Republicans Gather for Lincoln Day Dinner

John Carroll joins other noteable Island Republicans on stage.

This year’s Lincoln Day Dinner was well attended with over 750 guests at the Hilton Coral Ballroom.  The attendees were treated to a video featuring prominent Hawaii Republicans over the years.  There were several interesting interviews and insights delivered by political veterans like Andrew Poepoe and Fred Rolfing. Hawaii’s two-term U.S. Congresswoman, Patricia Saiki, served as mistress of ceremonies for much of the evening.

The highlight of the evening was when all attendees under forty were asked to stand…they represented almost half of the audience. This is a terrific sign for the health and future of Hawaii’s Republicans.

Tea For Two

Senator Sam Slom and U.S. Senate candidate John Carroll

Both Senator Slom and John Carroll signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, that commits them to voting against any tax increases.

Carroll Would Vote to Repeal “ObamaCare”

While Lingle sidestepped the question of whether she would vote to repeal the federal health care law, many in her party have not, directly attacking the law as a prime example of government overreach under Obama.

John Carroll, an attorney and former state lawmaker running against Lingle in the Republican primary, would repeal the law and return all health care decisions back to the states. He said requiring people to buy health insurance is unconstitutional. He also thinks individuals and religious organizations should be able to practice their religion free of government interference, such as federal mandates for birth control coverage.

John Carroll Endorses Ron Paul

Political Radar – by ddpledge – February 29, 20012

John Carroll, an attorney and former state lawmaker running for U.S. Senate, has endorsed U.S. Rep. Ron Paul in the Republican presidential campaign.

Carroll, who is running against former Gov. Linda Lingle in the GOP primary for Senate, said he is in agreement with the libertarian-leaning Paul on the most important issues. He cited free trade, tax reform, government downsizing, individual liberty, a more responsible foreign policy, and preserving the integrity of the U.S. Constitution.

Carroll said in a statement that other candidates should make their presidential preference known. Lingle has not said which Republican candidate she endorses in Hawaii’s Republican caucuses on March 13.

From Carroll:

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

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.

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.