After triggering days of debate over vaccinations and public policy, Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona reversed course and announced that he had received a flu shot. The move was reported by KITV yesterday, and by the Star-Advertiser today (an AP story).
Aiona quoted yesterday by KITV:
“I’ve talked with many health care professionals and reviewed the benefits and risks of flu vaccinations. I just got my flu shot.”
Aiona on September 28, quoted by KITV:
I have never really been vaccinated in the past….I have read the literature on it, I have read the science on it and I say it has some merit to it and I am not convinced that vaccines are more beneficial that harmful.
From a public health perspective, it’s a very welcome turnaround by the L.G.
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Lee Cataluna [http://tinyurl.com/33rhac9] certainly takes a strong stance on Duke’s change of position and attempt to suggest that Denby and other MSM and bloggers “misconstrued” his initial remarks. The GOP handlers simply gotta get Duke to just stay on script — and nothing but the script– until November 2nd!
Next, civil unions!!!!
“I have never really been vaccinated in the past….”
Use of the word “really” really irks me. Was someone never “really” pregnant?, or never “really” against smaller government, or never “really” against less taxes, or never “really” a conservative? Cause I’m “really” a liberal. “REALLY” Sounds like I “really” have nothing to to.
Duke man speak with forked tongue
Throw in that he most recently said he had been vaccinated as a child. “Really.”
I don’t understand why the Aiona campaign was unable to prevent this from blowing up. In fact, Aiona has consistently, in the past, injected himself into the flue and H1N1 vaccination programs, joining with DOH officials in encouraging the public to get their shots.
So what if he holds a different personal view about vaccination? He did the right thing. If he does hold some personal view against vaccination, he did not let that get in th way of his public duty.
Now, if only he would separate his personal views about civil unions and same-sex marriage from his public duty. Would the press accuse him of hypocricy on that, or would they celebrate his leadership?
Larry – I think you missed the most damaging part of Aiona’s response to Denby which was when he indicates that he believes vaccinations to be more harmful than beneficial. This, after hes urged thousands of Hawaii’s parents to vaccinate their children. Theres not much any campaign could do to recover from that level of insensitivity or stupidity.
“he indicates that he believes vaccinations to be more harmful than beneficial.”
I don’t believe that’s what he said.
“I am not convinced that vaccines are more beneficial than harmful.”
I was basing that off his own quote, OO, as written in Ian’s entry. So, yes, that is what he said.
Wow.
Somehow, “I am not convinced that vaccines are more beneficial than harmful” isn’t what Aiona said?
Sounds like something a lawyer would dream up.
“My client did confess in court, your honor, but he didn’t actually confess. It was taken out of context. It was misinterpreted. The moon is purple. Someone help me here please. Someone pull Jesus out of a hat.”
Aiona is done. Period.
Do you really get all your information about the world from Ian’s blog? Like those kids for whom The Daily Show is their sole source of “news”?
I hope (and believe) Ian’s other readers get news and other information from a variety of sources.
True. .
I will bet you a nickel that Mister Duke is smarter than the Lt. governor.
I gather you’re not on Aiona’s political email list as he announced that through his email campaign.
It’s been very interesting how Aiona/Finnegan’s campaign has been so email heavy as it appears to me that if Travis Taylor, the Communications Director relies so heavily on sending out emails every few hours.
I’m on both candidates EMAIL lists. I’m getting quite turned off by Aiona’s campaign basically spamming my box w/ political crap every few hours. (Yes I could block it… but I enjoy watching a train wreck)
I’m glad Abercrombie’s campaign has not been so heavy on the emails.
Here is the actual email his campaign sent to me regarding the vaccinations (Ian feel free to edit this if you think I’m pushing his views here… as I’m not… I just want you to be aware of the letter that his campaign sent out on this)
————————
“Duke Aiona today issued the following statement in response to an email sent recently by supporters of his opponent’s campaign.
“My comments about flu vaccine have been taken out of context and misconstrued by members of the media as well as supporters of my opponent’s campaign.
“I’ve talked with many health care professionals and reviewed the benefits and risks of flu vaccinations. I just got my flu shot.
“Flu vaccinations are an important part of a healthy lifestyle – especially for our keiki and kupuna.
“I don’t have any philosophical opposition to vaccinations, and as a child, I received all of my vaccinations.
“I have always been supportive of our voluntary Stop Flu at School flu vaccination program.
“It’s important for our citizens to have accurate information, and make a personal choice. We all do.”
What about this?
http://www.staradvertiser.com/columnists/20101005_Aionas_U-turn_on_flu_shots_smacks_of_political_hypocrisy.html
Excellent quote: “Too bad it won’t protect him from foot in mouth disease.”
Missed an opportunity to let the media document his flu shot.
Makes me think of Hanabusa, who wants people to vote for her even though she won’t vote for herself.