An analytical blog following Senate candidate Mazie Hirono in the Second District of Hawaii. It will examen her stances on key political issues, as well as offer insight on campaign strategies, endorsements, and election results.

Monday, 19 November 2012

Abortion Policy (Wikipedia)

          Wikipedia Entry:

         Hirono's voting history on abortion policies in the US House of Representatives is congruent with her reputation as a far-left Democrat(2).
         Hirono co-sponsored and signed the Preventions First Act of 2007.  This act was aimed towards increasing public access to contraception, as well as increasing government funding to support the use of contraception (1One the issues).  The act takes a pro-active stance on birth control, with an emphasis on informing and protecting women from unintended pregnancy (1on the issues).
         On May 4, 2011, Mazie Hirono voted against the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, which would have prohibited federal health care program from covering abortion costs, with exceptions being given to life-threatening cases (1On the issues).  The NTFA Act was highly controversial and pertinent to the futur of American health care, as its outcome would create policies that conflicted with the coverage of the President's proposed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public).
         In July of 2011, Hirono continued to show her support for contraceptives by signing the Access to Birth Control Act, which mandates that pharmacies provide birth control to customers without undue delay(1 onthe issues).  The ABP Act also ensures that customers seeking birth control can obtain without being submitted to unwanted harassment or breaches in patient confidentiality(1 On the issues).
       Emily's list, a Democratic pro-choice action committee, has pledged support to Hirono for her history of supporting of contraceptive and abortion policies during her term in the US house of Representatives (On the issues). The endorsement of Emily's list helped Hirono in her 2012 Senatorial race, having contributed $129,714 to her campaign.








"Mazie Hirono on Abortion." On the Issues. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.ontheissues.org/house/Mazie_Hirono_Abortion.htm>.

"Mazie Hirono on the Issues." On the Issues. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.ontheissues.org/house/Mazie_Hirono.htm>.

"Mazie K. Hirono." Hirono: Campaign Finance/Money. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00028139>. 

"PUBLIC LAW 111–148—MAR. 23, 2010." Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. N.p., n.d.
Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-111publ148/pdf/PLAW- 
111publ148.pdf>.

Saturday, 10 November 2012

Who Won What Where and Why?

          On November the 6th Mazie Hirono became the first Asian-born senator in America.  Mazie Hirono defeated the GOP candidate Linda Lingle 62.6% to 37.4%, by a margin of 107 thousand votes (2012 Presidential Election).  But what propelled Mazie to her substantial lead and victory?
          It is difficult to pinpoint why Mazie Hirono was so successful as a candidate.  Many aspects of her personality and her stance on prominent issues make her and appealing choice for the Senate.  It is my hypothesis that a combination of several smaller factors created the correct political climate that enabled Mazie Hirono to win her seat in the Senate.
         I believe that Hawaii being the home state of current President Barrack Obama was a powerful and positive influence that supported Mazie Hirono's campaign (Barack Obama Biography). The President's ties back to his home state motivated voters and aroused waves of Democratic sentiments;  the waves that Hirono rode to victory.  Like the President, Hirono is an advocate of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and places a high priority on issues of education (Mazie Hirono on the Issues).  Their agreement on issues such as these allows Hawaiians to channel their enthusiasm for Barrack Obama into his Hawaiian Senatorial candidate counterpart.
        Another important link Mazie Hirono shares with President Obama is that both she and he are visible minorities.  This visible connection between Hirono and Obama can only strengthen their inherent association,  and by extension aid the propagation of her campaign to Democrats already supporting Obama.  These supporters recognized the similarities, and likely lent their support to Hirono on the day of the election.  Although, this association may have influenced Democrats or those leaning Democrat to cast their ballot for Hirono, it is doubtful the presidential correlation had a positive voting influence on more right-wing Hawaiians.
         I do not think the influence of Mazie Hirono's ethnic origin ends with just a coincidental presidential correlation. The interplay of Mazie Hirono's ethnic origins and the demographic of Hawaii also came into play when determining the outcome of this election.  Hawaii's population is comprised of 38% asian citizens, a sleeping giant akin to latino populations in other states (Enloe and Seager 108)(US Census Bureau).  These Asians-Americans are the majority ethnic group in Hawaii, which gives them much power in determining the which political agents they are going to elect to represent them.  No one was better suited for representing the interests Asian-American Hawaiians than Mazie Hirono, who bore the potential of being the first Asian-American Senator.
        Due to this ethnic bias, I believe Mazie Hirono was able to clinch the votes of those who were more focused on candidate characteristics than their political platforms.  This ethnic trend of voting is correlated ideas of candidate centered voting, and in the case of Hawaii's visible majority it is a short-term strategy that holds the power to decide the outcome of an election (Berry et. al 226).  These ethnic similarities coupled with Hirono's presidential correlation were key components in securing her victory against Lingle.






