Posted on: Friday, July 9, 2004

EDITORIAL
No need for fake I.D. in Dobelle debate

There is a "local style" of kidding around where one slips into a pidgin accent, takes on a fake name and attempts to fool a buddy.

State Sen. Fred Hemmings may have had this tradition in mind when he called up a talk radio show featuring ousted UH President Evan Dobelle using the voice and name of "Sonny from Kapolei."

Or, Hemmings may have thought that Dobelle would be less than interested in talking to him about his problems.

Whatever, Hemmings made a mistake in using an alter ego to pin Dobelle down on the issues that led up to the Dobelle's firing by the regents.

The plain fact is that politics is a part of this controversy, and Republican Hemmings would be seen as advancing one point of view.

As a "local boy," Hemmings may have taken affront at Dobelle's playing the "I love Hawai'i" card.

But he should have made his point as himself.