Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 3, 1 March 2008 — Racing for the presidency [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Racing for the presidency

Obama and Clinton have similar stance on Hawaiian issues

By Lisa Asatn Public lnfnrmatiūn Specialist As Democratic presidential hopefuls U.S. Sens. Barack Ohama and Hillary Clinton continued their push for votes in primary contests, most importantly in Texas and Ohio on March 4, Hawai'i had its turn in the nahonal spotlight in February, attracting a visit by Chelsea Clinton to garner support for her mother, whom she described as a supporter of Hawaiian issues. At an hourlong question-and-answer session at the University of Hawai'i West O'ahu, the former first daughter talked about "Mom's" ideas for universal heahh care, her plans for with-

drawal from Iraq, the economy, ecology and support for Hawaiian recognition via the Akaka Bill. Miriam Mata of Pearl City asked Clinton about her mother's awareness of Hawaiian issues and specifically her position on the Akaka Bill. "Yes, my mother supports the Akaka Bill and has promised to sign it," Clinton replied. "My mom supports Hawaiians." Hillary Clinton, a U.S. Senator from New York, spoke of her support of the Akaka Bill during a eonference eall with Hawai'i media in the week before Chelsea's visit: "I have worked with ... senators in their efforts to achieve that hill and get it passed, and I See PRESIDENCY on page II

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Chelsea Clinton tours isles to garner support for her mother's hoped-for nominahon. - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom

would sign it," she said. "I think it remedies a long history of problems. I supported the Apology Resolution, whieh started as the base or the frrst step of the Akaka Bill, so you ean count on me to be a president who will support that." Her rival, Hawaii-born U.S. Sen. Barack Ohama had earlier eome out in support of the hill, whieh would grant federal recognition of a Native Hawaiian governing entity similar to the recognition granted to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The Apology Resolution, signed by then-president Bill Clinton, acknowledges the United States' role in the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. Chelsea Clinton's visit eoincided with an Ohama rally at the University of Hawai'i, where Obama's half-sister Maya

Soetoro-Ng was joined by actress Kelly Hu. Soetoro-Ng, who lives in Hawai'i, stressed Obama's loeal roots, his ideas and ability to communicate. After a record turnout at Hawai'i's Feb. 19 Democratic caucus, Ohama beat Clinton by a margin of 3-to-l. "I'm very, very happy and excited about the possibility of Hawai'i contributing substantially to Sen. Obama's wave of support across the country," said U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, who cast his vote for Ohama at Mānoa Elementary School, where an estimated 1,500 voters showed up. "The way I put it is Iaws eame out of Hawai'i ... and is moving toward and across the mainland." Abercrombie said he supports Ohama "because of his electability" and not because he's more qualified than Clinton, whom he describes as "an excellent candidate for the Democratic presidential nominahon." Both Clinton and Ohama "are

very good on the issues affecting Hawaiians, whether it's the Akaka Bill or support for Native Hawaiian programs," he "I don't detect any differentiation; that's not my interpretation at all." But he said, while Clinton has been "unfairly characterized with negative commentary," Ohama has remained "very difficult to pull into the mud." "I think Sen. Ohama brings to the table what nobody else was able to provide in full measure," he said. "I think he has a message of hope and optimism and strength of purpose that is grounded in his being raised in Hawai'i. I think he knows our diversity unifies us rather than divides us. It represents the spirit of aloha." Chelsea Clinton's three-day visit to O'ahu and Maui included stops at Zippy's, a loeal fanners' market and the opening of the Kalihi Pālama Conununity Heahh Center. In anticipation of the eaucuses in Hawai'i and Wisconsin,

Obama's campaign manager David Plouffe said in a conferenee eall to media here that losses for Clinton on Feb. 19 would be a blow to her campaign. "That just

puts them behind the eight hall," he said. I Eīaine Fergerstrom contributed to this report.

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