Hawaii GOP Accuses Democrats Of Violating Laws Democrats Say Republicans Have Facts Wrong

The Hawaii Channel.com ^ | 9/26/02

[Mensch]

HONOLULU -- The head of the Hawaii Republican Party Thursday accused the local and national Democratic Party of breaking state campaign laws.

Local Democrats said that's not true, but they said their national leader was incorrect when he announced $50,000 worth of national donations to the local party on Sunday.

Hawaii's Republicans are asking the state Campaign Spending Commission to investigate whether the Democratic National Committee is violating the state's campaign contribution and spending law.

Commission Executive Director Bob Watada, however, said at this point he sees no violation. And Hawaii Democratic Party Chairwoman Lorraine Akiba said the Republicans have their facts wrong.

GOP chief Micah Kane notes that DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe was quoted this past weekend as saying the national party has contributed the maximum $50,000 to the local Democratic Party. Kane said on top of that, McAuliffe reportedly said the DNC has seven paid staff members in Hawaii to help in the campaign.

Kane said the DNC's costs for salaried staffers in the islands becomes a so-called "in-kind" contribution, which means the DNC has exceeded the contribution limit by that amount.

"This is, in our opinion, just another example of Democratic leadership trying to skirt campaign spending laws," Kane said.

Akiba, however, said the contribution to the local party delivered by McAuliffe brought the total to $25,000, half the limit. She also said the members of the Democrats' coordinate campaign team that Kane referred to are either volunteers or workers paid by the local party.

"So there's been no violation of the campaign spending laws, and campaign contribution laws," Akiba said.

Kane said there is no doubt that the DNC staffers are working on the gubernatorial campaign of Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono and their pay and expenses should be considered a contribution to the Hirono campaign.

Watada said he'd have to have more information before pursing that allegation.

[Bogey78O]

It's not a violation because clearly they are Democrats.

[anniegetyourgun]

Gee....lib/dems violating the law again? I'm shocked....

[JZoback]

It would seem of late that several GOP campaigns have started keeping the cheating, lying, lowlife democrats feet to the fire about actually following the law concerning political campaigns.

All I can saw, it's about time.

[JZoback]

Make that:

All I can say, it's about time.

[OldFriend]

If they're democrats, of course, they are violating the laws.....that's just what they do!

[princess leah]

Republicans newest ad: Either you vote in lawMAKERS (REP) or you vote in the lawBREAKERS (Dems)! PROTECT THE HOMELAND - VOTE FOR THE LAWMAKERS!

[lavaroise]

I guess it depends on your definition of facts and of factual law. So Dems have violated the law, but simply want to proselytise the world differently, via democracy. They call on the mob to make the decision, as usual, intimidating. We need to go beyond the NRA. We need an organisation that encourages people's right to silence and to be unproselytised in public, i.e. the right to make the 2nd amendmant useful.

[OldFriend]

You have said it all.

[cinFLA]

It's not a violation because clearly they are Democrats.

After the election, they will get their hand slapped. Nothing new here.

[bonesmccoy]

Dear FLA,

You're incorrect regarding the "hand slapping". Hawaii Judiciary has removed some lib dems from office and have put others in jail. The illegal campaigning and activities are unamerican and the judiciary (as liberal as they are in Hawaii) agreed.

Keep the faith!

[Chuckster]

I think maybe the Democrats have finally done themselves in in Hawaii. Even die hard Dem supporters are sick of the corruption. Even SHOPO, the Police union, has endorsed Linda Lingle,the Republican candidate for Governor, over the Democrat, Maize Hirono.

The Dems seem to be imploding. They have no one to blame but themselves for the mess the state is in since, as Patsy Mink so emphatically pointed out during her "Right to Rule" speech at the state Dem convention, they have been in charge for over forty years and they have established a track record. They can't very well claim to be the engine of much needed change in this state. The only thing they can offer is more of the same.

We have never had a Republican Governor and we have never had more than a handful of Republicans in the legislature. After over forty+ years of one-party rule it looks like Hawaii will have it's first Republican governor since statehood. Lingle is a very liberal Republican, but she is a Republican at least and that is a step in the right direction.

[concerned about politics]

*sigh*
Now I had to e-mail the other side of the story.
*sigh*