Case: Hirono’s Debate Schedule an Insult to Hawaii Voters
(Honolulu) Former U. S. Congressman and U. S. Senate candidate Ed Case (D-HI) today called the debate schedule issued by his primary opponent, Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, an "insult to the voters of Hawaii".
Hirono's schedule rejects invitations to four statewide televised debates hosted by Hawaii's principal television and media outlets. It also rejects similar invitations from several statewide business, educational and community organizations, as well as pending invitations from other interested groups statewide.
"This schedule is shibai", said Case. "In cherry picking just a few with the least possible exposure, they're fooling nobody. This is plain and simple about avoiding any real statewide public discussion at all costs and is typical of what's wrong with DC today.
"This is a critical election, and every Hawaii voter wants and deserves every opportunity to size us up side by side and make this decision for themselves. We want our candidates and public officials to discuss openly and directly with us how we'll fix Washington, grow our economy and much more, not hide behind handlers and spin.
"Our next Senator must be able to provide strong effective leadership in the world's greatest deliberative body, to stand and fight for us in DC, and to keep in touch with us back home. It's tragic that my opponent is denying Hawaii's voters the opportunity to judge for themselves who can best do the job.
"The campaign's real slogan is: 'No Debates; Just Watch My Commercials'. I hope voters see through the slick ads upcoming to what's really going on.
The invitations rejected by Hirono include: KITV4/Civil Beat (statewide TV debate); KHON2 (statewide TV debate); Hawaii News Now/Honolulu Star-Advertiser (two statewide TV debates); Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce ; Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association (Big Island); Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; and Hawaii Pacific University. Pending invitations include the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce.
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