Friends
By B.J. Reyes
A paragraph in former Congressman Charles Djou’s weekly newsletter caught the attention of his likely opponent in the November general election, U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa.
From his email newsletter:
2) EVENT WITH CONGRESSMAN SCALISE – Tomorrow, Friday, July 6, from 6pm to 8pm, Charles is joining his former colleague, Congressman Steve Scalise of Louisiana, at the Outrigger Canoe Club in Waikiki. Feel free to come by if you would like to meet Congressman Scalise.
Hanabusa campaign spokesman Richard Rapoza took note of Djou hanging out with a “conservative star,” adding:
“You can tell a lot about a man by who his friends are. Congressman Scalise wants to end Medicare as we know it, repeal the Affordable Care Act, and deny the reality of global climate change. Those radically conservative positions may be okay in his district in Louisiana, but they do not reflect the values of Hawaii voters. I think using Steve Scalise as a fundraising draw speaks volumes about Charles Djou’s values, and how little he has in common with our district.”
Officials said the event was not organized by Djou’s campaign, but is a private function that brought Scalise to Hawaii. Djou is simply dropping by to meet with his former colleague from the House GOP caucus and other supporters.
In an email sent Friday, Djou framed the response as “partisan bickering”:
“I highlight this for you because I believe that it speaks volumes about what is wrong with our government today. We have tremendous problems facing our nation: a sluggish economy; high unemployment; a $1.2 trillion budget deficit. People are suffering and they are afraid that our beloved nation is headed toward financial disaster.
“We need to work together — Democrats and Republicans. We need to reach out to each other; we need to listen; we need to make tough decisions and compromise when necessary. We cannot allow partisan bickering to define us to the extent that we allow all that is good about our country to be destroyed.”
Djou’s email ended with a call for help, asking supporters to add a bumper sticker to their cars, place a yard sign in front of their house, or donate to his campaign.
Djou and Hanabusa are expected to win their respective primaries and face off in the November general election.
Political Radar
July 6th, 2012 at 8:37 pm
I do not see anywhere where Djou is for or against Medicare.
Seems this is just trash talk to show that Djou is for the “party” but he may not be
as lingle is and does. hannabusa has done nothing for her to be heard as she is only seen.
July 7th, 2012 at 7:17 am
Either it was originally an “Event with” or Djou was utterly BS-ing. So weak, he cannot man up to admit who his friends are. Imagine how Rep. Scalise feels about Djou now, after he has been denied and after Djou took a big step away from his hauna. Yep, that went over really big, I am sure, and will get reported to others back in the Congressional ranks. Djou is so done. He was done before, but he is really burnt now. In contrast, Hanabusa is Assistant Minority Whip in her first term. In the House, it is all about working with others. and maybe after the November elections, Dems will control the House again. It is looking that way.
July 7th, 2012 at 11:24 am
Hanabusa is pathetic. No record to run on execpt that of her invisible husband Mr Mafia Sheriff….
July 7th, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Djou is in a tough position. Running against a Democrat incumbent on a ticket with a popular (in Hawaii) President leading the slate. Lingle is getting the bulk of GOP money. Djou is clearly a lower priority for the Republicans. He will fight hard and lose, maybe even lose ugly. After 2012, he will have opportunities to re-invent himself. After all, he is young and talented. What is uncertain is does he have the ability to make corrections to improve his political viability, to soul search enough to find real wisdom? My guess is he does and will emerge from this truly bad year/circumstances to be a major player in 2014 and beyond. Good candidate, tough year.
July 8th, 2012 at 12:53 am
Ok, what is Mr. Djou’s “bipartisan” view on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, and global climate change, and what tough “bipartisan” decisions and compromises is he prepared to make?