Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, it seems.
Well he’s not a bad wolf necessarily. But former Congressman Ed Case (2002-2007) is wondering what Hirono is afraid of and why she won’t agree to debate him in a public forum.
Both are running for the U.S. Senate in the Democratic Primary this August.
Case has accepted 9 invitations to debate Hirono.
Hirono has accepted none of the invitations and has not proposed a debate of her own.
Since January, Hirono has returned home frequently to campaign, including the last two weeks.
There are just over days remaining until the August 11th primary (and around two months remaining until voting starts with overseas ballots).
Case believes the voters deserve several chances before then to hear from the candidates on the issues and he’s hoping Hirono will agree.
Here are the debates Case has agreed to that Hirono so far has refused to participate in:
Event: Senate candidate forum at annual convention
Invite date: October 2011
Event date: January 11, 2012 (U. S. House not in session)
Case: Participated
Hirono: Did not participate
(2) Sponsor: Democratic Party of Hawaii
Event: Case suggested DPH-sponsored statewide debates
Invite date: January 3, 2011
Event dates: When U. S. House not in session
Status: DPH Chair Carpenter agreed if Hirono agreed. Hirono’s spokesperson responded that she “will participate in constructive forums which provide voters useful information, have meaningful reach and do not conflict with her congressional duties. We will be releasing our proposed criteria for evaluating joint appearances”. No criteria have been released and no DPH-sponsored debates have been scheduled.
(3) Sponsor: KITV4/Civil Beat
Event: Statewide televised debate
Invite date: January 30, 2012
Event date: June 13, 2012 (U. S. House not in session)
Case: Accepted
Hirono: Has not accepted. Hirono’s spokesperson responded on February 29th: “She intends to participate in constructive events which provide voters useful information, have meaningful reach and do not conflict with her congressional duties.”
(4) Sponsor: KHON2
Event: Statewide televised debate
Invite date: February 1, 2012
Event date: Week of July 23rd (or otherwise to accommodate U. S. House schedule)
Case: Accepted
Hirono: Has not accepted
(5) Sponsor: Hawaii News Now/Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Event: Two statewide televised debates
Invite date: March 12, 2012
Event date: One in May and one in July; any Monday through Thursday to accommodate
U. S. House schedule
Case: Accepted
Hirono: Has not accepted. Hirono’s spokesperson responded on March 13th that she will “participate in constructive forums which provide voters useful information, have meaningful reach and do not conflict with her congressional duties.”
(6) Sponsor: Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce/other Hawaii Island organizations
Event: West Hawaii Senate candidate forum with live radio and online streaming
Invite date: March 15, 2012
Event date: July 9, 16 or 23, 2012, later narrowed to July 16th (U. S. House not in session)
Case: Accepted
Hirono: Has not accepted
(7) Sponsor: Hawaii Pacific University
Event: University-wide candidate forum
Invite date: March 20, 2012
Event date: As mutually agreed to accommodate U. S. House schedule
Case: Accepted
Hirono: Has not accepted
(8) Sponsor: Hawaii Public Television
Event: Statewide televised joint appearance on “Island Insights”
Invite date: April 6, 2012
Event date: June 14, 2012 (U. S. House not in session)
Case: Accepted
Hirono: Has not accepted
(9) Sponsor: Hawaii Island Democratic Party
Event: Debate at county convention
Invite date: April 8, 2012
Event date: May 5, 2012 (U. S. House not in session)
Case: Accepted
Hirono: Has not accepted
Other invites are pending, Case said, include the Democratic Party of Hawaii at its annual convention May 25-27, 2012.
He said he has tentatively accepted all invitations.
The candidate who wins the Democratic primary will take on the winner of the Republican primary in the general election. That most likely will be Linda Lingle, Hawaii’s former Republican governor.