It appears Gov. Neil Abercrombie is again ensnarled in his own comments.
The Los Angeles Times reported on Abercrombie’s recollections of the death of Hawaii’s senior Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, and the passing of a letter from Inouye to Abercrombie asking that U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa be appointed to replace him in the Senate.
"Although the letter was marked ‘personal,’ the governor noted acidly, it also was released to the media," reporter Mark Z. Barabak wrote.
"I don’t argue a bit that represented his sentiments," Abercrombie continued. "I say with equal certainty that I also know he admonished me to do what I thought was best for the people of Hawaii.’"
Although Abercrombie regularly pledged allegiance to Inouye when both served in Washington — Abercrombie in the House for 20 years and Inouye in the House and Senate for 53 years — Inouye was not much of an Abercrombie fan.
When Abercrombie abandoned his congressional subcommittee chairmanship and the accrued seniority to run for governor, Inouye was not pleased. Abercrombie’s Democratic opponent, former Mayor Mufi Hannemann, actually bragged at a fundraiser that Inouye supported him.
While denying that, Inouye didn’t say he also supported Abercrombie, but just that he thought the primary race for governor should have lots of contestants.
The irony is that while Abercrombie saw nothing wrong with bailing on 20 years’ seniority for a chance at another office, Abercrombie says one of the reasons he is supporting U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz over Hanabusa is that Schatz, being younger, will have a chance to gain more seniority.
Abercrombie also repeated his claim that the Inouye letter asking for Hanabusa to be appointed was leaked to the media. That speculation has taken on a life of its own, with conspiracy theorists suggesting the letter was ginned up by the Hanabusa camp.
The facts, however, tell the true story. Shortly after Inouye’s death, Abercrombie was at a news conference and discussed Inouye’s death and even read from the late Senator’s letter to him. When asked about the letter, Abercrombie said it was personal.
It was only after Abercrombie refused to say that Inouye had asked for one final favor from the governor that Inouye’s office released the actual letter.
"I respectfully request that U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa succeed me, and continue the work, together with Mazie, on behalf of Hawaii in the U.S. Senate. Colleen possesses the intellect, presence and legislative skill to succeed in the Senate. I have no doubt that she will represent Hawaii with the same fervor and commitment that I brought to the Senate chamber since 1962," Inouye wrote.
If there was ever a politician who appreciated every nuance of the congressional seniority system, it was Inouye, so if the call of succession was only to see Hawaii represented by someone young, Inouye would have said that.
But he didn’t. So one of the questions Schatz will have to address in the Senate campaign is, "Why didn’t Inouye pick you?"
Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach him at rborreca@staradvertiser.com.
