Islanders rally for Obama
Enthusiasm builds as campaign kicks off for Hawaii-born DemocratBy MELISSA TANJI, Staff Writer
Article Photos
KAHULUI - Retired workers, Upcountry artists and college students joined a rally Tuesday night in support of Barack Obama's presidential campaign held at Maui Waena Intermediate School.
More than a hundred people, representing a cross section of Maui's voting population, turned out for a bento dinner and speeches by Hawaii Democratic Party leaders, and to sign up to be involved in the summer campaign activities for the Hawaii-born Obama.
"He's great," said retiree Louise Corpuz. "I think he knows what he's talking about."
Corpuz, sitting with her fellow ILWU pensioners from Central Maui, said even though she thinks Obama is young, "Give him a try."
"We support our union-endorsed candidates," said Ruby Yoshisato, a retired Maui Land & Pineapple Co. worker.
"He's young and energetic."
On the opposite end of the age spectrum, 20-year-old Chelsea Schneider joined in the rally to support the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party. The college student from Kihei said Obama invokes hope and faith.
"He's different," she said.
In her first chance to vote in a presidential election, she said she is pleased to find a candidate she believes in.
Since winning more than the 2,118 delegates needed to ensure his nomination, Obama has been endorsed by his chief opponent in the primary campaign, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, and refocused his campaign against Republican Sen. John McCain.
Obama will secure his nomination at the Democratic National Convention being held Aug. 25-28 in Denver.
The rally Tuesday attracted former Clinton supporters as well as ardent Obama backers, Andy Winer, Hawaii state director for the Obama campaign, pointed out to the crowd.
Even though Obama has had a strong hold in Hawaii as shown in the support in the state's Democratic caucuses, Winer told the Maui audience that they cannot let up. He said Hawaii residents need to get their former neighbors and relatives in Nevada involved in the Obama campaign as that state could be a swing state.
"This year is going to be our year, not only locally but nationally," Winer said. "We are going to take over the White House."
Obama supporters said they liked Obama's eloquence and his promises for change.
Thelma Pascua, a bookkeeper and secretary from Kahului, wore a black tank top declaring her love for Obama.
"I think he's a down-to-earth person," Pascua said. "I know he'll make changes. I know he's honest."
She also supports Obama for his promise to bring home the troops from Iraq and his ideas for improving the economy.
Retired carpenter Steve Suyat said Obama is a "dynamic speaker," but will need to fulfill the promises of his campaign.
"I hope he does the things he says he's going to do," he said.
Besides serving as an organizing effort, the rally was a fundraiser, with Maui Artists for Peace selling shirts and tank tops with Obama's portrait.
Artist Michelle Sewell, who is part of the group, said the shirts and tank tops have also been sent to Obama's campaign on the Mainland, and Obama's sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, was also presented a shirt when she came to Maui and visited the "War and Peace" art exhibition.
"I think Barack Obama is the best candidate," Sewell said. "I can't wait for a change . . . a wave of change . . . a shift, if you will. I think it's imperative."
Sewell, who will attend the Democratic National Convention as a volunteer, said she likes Obama's platform and his commitment to health care, education and the economy.
She said she believes he can change the world's view of the United States.
Maui campaign organizer Kallie Keith-Agaran, a former county Democratic Party chairwoman, said she had lived in Chicago and met Obama. She is motivated and feels he has inspired others in the community.
"He's smart. He's articulate. He knows what people want. His values are spot on. He can articulate subtleties between lost patriotism and real patriotism for example. He's passionate, he's committed. He motivates people and he walks the talk," she said. "I can tell you just by looking in the room. That's his impact. We would've had 20 people if we were lucky four years ago."
That feeling was echoed by Tony Edington, who said he could support Clinton or Obama.
"I'm excited about the national election and this is the beginning of that process, so I wanted to contribute," he said. "I like his position on the war and I think that having him as the new face of the Democratic Party would be good for the party as well.
* Staff Writer Steven Tonthat contributed to this story. Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.
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Kulicke
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07-03-08 4:51 PM
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"We support our union-endorsed candidates," said Ruby Yoshisato, a retired Maui Land & Pineapple Co. worker. That's it Ruby. Do what The Man tells you. Off the plantation? Not yet.
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spud29
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07-03-08 2:12 PM
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Vote NObama Brudda!!
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JoeMama
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07-03-08 1:27 PM
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Welcome to Obamaland Hawaii. Land of the fearful and home of the ignorant. Now Rock is re-introducing his new "Brand" to the American people so we can get to know who he really is now. His campaign of change fits him like a glove on OJ. he changes his positions daily. Public financing of his campaign is one example. Wearing a flag pin on his lapel is a real item. Focus groups made him finally put one on. He lives and breathes focus group results. He sends out Weasely Clark to do a smear job on McCain, then completely throws the generalisimo under the bus. He is a slimy snake in the grass you can not trust. He has no core values he lives by. He is totally unqualified to be our President. In high school, we had a candidate running for Student Body President. He promised Coke in all the drinking fountains, no school on Monday and Friday, two hour lunch periods, and guess what...he won. We never got one thing he promised if we voted for him.
