Linda Lingle is being supported by slick Mainland advertising sponsored by the Washington-based U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Do we want outsiders telling the citizens of Hawaii how to vote?
The chamber promotes Lingle as bipartisan. Can someone with so much conviction about Mitt Romney's agenda that she was once co-chairwoman of his campaign be bipartisan? Can someone who on Maui answered questions straight out of the Republican playbook be bipartisan? Can she who did not work well with Democrat representatives in Honolulu be bipartisan? I think not.
We in Hawaii should not be sold this bill of goods. We in Hawaii also remember Lingle's brand of poor judgment - ramming the Superferry through in ways that ultimately destroyed it, costing the state $40 million.
Maui especially should remember that Lingle was not a very good mayor. She did not win the governorship on her own merits. She won by a fluke because her opponent was tarnished with scandal.
As we vote, we need to stand up for Hawaii. We don't want Linda to help create a Republican majority in the Senate, forcing our beloved Sen. Daniel Inouye out of the Appropriations chairman's seat. Despite what she said recently, we will not get as much for Hawaii if a Republican from Mississippi (the minority chairman) gets that chair.
A vote for Lingle would bring to the Senate someone who just does not have a good record doing the right things. A vote for Mazie Hirono is a vote for Hawaii.
Norm Bezane
Lahaina
