Why Lingle Defends the Jones Act

Linda Lingle continues to defend the Jones Act.  This old maritime law protects the shipping monopoly enjoyed by the select few who can service Hawaii, like Matson and (until very recently) their parent company Alexander & Baldwin. These archaic restrictions raise the costs of all imported items such as food and raw materials and Hawaii’s cost of living by as much as 30% or more.  Look no further than the public campaign contribution reports to understand why Linda Lingle, during her eight years as Governor,  would steadfastly protect such an unfair monopoly preying on Hawaii’s people.

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“When it comes to backing gubernatorial candidates, according to recent filings, Alexander & Baldwin Inc. executives are for Linda Lingle.”

                                                                                   Pacific Business News, August 12, 2001

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This brings to mind the old saw: “You dance with them that brung ya.” It also should tend to remind the voters that large campaign war chests come at a price, and that price is paid by the residents of Hawaii when their elected officials bow to their corporate patrons and ignore the negative impact to their constituents.

John Carroll Endorses Ron Paul for President

Presidential candidate Ron Paul is backed by Senatorial candidate John Carroll.

Honolulu, February 29, 2012 – U.S. Senate candidate John Carroll announced that he will be supporting Presidential candidate Ron Paul.

“We are pretty much in agreement on most important issues,” said Carroll. “The bottom line is that we both believe in the integrity of the U.S. Constitution.”

A recent article in the New York Times inferred that the American constitution was “outdated” and no longer relevant. The Obama administration has launched several assaults on constitution in the last year. This included the New Year’s Eve signing of the defense allocation bill (NDAA) that allowed for suspension of several constitutionally protected rights.

Carroll is highly critical of policies that infringe on the Bill of Rights, and opposes the expansion of government authority in general.

“Many of the ideals that I share with Ron Paul can be described as Libertarian in nature,” said Carroll. “We are aligned on issues like free trade, tax reforms, downsizing of government, the sanctity of individual liberty, and establishment of more responsible foreign policy.”

Carroll elaborated, “I agree with Paul that the deployment of American troops overseas as United Nations world police must stop. Americans should be put into combat only to protect the United States, not to intervene in other country’s internal struggles.”

Carroll feels it is important for Hawaii’s candidates to make their presidential choices known to voters.

“It says a lot about your own convictions, to go ahead and make your alignment known to the voters,” added Carroll. “I don’t understand candidates who are so opportunistic and wishy washy that they will not commit to anything publicly.”

John Carroll Interview

Lingle Flip Flops on Rail?

“Lingle’s views on rail have changed over the years. As governor in 2003, she proposed a light rail transit system and an elevated highway to ease west side traffic congestion. In her State of the State address in 2005, she said she was a supporter of mass transit on Oahu and offered to work with then-Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann on a solution. Later that summer, she let a bill authorizing the City Council to add a general-excise tax surcharge for rail become law without her signature.”

“John Carroll, Lingle’s opponent in the Republican primary, strongly opposes the rail project. The attorney and former stage lawmaker said the project is too expensive for Honolulu and its scale and design inappropriate for Hawaii.”

“Carroll said Lingle reneged on her 2002 pledge to Americans for Tax Reform not to raise taxes as governor when she let the authorization for the rail surcharge become law without her signature.”

Honolulu StarAdvertiser 2/26/12

We’ll Take Our “Friends” Over Lingle’s “Likes”

Carroll: An open, friendly two-way conversation.

The Lingle campaign was crowing this morning about its Social Media campaign and the fact that they have over 1000 “likes” from “Hawaii and on the mainland.” That’s nice, but hardly indicates that their message of “Making the Issues the Heart of the Matter,” is catching on fire. Her competitor in the Republican primary, John Carroll, also has well over 1000 “Friends” on Facebook. This August we’ll see whether John’s “Friends” out-vote Linda’s “Likes.”

There are some interesting differences between how the two candidates present themselves on social media:

1. Facts vs Fluff. When John Carroll discusses how to fix Hawaii’s economy, he presents a well thought-out white paper document on why we need to get rid of the Jones Act, the single biggest impediment to growing Hawaii’s economy. Lingle makes a video and says her solution is to “restore

Lingle: If you "like" me you will fill out and submit this form.

confidence in government.” That’s it? What does that even mean?

2. John welcomes dialog. Lingle says that “Issues are the Heart of the Matter,” but refuses to debate. You can write comments and engage the candidate on John Carroll’s Facebook Pages and Website. On Lingle’s it is only she who speaks…you get to listen.

3. People first, or ME first? John’s approach is open, friendly and personal. Lingle, like any long-time bureaucrat, insists that you fill out a long boring form. The internet is supposed to be interactive not indoctrination. The first thing Lingle offers you is a pledge to vote for her, no matter what…shouldn’t we discuss the issues first?  Aren’t they the “Heart of the Matter?”

