One Week From Today-- Hawaii Picks Between A Proven Progressive And Two Proven Conservatives

Who fought against LGBT equality? Mark Takai and Donna Kim, the 2 conservatives in the race

"Peace through strength!"-- Reagan’s bellicose slogan emulated by faux-progressive congressional candidate in Hawaii.

"Peace through strength" wasn't thought up by Reagan-- nothing was-- but by Emperor Hadrian around 100 years after the birth of our lord. Mark Takai, candidate for the open seat in Hawaii’s First Congressional District, in a nearly hour-long interview with the Hawaii Independent this week made explicit what’s been obvious to anyone following his 20-year career in politics.

Takai’s a military man, first and foremost.

At the start of the interview, Takai was asked to name his top priorities in Congress. First, he mentioned “climate change” and “sustainability,” without specifying any particular legislative action. He didn’t mention his vision of nuclear-power plants in paradise. Second on the list of priorities (but clearly first in his heart), he talked of his goal to increase military spending. Takai went to express his support for “military use” of drones, with his only caveat being that the weapons should be used on foreign soil.

One of the interviewers, to her credit, noted sustainability and militarism are often at odds. Takai had no counter.

Later in the interview, Takai was pressed on his support for more military spending, which one of the interviewers noted is opposed by the peace community in Hawaii. Takai didn’t back down:

I look at our military strength as a road to peace… I do understand people supporting peace, but I’m a 15-year member of the Hawaii National Guard. I’m a military person.

On this, Takai gets points for consistency. He never misses an opportunity to point out he’s a military man first and foremost. And by that, he means a military-spending man. On his Facebook page a few months ago, Takai lashed out at President Obama for having the nerve to put some modest checks on Pentagon appropriations:

I was disappointed to hear about the cuts announced recently. As a proud member of the Hawaii Army National Guard, I understand the importance of defense spending.

He went running to a right-wing blog to whine about the Commander-in-Chief:

State Rep. Mark Takai, a member of the Hawaii Army National Guard, said he is “shocked and stunned” by the drastic cuts to the defense construction budget for the military.

. . .“Our military bases are in desperate need of upgrades to accommodate this new focus,” said Takai, a Democrat. “This is not the time to eliminate these military construction projects for Hawaii as the Asia-Pacific Region becomes the priority.”

He’s been less consistent on matters of equality.

Same-sex marriage became a major political issue in Hawaii in 1993. Takai was first elected to the state House of Representatives the following year. In each of his 10 campaigns for the legislature, he ran on opposition to marriage equality. He pledged to Hawaii Family Forum in his two most recent campaigns, 2010 and 2012, to not just vote against marriage-equality legislation, but to actually support a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.

Takai consistently fulfilled his promise to Hawaii Family Forum.

As recently as last year, Takai co-sponsored a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

The state Democratic Party platform has supported marriage equality for most of Takai’s time in office. But Takai was never swayed, until after deciding to run for Congress late last year. He sure fooled openly gay Japanese-American Congressman Mark Takano, though-- who lied to his colleagues at the Congressional Progressive Caucus and persuaded some of them that the demonstrably homophobic Takai is a fabulous progressive. Ugly identity politics.

He’s been rewarded for his anti-LGBT record by receiving substantial contributions to his congressional campaign from local anti-gay leaders like Mitch D’Olier and Republican activists like Dale Evans. I bet Takano didn't explain that to the folks at the CPC.

Democratic activists, however, took issue with Takai’s open defiance of the party platform. One filed a formal complaint with the party (later graciously withdrawn). The Hawaii Christian Coalition's website still boasts of the Religious Right's support for Takai in the fight:

Eleven state House and Senate Democrats face complaints before the Democratic Party of Hawaii for proposing a constitutional amendment on traditional marriage last session. The complaints allege the bills violate the party platform's support for equal rights and brought forth by Michael Golojuch. REALLY? Equal rights should also be afforded to these lawmakers, Senate President Donna Mercado Kim, Sen. Mike Gabbard, House Vice Speaker John Mizuno, and Reps. Calvin Say, Sharon Har, Henry Aquino, Karen Awana, Ty Cullen, Ken Ito, K. Mark Takai, and Clift Tsuji. Don't they have a right to propose an amendment or a bill, regardless of who, what and where?

In the interview, in between his advocacy for more military spending, Takai boasted that he’s the only alternative to openly right-wing Democrat Donna Kim in this race. He contended progressives need to vote strategically and that he’s the sole candidate with meaningful endorsements.

Takai is obviously seeking votes from supporters of Stanley Chang-- a young liberal attorney and Honolulu City Councilmember who’s the only candidate with a cohesive progressive vision for Hawaii's working families and for America.

Takai’s contention that he’s the only serious contender to Kim dismisses the importance of Chang’s support from Blue America, Climate Hawks Vote, Congressman Alan Grayson, the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC, People for the American Way, the state party’s GLBT Caucus and local trade unions.

In his own recent interview with the Hawaii Independent, Chang also talked about peace. But he’s actually for it-- and he spoke at length about the importance of diplomatic solutions to international disputes. He also talked about climate change. Chang spoke with ease-- but distress-- about impacts of climate change both locally and globally, and in contrast to Takai showed a deep understanding of scientific issues and terminology when discussing solutions. He scoffed at those who are touting natural gas as some sort of environmentally friendly answer, and stressed that the renewable-energy future must begin now. Chang went on to emphasize his strong support for labor rights and his opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Chang also expressed his dismay at the National Security Agency's “troubling” excesses in spying on Americans and allies.

Chang knocked on nearly 20,000 doors to win an awe-inspiring upset election to the Honolulu City Council as a first-time candidate in 2010. He’s working just as hard and is poised to finish strong leading up to the Aug. 9 Democratic primary. Help him do it.

Stanley kicked ass at the KITV debate last week-- the only televised debate of the campaign. Immediately afterward KITV polled and viewers were very clear about who they want for their next congressmember: