Ed Case is still teasing us with his strangely politically androgynous presentation of self. Is he or isn’t he? A member of the Democratic Party, that is.
His latest email newsletter, received yesterday, discusses the current “watershed” presidential campaign and refers to his past support for “change” while remaining strangely silent as to which candidate or political party he supports. Despite the critical nature of the campaign for the Democratic Party and the nation, Case never mentions his party affiliation and does not offer his support to the Democratic candidate, Barack Obama.
Instead, he talks about himself and his own agenda in his unsuccessful 2006 campaign.
The email newsletter contains a disclaimer saying it is paid for by the Case for Senate committee, which is registered with the FEC as a Democratic Party committee. But you wouldn’t know it from reading through this newsletter.
And a quick search of the Federal Election Commission database and OpenSecrets.orgfailed to turn up any contributions by Case to Obama or any other federal candidate in this election cycle.
It looks to me like Case is all but admitting he does not intend to make his next run as a Democrat, but perhaps as an independent. He missed the chance to hook his “change” mantra to Obama, and had to sit on the sidelines while Mayor Mufi Hannemann and State Senator Donna Mercado-Kim, both potential rivals for whatever Ed runs for next, went to the convention in Denver as pledged Obama delegates.
With Obama holding a commanding lead among Hawaii voters, it’s a little hard to understand why Case is playing at being so aloof.
Other news–Hawaii County Council member and mayoral candidate Stacy Higa filed suit last week in federal court against Corporation Counsel Lincoln Ashida and Naomi Earp, chair of the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The complaint, filed by attorneys William Harrison (Honolulu) and Craig Sadamoto (Hilo), alleges that the defendants’ handling of a 2006 sexual discrimination and retaliation complaint deprived Higa of “his right to obtain independent counsel” and to “present his own case, cross-examine and confront witnesses, be present at all proceedings, and review all of the evidence.”
According to the suit, Higa has been not been able to review an April 2, 2008 decision by an administrative law judge, although he believes it contains findings “adverse” to him.
Higa complains the decision “is also being utilized against him by parties unknown by way of press ‘leaks,’ likely for political purposes in his mayoral campaign.
The suit seeks to throw out the April 2 decision and block any attempt to settle the case without Higa’s consent.
By the way, the most recent poll by the Hawaii Tribune Herald put Higa last among four candidates for mayor with just 3 percent support among voters polled.
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Ed is being Ed. It’s really not that hard to figure out. By positioning himself to the electorate as a “demopublican” Ed calculates that there is a growing constituency that is tired of partisan politics.
By leverage their discontent along with voters who don’t really know him, Case believes that he can sell himself as a different kind of candidate who runs squarely in the center. It’s not a bad strategy if winning is all that matters.
As far as presidential politics, Case idolizes Joe Liebermann and Liebermann supports McCain (even to the point of being on the short list for VP).
But come on. If Case were to openly support McCain in Hawaii, it would definitely hurt his chances for statewide office in the future.
Hence, the deafening silence about his choice for president. It speaks volumes.
I got the same email, and for whatever reason I lost patience and removed myself from his mailing list. Probably shouldn’t have done that, but every encounter I’ve had with Ed Case has been disappointing, from the first time I and a small group of advocates visited him to talk about health care issues. We hoped to be able to say something, but it was all Ed Case speaking. So I was just feeling like I have heard enough from this guy. Delete! Delete! It felt good for a moment. Else there’s no Esc.
He has always seemed to be a Republican in a Democratic suit to me. But why vote for a fake Republican? If that’s what someone wants, his opponent would be a better choice.
I actually hate to admit it, but I would vote for Mufi over case for a senate seat.
I remember The dirty ticks of the primary race between Abercrombie and Mufi years ago so I don’t much appreciate Mufi. But I think Case is worse.
I’m on Maui by the way so I have no real say in the rail issue, except these things… The Northeastern Rail Corridor is about 50 yards wide, it takes up a lot of room. Then again Steel rail is very comfortable compared to buses in traffic or any lurching about on rubber tires, simply a better ride. It also may be a good idea to have a large project going if the national economy tanks, it could keep the state afloat.
I was completely befuddled by Case’s email. I was in a small group of folks to come and see him when he ran. He was rude, he was arrogant, and he did not give satisfying answers to our dependency on foreign oil. I would, without hesitation, vote for Mufi over him. And I voted for Ann.