Akaka wins!
09.24.06 - Posted by AsiansVote
Congratulations to anti-war Senator Daniel Akaka, who has won the Democratic primary in Hawaii against challenger Ed Case. Different news articles have listed the margin as anything from 9 to 13 points -- whatever it turns out to be, the victory was decisive. And here's some interesting analysis from the Honolulu Advertiser:
Iraq has been the divisive political issue nationally this year and Akaka's campaign used the senator's opposition to the war as among his main selling points to traditional and progressive Democrats who were most likely to vote in the primary. Akaka was among the minority of Senate Democrats who voted for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq by July 2007.
Case, who has opposed a timetable for withdrawal until Iraq is stable, accused Akaka's campaign of turning the primary into a single-issue question on the war. The congressman said that while Iraq is important, it would likely be resolved within the next few years, while voters would be making the choice of who would represent them on foreign policy in the Senate for the future.
But voters, including many independents, often said in interviews during the campaign that Iraq was their most important issue. The primary was one of the few nationally where the war was the main difference between the candidates, and some analysts have drawn parallels between Hawai'i and Connecticut, where U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman lost his primary in August to businessman Ned Lamont mainly because of Lieberman's support for the Bush administration on the war.
Note to Democrats across the country: anti-war candidates like Lamont and Akaka are winning. Have the guts to speak out against the Bush Administration's deception and incompetence and you will win.
In other good news, pro-war candidate Ed Case gave up his US House seat to run for the Senate, and anti-war candidate Mazie Hirono has won the primary to replace him. From Hirono's issues page:
The Bush administration misled the country when it entered this war, and has shown no credible plan for winning the peace or for a safe exit strategy. We should get out of the quagmire that is Iraq with a phased redeployment of U.S. forces that begins before the end of 2006 and significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty should also occur. The U.S. should play a leading role in promoting peace in the region. As long as we are at war, we are severely compromised in our ability to do so.
Until the troops are out of harm’s way, they deserve the best available gear, armor, and moral support. I support common sense measures such as providing padded, shock absorbent helmets for our Marines. For as little as $100 per helmet, we could prevent traumatic brain damage and loss of life. Congress should require the Marine Corps to follow the Army’s lead in issuing these reinforced helmets to every service man and woman.
When our troops return home as veterans, we must provide adequate mental and physical health services, as well as economic and career assistance. The President and his Republican Congress have repeatedly shown their willingness to cut VA services and funding while recklessly sending troops into battle.
I am running for Congress to ensure that we only send our men and women to war if absolutely necessary, that we protect them while they are in battle, and that we take care of them when they return home.
Clearly, progressives should be glad to have Case out of office. But he deserves our praise for honoring the decision of the voters and standing by his party despite his loss, unlike Senator Joe Lieberman. From the
Honolulu Advertiser:
Ed Case has telephoned U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka and conceded the U.S. Senate Democratic primary, then told supporters he will do everything he can to help Akaka and Hawai'i's Democratic Congressional delegation.
09.24.06 |
Candidates & Leaders
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Daniel Akaka