The difference is truly striking: John proposes a conversation to find out what you want; Lingle jumps right into “how she can USE you,” to get what she wants.

If Lingle truly believes that issues matter, she should publicly debate John Carroll and defend her positions. Instead she chooses to hide behind a one-way stream of one-sided messaging, bought and paid for primarily by mainland special interests.

If you want to respresent Hawaii’s people, Linda, you need to talk with them, not at them…or, they might stop “liking” you.

Lingle’s Bi-Partisan Message Hits a Sour Note

A beaming, "bi-partisan" Lingle pledges support to Obama's "Plan."

At a time when the U.S. Constitution is under attack, International policy is in disarray and Federal deficits spiral out of control…Linda Lingle wants to compromise with Liberals.  Bi-partisan cooperation may sound like a nice “touchy-feely” message to float out to a predominantly Democrat audience in Hawaii’s general election, but sounds like simple appeasement to Hawaii’s Republicans.  Lingle’s current television commercial chirps about her being “pledged to support President Obama’s plan.”  How exactly  is that supposed to sound to Republicans who want President Obama voted out of office, NOT cooperated with?

LINGLE OFFERS CONSIDERABLY LESS COOPERATION TO HER FELLOW REPUBLICANS…

Lingle has charged Republican stalwarts who contested the questionable election of her former DBEDT Director, Ted Liu, to be the new Republican National Committeeman, with trying to split the party.  Many have charged Lingle with simply taking over the Party to use as her campaign organization and “cheating” to fix the Liu election (who won by one vote over Willis Lee after illegal proxies tallied in the back room.)

READ “RULES” ON THE STAR-ADVERTISER’S POLITICAL RADAR BLOG

Star-Advertiser Excerpts (2/16/12):

“Several Republicans have challenged a close vote in January to elect Ted Liu, the former director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, over Willes Lee, a former party chairman. The challenges allege that the party improperly allowed proxy voting, among other things.”

“But the deeper issue is the private resentment among several Republicans to what they see as an effort by former Gov. Linda Lingle and her allies to control all aspects of the minority party.”

Blog comentors chimed in on the story:

“Lingle has historically used the Republican Party as her own personal campaign organization. The questionable, possibly fraudulent, vote to elect her old DBEDT head as the National Committeeman is par for the course. To push back on people who are just trying to keep things fair as trying to “split the party,” is insulting. The real split is between actual Republicans and Lingleites.”

“The Lingle group wants to avoid an open conflict with the dissident groups: the “movement conservatives around Sam Slom and the Grassroot Institute, the religious conservatives and the Ron Paul supporters. But neither are they willing to share power with them, even if it means, to put it indelicately, cheating.”

“In addition to the back room shenanigans, Lingle’s camp is also asking Republicans to “look the other way” on: her pro-choice stand, anti-school voucher position, promotion of the Akaka Bill, abandonment of the Taxpayer’s Protection Pledge, and enabling of the rail tax. It’s starting to add up to a lot to have to overlook.”

Obama Care Attacks Separation of Church and State

Obama administration declares the Church and the Constitution no longer relevant to modern society in one fell swoop.

By John S. Carroll, Candidate for the U.S. Senate

President Obama has repaid the Catholic Church for its support of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act by seeking to breach the Constitutionally protected separation of church and state. His Health and Human Service Department effectively denied conscience protections to church-run schools, hospitals and social service agencies, ruling that they must provide free contraception to employees, in violation of church teaching.

As a staunch constitutionalist, a Catholic and a believer in pro-life; this offends me on three levels. This is nothing less than an affront to American democracy and an assault on the U.S. Constitution. My opponent in the Hawaii’s Republican Primary, Ex-Governor Lingle, shares none of my three beliefs and will let this issue pass in the “spirit of bi-partisan placation.” This is just one reason she should not be elected to represent Hawaii’s Republicans as their Senatorial candidate.

This can and should be Obama’s undoing. I sincerely hope that the Church and the Catholic Health Association have learned their lesson. And that lesson is that people who espouse socialist “reforms” cannot be trusted. Their promise that no abortion funding was contained in Obama Care was as hollow as their oath to uphold the United States Constitution. The Catholic Church as well as all Christian denominations are now in a fight to protect their very existence. Make no mistake about it, this attempt to force secular authority on them is just the beginning.

The separation of church and state is not a new concept. English philosopher John Locke argued that government lacked authority in the realm of individual conscience. Thomas Jefferson, an admirer of Locke’s ideas wrote:

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”, thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.

These concepts were codified into the U.S. Constitution. I believe that this document is the sacred foundation of our individual liberties and the basis for our country’s greatness, and is not subject to contemporary revisionists like Barack Obama.

Whomever is elected to serve Hawaii in the U.S. Senate will be in a fight to protect our Constitution. Lingle will compromise; I will not.

Green Drinks Mixer

John Carroll at the Green Drinks event at Fresh Cafe.

