Disappeared News

by Larry Geller

Commercial media in Hawaii make advance decisions for us on who will be elected to political office. They make a selection of “frontrunners” and then typically ignore the rest—effectively “disappearing” them from the election process. Our daily newspaper has even erased their names and statements from the few debates that have been inclusive of all candidates.

Rafael del Castillo and Miles Shiratori, candidates in the 2nd Congressional District race, have taken a new tack that could be a model for future races. As “disappeared” candidates they’ve seldom been given the opportunity to be heard in the commercial media. Earlier today they held a press conference outside the Federal Building in downtown Honolulu at which they made a joint pledge.

A video of the press conference is trapped on my failed hard drive. I’ll try and post that later. Meanwhile, please listen to the audio:

Here’s the text of the pledge:

Rafael del Castillo and Miles Shiratori each, for themselves and their campaigns, take the following pledges:

If elected:

• We promise not to accept any special interest contributions to our campaign committees.
• We promise not to authorize any Political Action Committee to publish or run advertisements of any kind mentioning any of our opponents.
• We promise to support legislation to require the identity of any person or organization providing financial support for any political advertisement to be prominently displayed at the end of such advertisement(s), and to require all large organizations to publish annual lists of political contributions they make in a readily accessible central posting.
• We promise to introduce and fight for legislation providing public
  financing of primary elections for the House of Representatives.
• We promise not to run for the United States Senate.
• We promise vote to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, and press for a repealing measure to come to the floor for a vote in the House as soon as possible, and to support and protect full equality under the law.
• We promise to vigorously oppose any attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
• We promise to protect Medicare and Social Security from attempts to
  privatize or reduce benefits.
• We promise to raise taxes on the top 5% and reduce taxes on the middle class.
• We promise to close corporate tax loopholes.
• We promise not to put on borrowed hardhats for political advertisements.
• We promise not to make promises we don't keep.
  

Permalink posted by Larry @ 8/09/2012 11:32:00 PM