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.
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“When it comes to bullshit, big-time, major league bullshit, you have to stand in awe of the all-time champion of false promises and exaggerated claims, religion. No contest. No contest. Religion. Religion easily has the greatest bullshit story ever told. Think about it. Religion has actually convinced people that there’s an invisible man living in the sky who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever ’til the end of time!”
– Carlin
I have no use for Aiona’s politics. His religion isn’t to my taste. His claim that God told him to run doesn’t endear him to me. But where’s the duplicity in it? Didn’t we already know he believed in God? Don’t people who believe in God try to heed divine guidance? Isn’t Aiona, in effect, just saying he did what he deeply felt he had to do?
To be sure, there’s a point where constructive discussion of a candidate’s spiritual beliefs and moral values can slip into a bashing of the religion in question. Exactly where that point is,… I dare not say to this passionate group. It seems that certain people have made a judgement on the matter that cannot easily be swayed.
I will say this. The topic of political influence being bought by the likes of wealthy donors, developers, labor unions, and special interest groups is something that most of us here agree is an anathema to a government that works for all the people.
But why should there not be similar concerns about a candidate who heavily relies upon religious organizations for campaigning and support? Why should eyebrows not be raised if a candidate will shower unequivocal praise and credit upon a god or deity for achieving political success? If a politician can fall into the pit trap of owing favors to certain people who helped him into office, why should it be so inconceivable that another politician might feel an obligation towards carrying out the will of his God or church in exchange for the “blessings” he has received?
Aiona kept his religious convictions more or less in check this campaign, but remember the last one–when it leaked that he wanted Hawaii to become a “Christian state.” And there were allegations at that time of his participation in the International Transformation Network (which was disputed during the campaign). Google doesn’t forget, it’s easy to check on that controversy.
Perhaps voters remembered, even if the religious issue was suppressed this time around.
I do not speak for my church on public matters; and the church does not speak for me.
— JFK, 1960
Hawaii belongs to Jesus.
— Duke Aiona, 2004
We will forge ahead.
— Duke Aiona, 2014 concession speech
“They promised to make it a non-partisan event (nod, wink wink), but David Ige wisely steered clear from this. ”
Obama participated in a debate with McCain sponsored by Saddleback Church.
Voices in your head telling you what to do? It’s call schizophrenia. You don’t get to claim you’re sane by labeling the voice as “god.”
While I don’t agree with Aiona and certainly did not vote for him, a post like this – openly mocking someone for his religious beliefs that apparently differ significantly from yours – begs the question as to the purpose of this blog.
I normally enjoy your well thought out and well written posts, regardless of whether I agree with the opinions therein, but I think the political point you are trying to make – about the credibility of Aiona’s campaign – is lost in your petty mockery.
Maybe this was one to write, let sit for a day, and come back to with a clearer idea of what you’re trying to convey. As written, it suggests your emotions got the better of you.
“Brandon” wrote:
“Obama participated in a debate with McCain sponsored by Saddleback Church.”
Apples to oranges. Neither John McCain nor Sarah Palin were members of Saddleback Church.
OTOH, Elwin Ahu wasn’t only a member of New Hope Church. He was a pastor there, which hardly makes New Hope a “neutral site” in the way Saddleback Church was for the presidential forum hosted in ’08.
“Hawaii belongs to Jesus.”
— Duke Aiona, 2004
As spoken, it suggests unabashed idiocy got the better of Aiona.
Aiona 2014 should sue Aiona 2004. he definitely has a case.
“Apples to oranges. Neither John McCain nor Sarah Palin were members of Saddleback Church.
OTOH, Elwin Ahu wasn’t only a member of New Hope Church. He was a pastor there, which hardly makes New Hope a “neutral site” in the way Saddleback Church was for the presidential forum hosted in ’08.”
Touche. And Brandon is my real first name.