An article in today’s Star-Advertiser by Derrick DePledge caught up with GOP gubernatorial candidate Duke Aiona in which he opens up about the religious nature of his unsuccessful bid for the state’s top office (“Faith-fueled election was a victory, Aiona says“).
It’s kind of an eye-opener. An important political story.
In the wake of the November elections, former Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona this week remembered the divine inspiration for his Republican campaign for governor.
“You know when God called me, all he said was, ‘You will run,'” Aiona told a We Believe worship service Thursday night at the Hawaii Prince Hotel. “He didn’t say you were going to win.
“I just figured that one out,” he said to laughter. “And I wonder — should’ve asked him.”
Aiona went on to say that he didn’t hide his “Christian values” during the campaign.
While that might be true of his appearances before Christian audiences, he bent over backwards to stress his secular viewpoints in attempting to appeal to broader general audiences.
So now we hear that God rang him up one day and told him to run. Wow. Do you suppose God uses a cell phone? Does he block his caller ID or provide a call-back number? Or does he just mumble in your head?
If God called, though, why didn’t we hear the message in a saturation advertising campaign?
“God called and told me to run. So vote for me or answer to God.”
That would have been honest, although it might have rubbed voters the wrong way.
I’m sorry, but what we actually got was an attempt to whitewash the “divine roots” of the whole campaign.
Luckily, the results proved once again that Hawaii is not ready for theocracy.
Discover more from i L i n d
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Amen!
Most folks wouldn’t have a problem with Aiona wearing his faith on his sleeve if he practiced what he preaches. The Lingle/Aiona administration was all about big developers with no care for the little guys. They were characterized by the mean spirited and vindictive nature of their cabinet and administrators.
As Elwood said in the Blues Brothers, “We’re on a mission from God.”
This proves my opinion of Aiona as an extremely self-centered, sanctimonious man. His ad attacks on Ige were not the work of a Godly man. They just showed someone who was desperate to be governor.
More than Aiona’s Christian zeal, I really do think a growing segment of voters are starting to get turned off by the New Hope Church’s involvement in the political arena. We had New Hope pastors running for both statewide (Elwin Ahu, LG) and legislative (Bryan Jeremiah, state house) races. Yet another (Don Horner) is the sitting BOE chair). And to top it off, the church even hosted a gubernatorial forum. They promised to make it a non-partisan event (nod, wink wink), but David Ige wisely steered clear from this.
I guess when you congregate large, loyal crowds every week for religious service, the powers that be at New Hope delude themselves into thinking that their conspicuous presence translates into a political force capable of winning elections in this state. The results in the vote tally says otherwise, of course. But when exposed often enough to throngs that yell “hallelujah” and “praise the Lord” in response to most everything you say, it’s easy to forget that you’re leading a very vocal minority.
I think that’s a little harsh. People speak of a “calling” all the time and we don’t ask if it was by cellphone with a blocked call-back number. Aiona IS a mightily religious person, and we without religious affiliation tend to respect people of faith. I’d me more critical of Aiona if he HAD made religion the banner of his run for governor.
if Aiona won, Mitch Kahle would have had a 4-year field day.
which means my prayer got answered.
I often marvel at far contemporary, make-it-up-as-we-go-along, nominally Protestant churches have moved from the essential insight of Martin Luther and John Calvin: You can’t bargain with God. Shin Buddhism offers the same insight in a different package: You can’t ask.
Whether or not he was inspired by God or not, your portrayal of ‘God calling’ isn’t a nice one.
I didn’t vote for Aiona for ‘other’ reasons, but maligning him for his deeply-held beliefs is distasteful, at best.
i have a deeply deeply deeply held cultural and religious belief that men can and should marry 10 women and treat them like barefoot sheep. and i can tell gay people how to live too.
how tasteful. how inspirational. i demand respect.
not.
He’s damn lucky Aretha didn’t pop up and swat him with a spatula.
“Don’t you blaspheme in here, DON’T YOU BLASPHEME IN HERE!!”
I have no quarrel with a person who has deeply held religious beliefs. However, my great fear is that if placed in a position of power (i.e. governor) such a person will try to turn those personal beliefs into public policy. Then that begins to compromise other people’s (and maybe mine) deeply held religious beliefs. I am not willing to take that chance and that is why I could not vote for Aiona.
Bob Jones, Aiona deserves to be mocked. You are implying his use of “calling” was not literal. I wonder how often you actually listen to what these people say? They talk about their PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with Jesus. And speak of “Talking with Him.” It is not metaphorical.
There is a variant of conservative Christian political doctrine called “dominionism,” which teaches that God wants Christians to dominate the major social institutions, including government. That this is His Will.
I suggest you get off the couch and get out into the world more often. If individuals were to say these things outside of heir religion, we would agree they are crazy. Just because they are in a dogmatic cult with likeminded people does not mean they are not also crazy.
Duke was advised, as were Republicans all across the country, to avoid emphasizing the “conservative social value issues,” out of a marketing understanding that such language has alienated moderate, swing voters. Locally, this is the message GOP chair Pat Saiki and House Minority Leader Aaron Johanson have been pushing. Duke tried to follow that advice. His choice of tactics does not alter his fundamental beliefs.
Which are crazy, though “group crazy.”
Totally not relevant to the subject, but Aiona “opens up”……..everyone now “opens up” and I’m sick of the term. What ever happened to talks about, speaks about, tells about, and a few other suggestions available if requested. With that off my chest, I am surprised at his statement that God told him to run.
Aiona’s deeply held beliefs can be maligned because they are malignant. They are subject to ridicule because the are ridiculous. Just because one’s silly, and/or pernicious beliefs stem from religion does not exempt them from critical or satirical examination.