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kimosurf
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07-03-08 11:42 AM
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I wonder what the outcome would be if a valid cross section of voters was measured for I.Q. Might I speculate that Obamy supporters are considerably less intelligent, as well as obviously, considerably less accomplished in education, career, income, and social status ?
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Citizen
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07-02-08 11:11 PM
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Mikaela and I haven't always agreed but I think we're rock solid on this one. Let's hope that whoever wins puts the country before politics and works to help every American realize their dream of a united nation working towards our common goals instead of political fighting.
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JamesKWalsh
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07-02-08 11:10 PM
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I would call a gathering of only a little over 100 people not much of a rally at all. I bet the McCain camp does a lot better when they get going. It's surprising to me so few attended this meeting.
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JamesKWalsh
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07-02-08 11:09 PM
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I would call a gathering of only a little over 100 people not much of a rally at all. I bet the McCain camp does a lot better when they get going. It's surprising to me so few attended this meeting.
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kimosurf
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07-02-08 9:23 PM
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Join Retired Plantation Slaves, er Union Workers, for Obamy.
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JoeMama
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07-02-08 7:40 PM
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Obama has no military record. Period. He has no record in the US Senate except for being the most liberal Senator of them all. First he sells you on the point he wants to pull all the troops out of Iraq as soon as he is sworn in. Now he says they will have to stay. He wants universal health care. How is it going to be paid for? More deductions from your paycheck is how. Taxing the rich is far from enough. Who gets universal health care and where? Need a heart bypass? Wait in line. Obama promotes gay marriage. If you are a Christian you believe homosexuality is a sin and Holy Matrimony is between a man and a woman. Can you vote for someone who says he is a Christian yet believes gay marriage is fine? He doesn't want us to drill and refine our own oil. So if you like $5.50 a gallon gas now, you will really love Obama when gas is $8.50 a gallon. Obama wants to make friends with Iran and let them keep their nuclear weapons program even though they have sworn to wipe Israel off the Earth.
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KarlCheney
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07-02-08 7:03 PM
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Obama never criticized Mcsames service record he just stated being in the military doesn't qualify you to President. Funny how you people only support military men that agree with your politics. Where was your outrage Proudpatriot when Kerry was being torn apart?
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Makalapa
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07-02-08 6:42 PM
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McCain makes sense to me. I think Obama is nice man but he really has no idea what he is talking about. He is a rookie. Abercrombie is totally crazy man. He yells and acts really odd in Washington D.C. He is nut case from the old days in Manoa.
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ChickenLittle
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07-02-08 6:28 PM
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Its all cut and paste. There are no orignal ideas presented. They must have a fan club that feeds them the material to post around the internet. Go Obama/Powell '08!!
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proudpatriot56
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07-02-08 4:44 PM
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OOPS! Meant to say THREE dollar bill! Sorry 'bout that.
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proudpatriot56
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07-02-08 4:42 PM
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Thank you JoeMama! Except for the amnesty thing, I agree with you completely. Since the first Democratic Party primary took place this year, the media - especially the Hawaii press and TV news - have acted like there IS no other candidate running for President! Frankly, I'm sick to death of the "Barak H. Obama Show"! The guy is about as genuine as a two dollar bill. What really gets me is how so many, many people out there just blindly follow along with whatever lies he decides to spew on any given occasion. His words and actions during the campaign have been totally counter to his activities BEFORE the campaign - which are the true measure of any political contender. To people who say, "Give him a try," I say, "Please don't vote at all"! We need somebody at the helm who has more than 143 DAYS of actual on-the-job experience; someone who is more than a pretty boy, groomed by the DNC and the mainstream media! WAKE UP FOLKS and stop following the h
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JoeMama
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07-02-08 4:10 PM
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Obama and his hitman Generalisimo Weaseley have criticized McCain for riding in a fighter jet and getting shot down over Viet Nam saying this doesn't qualify him to be President. McCain also spent 5 years in a cage as a prisoner of war. Was tortured endlessly and was eventually freed. He served an additional 8 years in the military and finally retired with a service record bigger than the New York City phone book. He has survived real torture at the hands of a real enemy. The only torture Barack Obama has ever suffered is having to wear a flag pin no his suit lapel. Obama is a phony, empty suit marxist socialist who is totally unqualified to be our next Commander in Chief. Just vote NObama. His wave of change is tax increases across the board, higher and higher energy costs, rationed medical care, means testing for social security benefits, amnesty for all illegals, and more loss of liberty, freedom and a country totally dependent on government. You call that change you can believe in
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Citizen
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07-02-08 3:27 PM
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The Chicago Democratic Machine isn't known for "change" but it sure is for "crooked" so I have to wonder if someone who's a product of it really is as decent as he appears. I hope so but I must admit I have doubts.
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