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Getbig Main Boards => Politics and Political Issues Board => Topic started by: Dos Equis on August 31, 2007, 11:37:08 AM
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This won't make national news, but I hate when politicians do this. It's almost a fraud on the voters. I have lost all respect for this guy.
Signing ceremony turns Gabbard into Democrat
The state senator gets the required paperwork in order as friends and family stand by his side
By Laurie Au
lau@starbulletin.com
Saying that he has always been a politician who followed his conscience, Sen. Mike Gabbard switched to the Democratic Party yesterday, disappointing Republicans and further weakening their presence in the state Senate.
Surrounded by his family, friends and other politicians, including U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, who Gabbard said played an "instrumental" role in the switch, the first-term legislator signed his blue Democratic Party card at the Hawaii headquarters yesterday afternoon.
"My experience over at the Legislature has convinced me that in order to be more effective, it would be best if I were a part of the majority party," Gabbard said.
Gabbard's switch -- while it came as no surprise to many local politicians -- is unusual because he clashes with many of the Democratic Party's values, especially his staunch opposition to legalizing same-sex marriage as highlighted in a widely publicized campaign in 1998.
"There are obviously some things we don't see eye to eye on," Gabbard said. "I'm a social conservative. What I found in talking with Democratic leadership is that there has been mutual respect, and we're never going to agree on everything."
Democrats, including Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, welcomed Gabbard into the party and called him a man who always voted for what he believed in, regardless of party lines.
Gabbard said his daughter, Tulsi Gabbard-Tamayo, a former state representative who now works for Akaka, heavily influenced his decision. Mike McCartney, Hawaii Democratic Party chairman, said Gabbard contacted him about three weeks ago on switching parties, which brings the number of Republican senators down to four.
"Republicans have so few members; it's not like the balance of the Senate is at stake here," said University of Hawaii-Manoa political science professor Neal Milner. "This carries a pattern in the past where people have switched from Republican to Democrat because the Republican Party is so weak."
Many Republicans, including state Sens. Fred Hemmings and Sam Slom, said they were disappointed in Gabbard's decision and question whether it was for personal gain or because his values changed.
"His social views didn't all of a sudden change, which caused him to identify more closely with the Democrat Party," Gov. Linda Lingle said yesterday. "I think it's about personal power as he sees it. I'll treat him like I treat all the other Democrats. I'll try to work with him the best I can, but I think he's let down the people who voted for him, who contributed to him and who really need to have a two-party system."
"He compromised moral principles for convenience," Hemmings said. "Mike's going to get things done, but what's he's going to get done is sustaining the status quo, not making Hawaii a better place."
http://starbulletin.com/2007/08/31/news/story03.html
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I agree. If a politician loses faith in his party, do what Jeffords did: go independent.
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I agree. If a politician loses faith in his party, do what Jeffords did: go independent.
He didn't necessarily lose faith in his party or change his views. They probably promised him a prominent role on some committee. This guy was arguably the most conservative member of the House or Senate.
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This won't make national news, but I hate when politicians do this. It's almost a fraud on the voters. I have lost all respect for this guy.
Signing ceremony turns Gabbard into Democrat
The state senator gets the required paperwork in order as friends and family stand by his side
By Laurie Au
lau@starbulletin.com
Saying that he has always been a politician who followed his conscience, Sen. Mike Gabbard switched to the Democratic Party yesterday, disappointing Republicans and further weakening their presence in the state Senate.
Surrounded by his family, friends and other politicians, including U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, who Gabbard said played an "instrumental" role in the switch, the first-term legislator signed his blue Democratic Party card at the Hawaii headquarters yesterday afternoon.
"My experience over at the Legislature has convinced me that in order to be more effective, it would be best if I were a part of the majority party," Gabbard said.
Gabbard's switch -- while it came as no surprise to many local politicians -- is unusual because he clashes with many of the Democratic Party's values, especially his staunch opposition to legalizing same-sex marriage as highlighted in a widely publicized campaign in 1998.
"There are obviously some things we don't see eye to eye on," Gabbard said. "I'm a social conservative. What I found in talking with Democratic leadership is that there has been mutual respect, and we're never going to agree on everything."
Democrats, including Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, welcomed Gabbard into the party and called him a man who always voted for what he believed in, regardless of party lines.
Gabbard said his daughter, Tulsi Gabbard-Tamayo, a former state representative who now works for Akaka, heavily influenced his decision. Mike McCartney, Hawaii Democratic Party chairman, said Gabbard contacted him about three weeks ago on switching parties, which brings the number of Republican senators down to four.
"Republicans have so few members; it's not like the balance of the Senate is at stake here," said University of Hawaii-Manoa political science professor Neal Milner. "This carries a pattern in the past where people have switched from Republican to Democrat because the Republican Party is so weak."
Many Republicans, including state Sens. Fred Hemmings and Sam Slom, said they were disappointed in Gabbard's decision and question whether it was for personal gain or because his values changed.
"His social views didn't all of a sudden change, which caused him to identify more closely with the Democrat Party," Gov. Linda Lingle said yesterday. "I think it's about personal power as he sees it. I'll treat him like I treat all the other Democrats. I'll try to work with him the best I can, but I think he's let down the people who voted for him, who contributed to him and who really need to have a two-party system."
"He compromised moral principles for convenience," Hemmings said. "Mike's going to get things done, but what's he's going to get done is sustaining the status quo, not making Hawaii a better place."
http://starbulletin.com/2007/08/31/news/story03.html
Sounds like this was more personal than anything.
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Sounds like this was more personal than anything.
Maybe. His timing sucks though.
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I think the person should consider leaving office.
I definitely think shit like this is beyond fcuked up.