View From Washington On Lone GOP Hawaii State Senator

Some readers of the conservative Washington Times here might have stumbled onto a recent Q&A with Sam Slom, the only Republican in the Hawaii Senate.

If they did, they might have an interesting view of the Hawaii GOP.

Here are the juiciest quotes, at least from a D.C. perspective:

• (In response to a question about escalating tensions between China and Japan and America’s role in the Pacific) Honestly, the average resident probably has not given it thought even with our military presence. We are Hawaii-centric and all the talk about APEC, our position in the Pacific is just talk. Paying the mortgage, meeting the payroll and taking care of the kids are the priorities here. Even the military here and their contributions are too often taken for granted.

• Too many Republicans are fearful of using that “R word” and try to be something they’re not, or at least say they’re not. Look at our candidate for U.S. Senator – she says she is a “bipartisan” and never mentions being a Republican. Our major congressional candidate and former congressman insists he is a “centrist” and a “moderate.”

• People in Hawaii don’t like controversy, abhor negative campaigns – they haven’t seen what happens on the Mainland – and believe everyone is concerned about what we do here. We are very parochial and split on cultural practices such as Native Hawaiian proud Americans versus Native Hawaiians who desire sovereignty and more. The fact that we are isolated 2,500 miles from land and isolated between and among islands makes life difficult. Add to that the 40% higher cost of living and it means nearly everyone here works two or three jobs just to make ends meet and don’t want to rock any boat.

— Michael Levine