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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, May 11, 2007

Translated: It's Lingle's fault, OK?

By Jerry Burris
Advertiser Columnist

One of the most wonderful things about politics is the ability people develop, over the years, to say what they want to say in a manner so smooth and diplomatic that it often takes a while to recognize how deeply the knife has been thrust.

A brief primer:

When a politician describes someone as "my good friend," that usually means sworn lifetime enemy.

If an issue is described as being under "serious consideration," that generally means it is dead as a doornail.

It is easy to say this is all cynical. Why can't people say what they mean in direct language? But the plain fact is that the work of a politician or a legislator is complicated, and there is little to be gained by excessive bluntness. This is all by way of gaining a little better understanding of recent releases out of Washington concerning the Hawaiian recognition, or Akaka, bill.

With Democrats in control of both houses of Congress, there is a slightly improved chance that the measure will make it through this time, although it still faces a likely veto by the Bush White House.

Sens. Dan Akaka and Daniel Inouye put out a statement announcing progress on the measure at the committee level and promising more and better to come. It is instructive to look carefully at what they said.

Here's Akaka's statement:

"I am ecstatic that these bills passed the Committee today. This is an important step. ... Today's strong Committee bipartisan support for S. 310, sends a clear message that Hawaii's Congressional Delegation is joined by a coalition of colleagues from all parts of the country, that the United States must fulfill its commitment to Native Hawaiians."

Translation: In the hothouse atmosphere of Congress, where trade-offs and favors are the currency of the day, this bill has legs. Whether it can get past the Bush administration is another story altogether.

Which brings us to Inouye's statement:

"I was especially pleased to see Governor Lingle in attendance for the votes today. She has tasked herself with the important responsibility of winning support from the Bush administration for the Akaka bill, and that responsibility remains as crucial as ever. I am hopeful that she will be effective in communicating with President Bush about the worthiness and importance of the Akaka bill."

Translation: It is good to see Republican Gov. Lingle on board with this issue that is so important to Democrats.

But if it can't make it through the Bush people, don't blame us. Blame Lingle. She is the one self-"tasked" with winning the hearts and minds of the GOP policymakers in the White House.

Reach Jerry Burris at jburris@honoluluadvertiser.com. Read his daily blog at blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com.