HONOLULU – Former Hawaii Congressman Charles K. Djou filed his pre-primary financial report with the Federal Election Commission on July 28. The Djou campaign reported having raised $48,926.48 for the 20-day period between July 1 and July 20 and holds $439,707.27 cash-on-hand for the remainder of the campaign.
Although Djou was the last major candidate to declare to run for Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District he holds the largest campaign war chest of any candidate running for this seat.
“Charles Djou’s campaign remains exceptionally strong and well-positioned for the election,” stated former State Rep. Barbara Marumoto, Djou’s campaign manager. “We are excited that Charles’ message of returning a moderate and someone with seniority to the majority caucus for Hawai’i is connecting with voters. We don’t take a single vote for granted and will continue to work hard every day.”
Djou represented Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District from 2010 to 2011. Djou previously served as a Honolulu City Councilmember and State Representative. Djou is also a combat veteran who served with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan.
Submitted by the Djou campaign
I strongly oppose Djou for Congress. Here's why.
I believe racial entitlement programs, and creation of a race-based Hawaiian tribe, are the most important issue for the people of Hawaii since the Statehood vote in 1959. Although any Democrat will also support those things, Djou would be far more effective in supporting them, because he is a Republican — he made that point loud and clear in a radio interview, and he is correct — so we must not give him the chance.
Both Djou and all the Dems are strongly in favor of creating the fake Indian tribe. Both of them refuse to demand an amendment to require a vote by Hawaii's people before it can take effect — they think it's OK to impose an enormous unfunded federal mandate on us without our consent.
Nearly every Democrat in the House voted in favor of the Akaka bill in 2010. Republicans in Congress will simply ignore a Hawaii Democrat. No Republican would normally vote for federal recognition of the Akakakanaka tribe. But Djou is a Republican. On issues related to budget and taxation, he is very much aligned with the Tea Party movement which will have great power in the 114th Congress starting in January. His fellow Republicans will pay attention to him. Those Republicans from other states, especially the newly elected ones supported by the Tea Party movement, who know nothing about Hawaii or the Akaka bill, are likely to go along with whatever he tells them on a matter that seems to affect only Hawaii. That's the reason it would be bad to have Djou in Congress.
On Tuesday October 5, 2010, in an interview broadcast on the OHA radio program, here's what Djou said which makes it important for any Hawaii citizen who favors unity and equality to vote against him:
"For myself first of all, of course as a Congressman, I eagerly look forward to hopefully passing the Native Hawaiian recognition bill … Over the ten years I have represented Hawaii [in the state House and the Honolulu City Council] … I have been a clear and consistent advocate for increasing opportunities for Native Hawaiians, and for expanding access to housing and the just entitlements I think Native Hawaiians deserve. … You know, I think what I can offer is a bipartisan solution — bipartisan support for the Akaka bill. That's absolutely essential … It can't come from just one political party, it has to come from both. Hawaii has been trying … for over a decade to move the Akaka bill … and we've been unsuccessful, and the reason for that is it's been entirely one-sided. What we need is support from both political parties. Should the Akaka bill come back to the U.S. House I'm confident that I'd be able to garner far more Republican support for the Akaka bill — make it bipartisan — make it less controversial, and make its passage far smoother."
Djou also made clear in the interview that he supports not only the Akaka bill but also the plethora of racially exclusionary entitlements in areas such as housing, education, and healthcare; and that he will support those programs that treat ethnic Hawaiians like an Indian tribe even if the Akaka bill fails.
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