Vote them all out!
HB 444 vote was abuse of power
The state House vote on House Bill 444 was an unseemly abuse of legislative power and the democratic process.
This issue, which split the community, provoked the longest legislative hearing in our history, caused the two largest rallies at the Capitol in history (in opposition) and elicited thousands of e-mails and calls to legislators.
Yet, House members suspended the rule requiring a two-third majority to reconsider a tabled bill and voted to do so by simple majority — this in the waning hours of the session. Without the normal 24-hour public notice, they voted to pass a bill that will certainly, if not vetoed by the governor, lead to same-sex marriage in Hawaii.
It is disingenuous to say that HB 444 is about civil unions and not same-sex marriage. All who know the details of this issue understand that there will be a suit contending unequal protection under the law and asking that civil unions be made marriages.
This occurred in Connecticut with essentially an identical civil unions law and based on a Connecticut constitution whose wording regarding equal protection is identical to Hawaii’s. This caused a court-mandated change of civil unions into same-sex marriages.
A recent SMS Research survey shows that 67 percent of Hawaii voters oppose same-sex marriage. It is not the will of Hawaii’s people to support same-sex marriage in our community.
Hawaii’s people have spoken out loudly and clearly. It is a wonder that the legislators chose to abuse the democratic process to exercise power against the will of the people and to do it in such a distorted way.
Francis Oda
Hawaii Family Forum
Wailupe
Aloha Friends!
My name is John Willoughby and I’m running for United States Congress in Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District. I’m not a career politician. I am a retired Navy Officer of 26 years and for the past 12 years I’ve been a Commercial Airline Pilot with United Airlines.
The driving force behind my desire to seek public office is based on the sobering reality that we have all been taken advantage of and misrepresented by our elected representatives in both Honolulu and Washington far too long and our objections haven’t been heard.
Our current representatives have demeaned our values, they have disregarded our desires, and they have abandoned our principles. They have put their political ambitions and personal special interests above Hawaii’s. This is no longer acceptable.
We need representatives who are driven by what is right, guided by the Constitution, deeply committed to personal integrity, professional responsibility, and unconditional accountability, but more importantly, our representatives should be loyal to the only special interest that an elected public servant from Hawaii should recognize, and that is the people of the State of Hawaii.
The people of Hawaii have spoken again and again. They are opposed to this or any legislation that recognizes same sex marriage or civil unions. I not only oppose this legislation, but I call on elected representatives to accept the will of a vast majority of their constituents in opposition to this legislation and urge Governor Linda Lingle to veto HB 444.
My opponent for the Republican nomination to CD2 publicly stated, during her first television interview as a candidate, that virtually her only qualification for this seat is that she has listened and will listen to the people. But during the recent Hawaii Republican Party State Convention in Honolulu, Ms. Ramsay Wharton indicated that she sides with the misguided Hawaii State House Democrat majority and against the people on this very important issue. Additionally, she has been evasive on other important social issues such as parental rights, pro-life issues, repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, and the Obama Administration’s plan to lift the Military’s long-standing “Don’t Ask – Don’t Tell” policy which will allow gay and lesbian service members to serve openly in the military.
Ms. Wharton has already caved to progressive special interests and advocacy groups. She has failed at her very first opportunity to “listen to the people” even before she has left the blocks. Or perhaps she is staying true to her nature by listening to the people… She will simply mimmic Mazie Hirono by not representing your will.
I ask all Hawaii District 2 families and residents to join and support me on this most important journey to help you take Hawaii’s future back. Learn more about the issues important to Hawaii families at our website, http://www.johnforhawaii.com and please join our blogs, twitter page, and facebook campaign support page Willoughby for Congress. Mahalo!