by Andrew Walden
Charles Djou was the second most moderate Republican in Congress.
According to an analysis of the 111th US Congress published Friday by the National Journal, among Republicans Hawaii Representative Charles Djou was out-moderated only by Rep Joseph Cao of New Orleans. Based on votes related to fiscal, social and foreign policy issues, Djou ranked 253rd most liberal and 175th most conservative.
Djou’s votes by percentage Liberal or Conservative
- Economic 38 - 62
- Social 47 - 53
- Foreign 40 - 60
- Composite 41.7 - 58.3
In spite of his moderation, Djou was defeated by Colleen Hanabusa in November. Just as she promised, Hanabusa—like CD2 Rep Mazie Hirono--has joined the socialist-oriented Progressive Congressional Caucus, organized by the Democratic Socialists of America.
They are not alone. Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie was a member of the Progressive Caucus in Congress and has for years been involved in DSA activities. His wife Nancie Caraway was in the 1980s a national leader of the DSA who served on the DSA’s National Feminist Commission. George (Skip) Roberts, a key Abercrombie Congressional staffer, was (and still is) an international leader of the worldwide socialist movement, serving as the DSA’s representative to the Socialist International.
A Gallup Poll of Hawaii adults published earlier in the week shows that Hawaii has the fewest self-identified conservatives of any state in the nation—but Hawaii’s 27.9% of conservatives still outnumber the Aloha State’s 23.6% of self-identified liberals. In Hawaii, the proportion of moderates is number one in the nation, accounting for 43.3% of the population. But Hawaii’s congressional delegation does not reflect the state’s moderation.
Based on votes in the 111th, Hawaii's CD2 Congresswoman Mazie Hirono is the 25th most liberal.
Hirono’s votes by percentage Liberal or Conservative
- Economic 90 - 0
- Social 89 - 7
- Foreign 84 - 11
- Composite 90.8 – 9.2
On the Senate side, which has no formal Progressive Caucus, Senators Daniel Inouye and Dan Akaka are tied for 19th most liberal.
Inouye’s votes by percentage Liberal or Conservative
- Economic 75 - 22
- Social 65 - 0
- Foreign 47 - 0
- Composite 77.5 – 22.5
Akaka’s votes are identical to Inouye’s:
- Economic 75 - 22
- Social 65 - 0
- Foreign 47 - 0
- Composite 77.5 – 22.5
Moderation is by definition a place between two extremes. Gallup’s poll would seem to imply that Hawaii should be a fountainhead of political moderation, but politics is dominated by the extreme left. Leftists nearly monopolize positions of power and cultural authority throughout Hawaii.
Seen within this context, the large number of moderates is a product of decades of leftist information warfare against Hawaii’s historically conservative society. This will only change as Hawaii conservatives assert themselves towards re-taking a foot hold in Hawaii culture, letters, politics, academia, jurisprudence, and religion.
It may not yet be readily apparent, but that process has begun. Otherwise, you would not be reading this.
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