Hawaii GOP Chair Tells Christians To Shun Hannemann
Calls Abercrombie, Hannemann 'Unrighteous'
POSTED: 9:18 pm HST August 31, 2010
UPDATED: 10:22 am HST September 1, 2010
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HONOLULU -- Hawaii State GOP Chairman Jonah Ka'auwai's letter criticizing two Democratic candidates for governor went viral after appearing on the Hawaii Christian Coalition website.In the letter, Ka'auwai is upset because Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mufi Hannemann has been showing up at conservative Christian churches to pitch his candidacy.Ka'auwai writes in his letter that when well meaning pastors allow Hannemann to speak in their churches, it appears they endorse him.Ka'auwai said the Hannemann campaign's secret agenda is to urge Christians to support Hannemann in the primary telling them Republican front-runner James Duke Aiona will probably lose in the general election.Video:
Hawaii GOP Head Explains Letter To Christians On KITV4 News This Morning
The pitch is that Hannemann as governor would offer more of an open door to Christians than the other Democratic party front-runner, former U.S. Rep.Neil Abercrombie.Ka'auwai urges Christians to support Aiona in both the primary and general elections.Ka'auwai's letter said, "Duke Aiona's campaign for governor is the body of Christ's opportunity to operate its authority."He said, "Hannemann campaign's strategy is a trap of lies and baited deception and is being fueled by that very fear. Do not be deceived."In the letter Ka'auwai called both Abercrombie and Hannemann "unrighteous."Ka'auwai uses Biblical passage below to say, "At many levels, Mufi is worse than Neil.""Galatians 5:19-21 tells us that, 'When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery..."But Ka'auwai offered no evidence to back up what he is talking about in the scripture he used to describe Hannemann.In the letter, Ka'auwai described himself as "a former men's pastor and a worship leader for eight years."Aiona was quick on Tuesday to distance himself from the letter calling it divisive. He said it is upsetting his supporters."I wanted everyone to know this was not my letter. This is not how we campaign and we will not campaign in that fashion," said Aiona. "While faith is a central part of my life, I am running for governor to serve all the people of Hawaii regardless of their religion."University of Hawaii political science professor and political analyst Neal Milner said the language used in the GOP chairman's letter is carefully written to appeal to conservative Christians but it risks alienating the more moderate Republicans Aiona needs to advance his campaign."This letter is purposefully divisive. It portrays the opposition Democrats as sinners, blasphemers, and crooks," said Milner.But Hawaii Republican Director Dylan Nonaka said Tuesday he supports Ka'auwai's goal of using religious verses and scripture to try to stop Hannemann from persuading Christian voters to support him."It is clear that Mufi Hannemann needs Christians and other conservatives to vote for him in the Democrat primary in order to win and it is important that is prevented," said Nonaka.Nonaka said in spite of Aiona's dismay, the letter is politically beneficial to Aiona."Obviously, it would not have been done, if there wasn't some benefit," said Nonaka.GOP strategists believe Aiona has a better chance to win the the general election if he runs against the more liberal, gay rights supporting Abercrombie than he would running against Hannemann who as an avowed same sex marriage opponent draws on some of Aiona's Christian base."A lot of people agree that Abercrombie is the better opponent for Duke Aiona than Mufi Hannemann, " said Nonaka.Hawaii Christian Coalition State Chairman Garret Hashimoto also endorsed Ka'auwai's letter as helpful."I believe that Mufi and his people hope to split the Christian vote against Duke. I support the idea that the Christian voters should stand behind Duke and only Duke." said Hashimoto.The Abercrombie and Hannemann campaigns had no comment about the GOP letter.Aiona is a Catholic. Hannemann is Mormon and Abercrombie said he was confirmed as an Episcopalian.Abercrombie, Aiona and Hannemann have all said in the past their religion is personal and in no way would order their governance.
Hawaii GOP Head Explains Letter To Christians On KITV4 News This Morning
The pitch is that Hannemann as governor would offer more of an open door to Christians than the other Democratic party front-runner, former U.S. Rep.Neil Abercrombie.Ka'auwai urges Christians to support Aiona in both the primary and general elections.Ka'auwai's letter said, "Duke Aiona's campaign for governor is the body of Christ's opportunity to operate its authority."He said, "Hannemann campaign's strategy is a trap of lies and baited deception and is being fueled by that very fear. Do not be deceived."In the letter Ka'auwai called both Abercrombie and Hannemann "unrighteous."Ka'auwai uses Biblical passage below to say, "At many levels, Mufi is worse than Neil.""Galatians 5:19-21 tells us that, 'When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery..."But Ka'auwai offered no evidence to back up what he is talking about in the scripture he used to describe Hannemann.In the letter, Ka'auwai described himself as "a former men's pastor and a worship leader for eight years."Aiona was quick on Tuesday to distance himself from the letter calling it divisive. He said it is upsetting his supporters."I wanted everyone to know this was not my letter. This is not how we campaign and we will not campaign in that fashion," said Aiona. "While faith is a central part of my life, I am running for governor to serve all the people of Hawaii regardless of their religion."University of Hawaii political science professor and political analyst Neal Milner said the language used in the GOP chairman's letter is carefully written to appeal to conservative Christians but it risks alienating the more moderate Republicans Aiona needs to advance his campaign."This letter is purposefully divisive. It portrays the opposition Democrats as sinners, blasphemers, and crooks," said Milner.But Hawaii Republican Director Dylan Nonaka said Tuesday he supports Ka'auwai's goal of using religious verses and scripture to try to stop Hannemann from persuading Christian voters to support him."It is clear that Mufi Hannemann needs Christians and other conservatives to vote for him in the Democrat primary in order to win and it is important that is prevented," said Nonaka.Nonaka said in spite of Aiona's dismay, the letter is politically beneficial to Aiona."Obviously, it would not have been done, if there wasn't some benefit," said Nonaka.GOP strategists believe Aiona has a better chance to win the the general election if he runs against the more liberal, gay rights supporting Abercrombie than he would running against Hannemann who as an avowed same sex marriage opponent draws on some of Aiona's Christian base."A lot of people agree that Abercrombie is the better opponent for Duke Aiona than Mufi Hannemann, " said Nonaka.Hawaii Christian Coalition State Chairman Garret Hashimoto also endorsed Ka'auwai's letter as helpful."I believe that Mufi and his people hope to split the Christian vote against Duke. I support the idea that the Christian voters should stand behind Duke and only Duke." said Hashimoto.The Abercrombie and Hannemann campaigns had no comment about the GOP letter.Aiona is a Catholic. Hannemann is Mormon and Abercrombie said he was confirmed as an Episcopalian.Abercrombie, Aiona and Hannemann have all said in the past their religion is personal and in no way would order their governance.
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