"2012 Presidential Election." POLITICO. N.p., 13 Nov. 2012. Web. 14 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.politico.com/2012-election/map/>.

"Barack Obama Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, 9 Nov. 2012. Web.
<http://www.biography.com/people/barack-obama-12782369>.

Berry, Jeffrey, Kenneth M. Janda, Jerry Goldman, and Kevin W. Hula. The Challenge of Democracy.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004. Print.

Enloe, Cynthia H., and Joni Seager. The Real State of America Atlas: Mapping the Myths and Truths
of the United States. New York, NY: Penguin, 2011. Print.

"Hawaii US Census Bureau." USA Census Bureau. N.p., 18 Sept. 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2012.
<http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html>.

"Mazie Hirono on the Issues." On the Issues. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.ontheissues.org/house/Mazie_Hirono.htm>.

Sunday, 4 November 2012

Whose Side Are You on Anyway?

          It is not be uncommon for a Democrat Senate candidate to receive endorsements from other Democrats.  However, it is not only Hirono's fellow Democrats who are wholeheartedly endorsing her campaign, but Republican candidates and congressmen are rallying behind her cause as well (Garcia). Hirono's support across partisan lines was shocking, and will prove useful for the Hawaii candidate as the election draws nearer.
         John Carroll, Linda Lingle's former opponent in the Hawaiian Republican Primary Election, kissed Hirono on the cheek and offered her a few kind words (Garcia).  Carroll continued his endorsment of Hirono by publicly saying that "(Hirono is) the only option for Senate in my book right now"(qtd. in Garcia).  Though these comments may have been sincere,  Lingle's campaign could justify them being a bitter attempt to get even with Lingle after having been defeated by her in the primary election.  Regardless of what Carroll's words are construed to mean, his actions initiated a quick backlash from the Lingle's campaign.  Lingle's campaign spokesperson retaliated, stating that the endorsement Carrol made "[doesn't] mean a hill of beans"(qtd. Garcia).
        On what grounds can the Lingle campaign be so dismissive of their fellow party member's opinion?  The decline of partisanship in America is bears some of the responsibility (Berry et. al 226).  As more voters and even more candidates are beginning to lose their fierce partisan loyalty, it becomes easier to disagree with the party that candidate belongs to (Berry et. al 226).  Because of this shift in how candidates perceive themselves and their role in parties, political barriers that previously preventing this kind of criticism are being knocked down.  Lingle 's mockery of Carrol is an example of how his weak Republican identification lead to the endorsement of an opponent and then his ridicule at the hands of a fellow Republican.
        Weakening party identification is also a driving force in Hirono's second Republican endorsement, this one from Alaskan Congressman Don Young (Responds to Attack Ads).  The advertisement highlights Hirono's past bi-partisan accomplishments, and her ability to work with Republicans and achieve results.  Don Young fully endorses Hirono as the Senator Hawaii needs, although maybe not the one it deserves.
          Don Young's endorsement will be difficult for Lingle's campaign to ignore. Young is a reputable and conservative Congressman his home state of Alaska, a Republican stronghold that has only conceded once to a Democrat presidential candidate (Alaska 270 to win).  Young's status as a Republican politician will make dismissing his endorsement a difficult task for Lingle.
           Young's cross-partisan endorsement is yet another example of the weakening of partisan alignment in America.  Weaker partisan ties have lead to the current political social context in which Young  is able to speak freely in favor of Hirono, without fearing retribution from his fellow Republicans. Yet this weakening in partisan alignment also gives more leeway for other Republicans, such as Lingle, to disassociate with Young if they do not agree with the ideas he is espousing.  Such disassociation might be instrumental for Lingle if she wishes to recover from Hirono's very successful advertisement.






"Alaska 270 to Win." Alaska Presidential Election Voting History. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.270towin.com/states/Alaska>.


Berry, Jeffrey, Kenneth M. Janda, Jerry Goldman, and Kevin W. Hula. The Challenge of Democracy.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004. Print.


Garcia, Oskar. "Hirono Endorsed by Lingle's GOP Primary Opponent." Washington Examiner. N.p.,
24 Aug. 2012. Web. 4 Nov. 2012. <http://washingtonexaminer.com/hirono-endorsed-by- 
lingles-gop-primary-opponent/article/feed/2027395>.