John attended Green Drinks, a networking event for green and sustainability-minded businesses in Hawaii.  Representatives from various alternative energy companies and other associated with Honolulu’s fastest growing business sector had an opportunity to meet with John.

Carroll, an early environmentalist, and author of many of Hawaii’s early ocean protection laws, has been following the development of this “knowledge industry” in our state.  John is a vocal advocate for Hawaii becoming a center for research and development, marketing and manufacture of alternative energy technologies.

We have an abundance of energy resources, from geothermal, to solar, wind and ocean energy. Why not focus our young minds onfuture energy solutions that could grow into an entire new econmic component for us.  Major economic turn-arounds in other markets were usually created by a deliberate plan to go after the emerging technology market.  Carroll feels that Hawaii has an opportunity to compete for the exploding alternative energy, environmental monitoring, and biofuel markets.

John Carroll’s Pro-Life Commitment

John at the Pro Life rally at the State Capitol on January 22nd.

John Carroll is the only pro-life candidate among Hawaii’s contenders for the U.S. Senate seat. John was not always a pro-life advocate. As a member of Hawaii’s State Legislature, John voted in support of Roe v. Wade, and pretty much subscribed to the prevailing definition of Pro-Choice as a women’s rights issue.

John’s transformation began when his daughter Dianne Sanae was born premature (only 27 weeks) weighing only one pound five ounces. Somewhere during the long days and nights spent caring for the child, reading Dr. Seuss books, John came to the realization that this fragile life that he was defending could have been legally aborted. At that point the abstract arguments about when life begins, and beliefs as to whose “rights” should protected became crystal clear.

Carroll and his wife were tested further when it was recommended by a majority of the attending physicians that they “pull the plug” on their premature child, and avoid the anticipated health issues that would surely arise. John refused, “I’m not going to kill my own kid.”

That was almost 30 years ago and time has proven the medical advice John was given to be totally wrong. Dianne Sanae has not only grown into an accomplished young woman, but has proven to be an invaluable contributor to our community. She is teaching autistic, hearing and speech challenged pre-schoolers as well as visiting with pre mature babies and working with the group that is nurturing children who have heart disease at Kapiolani Women’s and Children’s Hospital. At the very hospital where she was born, she now shares a special bond with the kids under her care.

John Carroll’s journey to his pro-life position was personal one, and one that has remained unwavering for 30 years. The line between a human life and unwanted pregnancy cannot be established arbitrarily. If John’s child, Dianne Sanae, could go on to prove the value of one human life, without meeting the current definition of someone protected by legal rights, then all children should have that chance as well.

Series of Bad Bills Assault the U.S. Constitution

Protecting the U.S. Constitution is the primary responsibility of every elected official.

By John S. Carroll

Just this week two bills came under withering public criticism. SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act,) PIPA (Protect IP Act) were withdrawn after a highly publicized one-day Internet protest that featured huge Web enterprises like Wikipedia, Google, ReadIt and WordPress blacking out their sites and instructing their visitors to protest the bills to their elected officials. The bills, while purporting to protect intellectual property and attack the online piracy of things like music and movies also included language that made it possible for the government to unilaterally censor or shut down any Web operations it wanted. This blatant infringement of free speech, and affront to the U.S. Constitution was tucked into the small print. Was this just sloppy legislation, or something more pernicious…a deliberate assault on our civil liberties?

Less that a month ago, another bill with even more potential constitutional damage slipped through. The NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) was signed into law on New Year’s Eve by President Obama, after he had promised to veto it. According to the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) this gives the U.S. President military authority to arrest and hold anyone, anywhere, for an unlimited amount of time without charges or due process. This includes American citizens on American soil in direct violation of the 5^th and 6^th Amendments of the Bill of Rights.

All four of Hawaii’s Washington contingent voted in favor of this bill!

Terrorism has replaced Communism as the bogeyman used to spook the American public into yielding their constitutional rights to what could easily become a police state run under martial law. President Obama knew this bill was flawed when he signed it. He felt compelled to add an addendum or “clarification” that said these new powers would never be used against American citizens. His promise, unfortunately, is not binding on future administrations. This law must be fixed.

I strongly believe that defense of the U.S. Constitution is the primary responsibility of every elected official, and that the passage of laws that attack the foundation of our civil liberties, whether by negligence or design, borders on disastrous irresponsibility. SOPA and PIPA, under the guise of protecting our entertainment industry, laid the groundwork for political suppression. NDAA, largely a procurement authorization, contains its own toxic time bomb whose worse case would result in American gulags, or North Korean-style political re-education camps.

Our constitution is America’s defining achievement. It is what has allowed the United States to attain greatness and has established our nation as the protector of human civil liberties. As your next U.S. Senator, I promise you that protecting the U.S. Constitution, and fending off these heinous attempts to chip away at the very backbone of the American spirit will be my unwavering priority.