Dean: Time to send Bush packing

The Maui News
Sunday, May 30, 2004

HONOLULU - Former Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean rallied 1,000 applauding and cheering Hawaii Democrats at their Waikiki convention on Saturday, telling them he's still doing everything in his power "to change the presidency.''

Dean wouldn't go as far in describing President Bush as a "right-wing, fascist, reactionary,'' as Congressman Neil Abercrombie did in his introduction of Dean. But the former Vermont governor still levied a stream of accusations against the Republican administration.

"This is about sending George Bush back to Crawford, Texas, and we're going to do that this year,'' said Dean, who left it clear he's fully behind presumptive Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

Dean also met privately with the delegation of Maui County Democrats, state Sen. J. Kalani English said.

"The Maui delegation had a good meeting with Howard Dean. We had a private meeting with him, and that was invigorating for the Maui delegates," English said.

In the Democratic caucuses in February to select delegates to the state convention, the voters in Maui County precincts picked Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich over front-runner John Kerry, with Dean lagging well back.

But at the convention this weekend, the Maui delegation is focused on bringing differing elements of the party together, English said.

"What I find interesting is the different groups. Among all the different groups, Maui's delegation is probably the most diverse in our representation, so I've really been enjoying watching the labor people sitting down with the green people and really talking about a resolution and coming to a compromise about which everyone can feel good," he said.

"It's been all the different sectors of our communities coming together and talking together. This has been a good venue for all the different sides to sit down and talk to each other."

In his speech to the convention, Dean focused his attack on Bush's role in the war in Iraq, which Dean opposed from the outset.

Dean said he supported the first war against Iraq, the war in Afghanistan and military interventions in Bosnia and Kosovo, "but I do not believe that this party ever should support sending our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters to foreign lands to fight without first telling the truth to the American people about why we are doing that.''

"Where are the weapons of mass destruction, where is the evidence that Saddam Hussein had something to do with 9/11, where is the evidence that Saddam Hussein and the al-Qaida were partners, where is the evidence that nuclear weapons were on the brink of being developed in Iraq?'' Dean said to enthusiastic applause. "There is no evidence.''

He also criticized the Bush administration on health insurance, early childhood intervention and education, cheaper prescription drugs for the elderly, corporate export of American jobs overseas and lax regulation of big business.

Dean announced that his new advocacy group, Democracy for America, soon will be supporting state Democrats in their races challenging Republican incumbents.

Former Hawaii Gov. John Waihee said he believes Dean's address was "a good message because it recommits people for the basic reasons for being a good Democrat in the first place.''

In interviews that followed, Dean said Hawaii's Democrats need to concentrate on their strength, which is getting grassroots support in their communities by going door-to-door.

He said Democracy for America probably will list its first local Hawaii endorsements within three weeks, based on recommendations from Hawaii party officials.

"What happens, is that we direct people from our several-hundred-thousand personnel list to look at these candidates and go to their Web sites and if some of them want to make donations, they do,'' Dean said.

The convention delegates on Saturday also debated a range of issues that will be planks in the party's 2004 election platform. English reported that one resolution raised by Maui County delegates on genetically modified foods was approved after a healthy debate.

The resolution calls for more study on the issues around genetically modified organisms and for labeling of GMO food products.

The Democrats are scheduled to wrap up the three-day convention today with addresses from U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka and Abercrombie and a video message from U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, who didn't attend.

Also on the agenda today are announcements of the results of the Saturday election of delegates to the Democratic National Convention and members of the party's State Central Committee, and the election of a new state party chairman.

Working the crowd to gain support from the convention delegates in the race for party chairman were radio and TV personality Brickwood Galuteria and 20-year party veteran Jimmy Toyama, both hoping to succeed outgoing Chairman Alex Santiago, who didn't seek the post.

On the Net: Hawaii Democratic Party: www.hawaiidemocrats.org

Copyright © 2003 — The Maui News

Return to Sen. English Home Page - KalaniEnglish.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home Bills and Resolutions About Senator English Committees Community Profiles Newsletter Archive News Archive Capitol Web Site Media Photos

Connect with Senator English

OUR DISTRICT