"Responds to Attack Ads." Mazie Hirono Videos : Firstpost Topic. N.p., 3 Nov. 2012. Web.
<http://www.firstpost.com/topic/person/mazie-hirono-barack-obama-responds-to-attack- 
ads-video-CtSk3nwhdzY-62233-1.html>.

Saturday, 20 October 2012

Finances and The Overuse of Advertising

        Financially, the contenders for Hawaii's open Senate seat are standing on equal ground (Total Raised and Spent).  With Hirono having raised $5.1 million and Lingle having raised $5.4 million, the margin remains small and neither candidate is being offered a serious financial advantage (Mazie K. Hirono)(Total Raised and Spent).  As there is no significant gap in the funds both candidates were able to amass, it is interesting to cross-examen how each candidate thought it best to spend their available resources.
        Linda Lingle's campaign opted to purchase a cable channel to broadcast endorsements and advertisement 24-hours a day (Nagourney). This rather ambitious tactic exemplifies the idea of name recognition, which plays on undecided voter's memory to bring to mind the candidate that they most remember.  A 24-house news advertisement channel is an example of how the idea of name-recognition is being taken to the next level, providing a constant stream of stimulating propaganda.  This channel, situation only one station above Fox News, provides biased perspectives as seen through the eyes of the republican party, and would mislead any viewer to stumble upon it expected an objective perspective (Nagourney)(Berry et. al 142).
          Because of this over-zealous attempt to seize public attention, more timid voters might shy from its sheer audacity, thinking the channel to be a blatant waste of money or simply too forward in promoting Lingle's campaign. Is the channel even effective enough to justify 2.5 thousand dollars in expenditures every week (Nagourney)?  Political scientist Neal Milner answers that "most people people who are likely to watch [Lingle's channel] are people who have already decided to vote for her (qtd. in Nagourney).  If so, perhaps Lingle is just preaching to the choir and this channel is nothing more than a narcissistic release for the Republicans of Hawaii.
          In contrast, Hirono not strayed far from the beaten track in terms of advertising technique.  Any eccentricity in her campaign pales in comparison to the Lingle channel. As such, it is sufficient to say that Hirono has been more orthodox in her advertising campaign.  This makes Hirono's campaign less likely to alienate voters than if the bombarded them with an excess of advertisements.
         The Hirono and Lingle campaigns have both been diligent and reported to the best of their abilities their respective financial records to the Federal Election Commission (House and Senate Campaign Finance).  The money raised by both parties is in accordance with the Federal Elections Campaign Act, and no major discrepencies have yet been identified (House and Senate Campaign Finance)(Total Raised and Spent)(Berry et. al 221).  However, it is noteworthy to mention  that, as of october 17th, Hirono was only able to fully disclose  73.9% of her funds raised, while the origins of 26.1% of her funds remains incomplete. (Total Raised and Spent). Lingle's records were are much more transparent and accurate, as she was able to fully disclose the origins of 95.7% of her funds.
        Although it may amount to little more than slow accounting, the lack of transparency in Hirono's fiscal sector may be enough to cause Republicans, and even undecided voters, some grief.  There is still time for the Hirono campaign to get its finances in order before the mandatory submission of records to the FEC in November (Berry et. al 221).  It will be worthwhile to follow-up on these events and discover if the Hawaiian Democrats have indeed been fiscally responsible.
        Hirono received more donations, 21% of her campaign funds, from smaller individual donations (Mazie K. Hirono).  Lingle only received 7% of her overall campaign funds from small individual donations, and instead relied more heavily on larger and fewer donations (Total Raised and Spent). Observing this trend, and operating under the assumption that contributions are correlated to average household income, it becomes clear that Hirono is more popular among the majority of lower income households while Lingle is popular among the more wealthy households. These indicators based on campaign contributions are congruent with the national norms of partisanship and the role that income and socioeconomic status play in deciding elections (Berry et. al 173). Such partisan alignment determined by donation is a tool that can be used to gain insight into the candidates popularity, and to measure their success across different socioeconomic classes.





Berry, Jeffrey, Kenneth M. Janda, Jerry Goldman, and Kevin W. Hula. The Challenge of Democracy.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004. Print.

"House and Senate Campaign Finance." Federal Election Commission. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.fec.gov/disclosurehs/HSCandDetail.do>.

"Mazie K. Hirono." Campaign Finance/Money. N.p., 17 Oct. 2012. Web. 19 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00028139>.

Nagourney, Adam. "A Candidate Whose Ads Are Never Off the Air." The New York Times. The
New York Times, 09 Aug. 2012. Web. 19 Oct. 2012. 
<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/09/us/politics/linda-lingle-turns-hawaii-tv-channel-into- 
24-hour-campaign-ad.html?ref=lindalingle>.

