The Republican’s new “pledge” is getting beat up.
The Daily Show did some excellent historical research, which shows up in the middle of this riff with nearly identical sound bites from GOP leaders 1994 and last week.
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Postcards From the Pledge | ||||
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FactCheck.org also had some work to do on the claims that were made. The site provides a long analysis of incorrect or misleading claims.
In general the Pledge draws a gloomy picture of the sputtering economy, the horrid state of joblessness, and a federal budget wracked by record deficits and ballooning debt. Many of the claims are true. But as might be expected in a partisan manifesto, this is a lopsided rendering. At times it is more caricature than portrait: any facts that might brighten it are simply left out, and some claims are exaggerated or incorrect.
And then there’s the local scene, where Republican candidate Duke Aiona is loudly proclaiming that his Democratic opponent is avoiding debates.
An editorial in the Maui News addressed the issue head-on, saying that the newspaper finds itself “in the unlikely position of defending Neil Abercrombie.”:
We (The Maui News) were co-sponsors of a Town Hall event here before the primary featuring gubernatorial candidates. The two Democrats – Mufi Hannemann and Neil Abercrombie – participated. Aiona declined.
We were told by workers in the campaign that Aiona had also declined invitations to participate in events on Oahu involving the gubernatorial candidates – events his campaign is now referring to as debates between the Democratic candidates. Except the only reason they became that was because Duke declined to participate.
We would suppose that Aiona hoped the Democrats would injure each other so much in these events that he would benefit. We don’t know that for a fact, but that is our belief.
So it is a little disingenuous to demand that Abercrombie debate him now when Aiona ducked opportunities to do so earlier. His caginess in the primaries is coming back to bite him now.
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I call Shenanigans on this sudden concern that Aiona didn’t participate in the primary debates.
Nobody expressed any concern then — it’s way too late to come out and complain now.
Let’s get some discussion going on differences in approaches and philosphy — time to start the real debate in these public forums.
Nobody is complaining, except Aiona.
I’m complaining! I was hoping to see what Abercrombie would say to Aiona! I support Mufi 100%, so I am trying to decide which one I should vote for now, and I’d like to see the two face off. It is disappointing that Abercrombie doesn’t want to…
According to KHON over the weekend:
“So far, both candidates plan to appear at four forums, including: the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Gubernatorial Debate, Kaiser Permanente Gubernatorial Candidate Forum, Good Beginnings Alliance Gubernatorial Candidate Forum and the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce Forum.”
Aiona conditionally accepted several debates and forums.
* KHON 2 News General Election Debate
* OHA Gubernatorial Debate
* Kaiser Gubernatorial Candidate Forum
* Good Beginnings Alliance Gov Forum
* Kona Candidates Forum
* Hawaii News Now Gov Debate
* KITV Gov Debate
* PBS Island Insights
Abercrombie accepted to debate Aiona at the PBS and KITV debates.
Abercrombie rejected HawaiiNewsNow and KHON.
Bill,
Let me suggest the main responsibility for complaining about Aiona refusing to debate during the primary falls upon GOP voters. Apparently Republicans are used to having their candidates annointed from on high and had no problem with stifling debate at that time.
Now that we have moved on to the General, the question of debates faces all voters. So forgive us if we see such obvious hypocrisy with Aiona’s demand for debates.
And if you are a Republican voter, why didn’t YOU demand an Aiona-Carroll debate IF you are now so adamant about the value of such debates?
Maybe you are projecting your own hypocrisy on to others?
I didn’t give a rip about an Aiona-Carroll debate. I think they are both doofuses (doofi?). But if you guys are going to now attack Neil for not IMMEDIATELY agreeing to Aiona’s format, you gotta expect to be called on your intellectual dishonesty.
Thanks for the exposure. The deceit is ongoing.
Obviously what we need to do is abolish the Republican Party and make Hawaii officially a one party state.
We already have 5 parties, Conservative Christian right wing republics, moderate republics, progressive democrats, and the old school democrats, and don’t forget the more than 1/3rd of the population who don’t bother voting who by not voting vote NO…
god a recorded aiona message at the home phone. ‘blah blah blah, I, I, I. promise, promise. lie.” “this message was paid for by”
who cares how this time wasting message was created? Who will pay me for having listened to this insulting message by a typical modern politician who conveys not one iota of concern or appreciation for my time while he intrudes on my private home life?!
Wow … some people still have “home phones”? 🙂
Well, it looks like Aiona didn’t want to get caught in a crossfire before the primary…smart move.
Now what is Abercrombie’s reason again? He has nothing to gain from not facing Aiona, unless of course he is afraid things will not go well for him. Which leads me to think he either isn’t as good of a speaker or his stances on issues aren’t as strong…
Stewart absolutely nailed it. But how come so many people are still buying that cynical, hypocritical drivel?
Turning to Comedy Central for political observations. Wow. Just, wow.
What makes this funny is that it’s essentially boiled down reality. To make it more hilarious, they just have to tweak it just a little.
Saturday Night Live got huge ratings by poking fun at Sarah Palin. And they didn’t have to stretch much at all to get laughs. All they needed to do was get Tina Fey in the right wardrobe and makeup, and paraphrase Palin’s public statements.
And that’s the sobering part, too. What comes out sounding idiotic is very, very close to what is really going on.