderate Democrat Joe Lieberman, although he is careful to say he "allowed" his name to be used by the Lieberman campaign, providing a little political wiggle room.

His support for Lieberman, Case said, is based on the simple principle that while the Connecticut senator may be too moderate for party activists, he occupies a middle ground that may allow him to win in the general election.

That was the central theme of Case's campaign for governor last year. He believes that, while he couldn't quite make the sale in the Democratic Primary, he would have been more effective as a moderate in the general against Republican Linda Lingle.

It's an intriguing analysis. And it gives rise to a question: Will Case continue to pursue the pleasures and challenges of Congress, or will he test his theory of moderation on the hard ground of political reality at home in the next governor's election?

Reach Jerry Burris through letters@honoluluadvertiser.com.