"Total Raised and Spent." Total Raised and Spent. N.p., 16 Oct. 2012. Web. 19 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=his2>.

Thursday, 18 October 2012

Voting History and Demographic of Hawaii

       The state of Hawaii is home to only 1.37 million Americans, and is allotted 4 electoral college votes to contribute to each presidential election (Hawaii US Census Bureau)( Hawaii 270 to Win).  In it's first year as a State, Hawaii was originally allotted 3 electoral college votes in 1959, which was been raised to 4 electoral votes in the year following the 1960 election, and it has remained unchanged since then. (Hawaii 270 to win).
        Hawaii has remained a Democratic stronghold since its inception, with the exception of having conceded two victories to Republican presidential candidates (Hawaii Presidential Voting History).  Ronald  Reagan and Richard Nixon were the two non-Democrats presidential candidates to steal Hawaii, but not since then has it shared its electoral votes with a Republican (Hawaii 270 to Win).  This long-standing Democratic winning streak has created strong Democratic tone in Hawaii, one that may prove difficult for candidate Lingle to overcome.  Though Lingle did win her election against Hirono in 2002, her victory was the result of Hirono's last minute entry into the race and her slim victory over  the opposing democratic nominee, Ed Case. Hawaii
         Unlike other States, Hawaii is home home to a majority of ethnic minorities (Enloe and Seager 108).  Caucasians occupy only 24.9% of the population of the Hawaiian islands, and are vastly outnumbered but other ethnic groups (Enoloe and Seager 108).  Asian-Americans represent the largest ethnic group in Hawaii, contributing to 38% of the population (Hawaii US Census Bureau)(Enloe andSeager 108). As Mazie Hirono was born in Japan, her racial and ethnic congruency with a plurality of the population has the potential to be a political tool.  It might be easier to for Hawaiians to empathize with a candidate of the same ethnic origins, an advantage that might give Hirono an edge in the her campaign.  This unorthodox balance in ethnic distribution is likely to play a role in influencing the decisions of Hawaiians come November the 6th.
     




Enloe, Cynthia H., and Joni Seager. The Real State of America Atlas: Mapping the Myths and Truths
of the United States. New York, NY: Penguin, 2011. Print.

"Hawaii US Census Bureau." USA Census Bureau. N.p., 18 Sept. 2012. Web. 8 Nov. 2012.
<http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html>.

"Hawaii Presidential Election Voting History." CNN. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/pre/HI/history.html>.

"Hawaii 270 to Win." 270 to Win. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.270towin.com/states/Hawaii>.

Wednesday, 17 October 2012

Promotion of Women's Rights and Hirono's Publicity

          Mazie Hirono is a fervent protector of civil rights, specifically when pertaining to achieving equality between the sexes.  Hirono co-sponsored the re-introduction of the Equal Rights Act, which was initially brought into effect in the 1960's, to help with issues such as discriminatory wages (Mazie Hirono on Civil Rights). The re-introduction of this legislation would equip congress with greater power to address and combat infractions on existing regulation regarding discrimination based on sex or race (Mazie Hirono on Civil Rights).
          But is discrimination based on sex still an important issue in America? Though certain among us may contend that it is not, women currently only earn on average 77% of what their male counterparts earn in the same occupation (Cheeseman and Downs). This significant gap of 33% percent illustrates a clear lack of equality in the current socioeconomic system, not congruent with the founding notions of freedom, order and equality for which America strives (Berry, et al.).  As such, Hirono became a combattant of such shortcomings, using her influence in the political sphere as well as her personal experience as woman in politics as political weapons in her arsenal.
          The state of Hawaii itself is represented by a legislature comprised only 33% of women (Enloe and Seager.  It is of little surprise that Congresswoman Hirono has been such a strong supporter of equality when her State legislature is dominated by a 2/3 majority of men. This inequality of representation can be addressed by breaking down barriers, such as sexual discrimination and wage gaps, that would discourage women from seeking public office.  Though never explicitly stated by Hirono, it is likely that gender parody in politics is a long-term goal.
          The discussion of gender discrimination in politics does raise questions about how Hirono is portrayed by the media.  Many articles regarding the Congresswoman go on in length on the subject of the ongoing struggles of two women vying for control of Hawaii's second district (Gaddis).  The articles heavily broadcast the significance of the sex of both candidate and its importance for the state of  Hawaii.  Though multiple female candidates is an excellent indicator for the progression of equality in politics, it may cast a shadow over the issues the candidates themselves are advocating.  Although some news outlets, such as Honolulu's Civil Beat, are maintaining an objective perspective, it becomes easy for to lose sight of candidate's issues and in favor of what might be considered a more appealing topic of sex in politics (Blair).
          I do not mean to say that broadcasting the success of two prominent female candidates should be frowned upon, rather that such information should be released in a responsible manner in tandem with other relevant electoral information.





