Three days ago, the 22nd of August, the ”’Honolulu Star-Bulletin”’ published an article that is, to say the least, strange.
The ”’Honolulu Star-Bulletin”’ article is here:
https://starbulletin.com/2005/08/22/news/index2.html
Ostensibly, the article is about U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye’s response to being accused by ex-U.S. Senators Slade Gorton and Hank Brown of breaking his word. Gorton and Brown wrote an article, which stated that the promise of those who supported the Senate apology of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom passed in 1993 would not be used to justify further legislation:
”’Former Sens. Slade Gorton (R-Wa.) and Hank Brown (R-Colo.) put their names to a lengthy opinion piece that appeared in Wednesday’s Wall Street Journal criticizing Inouye for misrepresentations they claim he made to them about the intent of the apology.”’
”’They claim Inouye gave his word that the apology would not give special rights or privileges, reparations or land to native Hawaiians that would not be available to non-Hawaiians living in the state.”’
Classic. Brown and Gorton “put their names” on the piece, thus setting up the smear for later in the article. The Senators “claim Inouye gave his word;” Inouye either did or did not. This is simply a question of fact and a matter of public record. The reporter wants to give the impression that a question of fact is just a matter of opinion and conflicting “claims.”
The article then states that Inouye is “unhappy” with the Senators for writing this article. Less than half-way through the article the reporter, Sally Apgar, goes into a weird tangent stating that the Grassroot Institute is behind the ex-Senator’s letter. Dick Rowland and Malia Zimmerman must have the powers-that-be really rattled for this sort of thing to be printed in a allegedly respectable mainstream paper:
”’Partly with the help of the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii, a group opposed to the Akaka Bill, the opinion piece was e-mailed and drew national attention, including commentators such as Rush Limbaugh, who read it and railed against the bill on his national radio show.”’
”’In an online request to the Wall Street Journal to reprint the piece, the Star-Bulletin was told that the author must be asked for permission. The Wall Street Journal identified the author as Dick Rowland with the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii.”’
”'”Well, I’ll be damned,” said Rowland when asked about authorship. “No, I didn’t write it.””’
Since when do retired U.S. Senator’s require Grassroot Institute’s help to write an article or get it on the ”’Rush Limbaugh”’ show? The ”’Wall Street Journal”’ did not identify the article’s author as Dick Rowland (who must figure in largely in the Hawaii establishment’s nightmares).
In a private email to a mutual friend, John Fund, member of the ”’Wall Street Journal’s”’ editorial board and contributor to ”’Opinion Journal”’, stated that the ”’Journal”’ gave the ”’Honolulu Star-Bulletin”’ the Grassroot Institute’s name for further contact information. And, “They probably also asked a trick question. We’re used to the Honolulu media’s obsession with us.”
Malia Zimmerman also stated that she had nothing to do with Gorton and Brown’s article. But the ”’Honolulu Star-Bulletin”’ news-hawks aren’t buying both Zimmerman’s and Rowland’s denial. After all, Apgar did find this smoking gun as evidence of a ”’Grassroot Institute-Hawaii Reporter-Wall Street Journal”’ conspiracy to force public debate on a issue and bill which are of great importance to all of Hawaii’s people:
”’Last week, Zimmerman’s Hawaii Reporter promptly hosted both the Wall Street Journal opinion piece and a transcript of Rush Limbaugh’s radio show criticizing the Akaka Bill.”’
”’Grassroots also has hired Bruce Fein as a spokesman and general counsel who is scheduled to speak as an opponent of the Akaka Bill in forums that will be televised tonight and tomorrow night.”’
Obviously, there is something going on here, and the ”’Honolulu Star-Bulletin”’ is going to get to the bottom of it.
This is what passes for Journalism in Hawaii.
It also demonstrates how unhinged the Swells who run this state as their personal fiefdom become when some of the peasants have the temerity to ask questions.
”’Grant Jones is a contributor to the weblog The 50thstar — see”’ https://50thstar.blogspot.com
”’HawaiiReporter.com reports the real news, and prints all editorials submitted, even if they do not represent the viewpoint of the editors, as long as they are written clearly. Send editorials to”’ mailto:Malia@HawaiiReporter.com