Berry, Jeffrey, Kenneth M. Janda, Jerry Goldman, and Kevin W. Hula. The Challenge of Democracy.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004. Print.

Blair, Chad. "Lingle and Hirono, On The Attack." Honolulu Civil Beat. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2012/10/31/17488-civil-beat-poll-hironos-double-digit- 
lead-over-lingle-holding/>.

Cheeseman, Jennifer, and Barbara Downs. "Examining the Gender Earnings Gap: Occupational
Differences and the Life Course." US Census. N.p., 29 Mar. 2012. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. 
<http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/ioindex/GenderEarningsGap.pdf>.

Enloe, Cynthia H., and Joni Seager. The Real State of America Atlas: Mapping the Myths and Truths
of the United States. New York, NY: Penguin, 2011. Print.

Gaddis, Nate. "Lingle vs Hirono: An Historically Rare, Important Election." Maui Now RSS. N.p., 22
Aug. 2012. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. <http://mauinow.com/2012/08/22/lingle-vs-hirono-an- 
historically-rare-important-election/>.

 "Mazie Hirono on Civil Rights." Mazie Hirono on Civil Rights. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.ontheissues.org/house/Mazie_Hirono_Civil_Rights.htm>.

Tuesday, 16 October 2012

Hirono's Conservation and Environment Effort

          Environmental protection is one of the primary goals of Congresswoman Hirono as she battles for the vacant senatorial position.  (Congresswoman Mazie Hirono).  There is much natural land in Hawaii's second district, therefore it is no surprise that Hawaiians would consider environment protection to be a key issue.  Hirono might simply be espousing environmental protection to gain favor, although it is possible she believes it to be in the nation's best interest to preserve the local flora and fauna.
          Hirono is  known for her voting on clean energy initiatives but primarily on numerous policies regarding wildlife conservation initiatives, having co-sponsored several of these projects herself.  She bears a clear concern for wildlife, particularly animal wellbeing where it is threatened by human interference (Mazie on the issues). 
          Among the long list of the animals Hirono has petitioned to save are polar bears, bluefin tuna, foxes, wolves and horses (Mazie Hirono on Environment). Along similar lines she also co-sponsored PUPS, legislation that increases the regulation of dog kennels to decrease the mistreatment of puppies (Mazie on the environment). Her support of animals has been consistant throughout her terms in public office, and she was awarded  a rating of 75% by the Humane Society Legislative Fund on issues concerning the well-being of animals (Mazie onEnvironment)(Humane Society Legislative Fund).
        Hirono's humanitarian views are endearing to the public and make her an appealing candidate for citizens concerned about animal rights.  Hirono's activism portrays her seemingly caring nature by showing her concern for less fortunate animals.  Demonstrating such a strong sense of character is highly appealing in the current political age, where a candidate's personality can have such a large impact upon their support base (Barry et. al 223).  Combatting animal cruelty and fighting to protect endangered animals is therefore an excellent method of improve a candidate's image.
          The production of clean energy is another issue that relatively high on Congreesowman Hirono's list of priorities.  She is against  unregulated pollution of the environment, and supported enforcing limits on CO2 emitions in 2009. She also believes that Americans need "to wean [themselves] from imported oil"(qtd. in Mazie Hirono on Energy and Oil).  Her left-wing views regarding environmental policy are likely to gain her favor in a state that traditionally leans democratic.
         The natural persona exuded by Hawaii is most likely a cause for Hirono's stances on environmental issues. Her advocacy of pro-environmental policy will earn her votes from concerned Hawaiians.






Barry, Jeffrey M, Jerry Goldman, Kevin W. Hula, and Kenneth Janda. The Challenge of
Democracy American Government in Global Politics. United States: Wadsworth, Cengage  
Learning, 2012. Print.


"Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono." Malama 'Aina. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2012.
<http://hirono.house.gov/issues/issue/?IssueID=57981>.

"Humane Society Legislative Fund." Humane Society Legislative Fund. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.hslf.org/>.

"Mazie Hirono on Energy and Oil." Mazie Hirono on Energy and Oil. On the Issues, 14 Oct. 2012.
Web. <http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Mazie_Hirono_Energy_+_Oil.htm>.

"Mazie Hirono on Environment." Mazie Hirono on Environment. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Mazie_Hirono_Environment.htm>.