No More “Politics as Usual” – PLEASE!

As the campaign season officially gets underway, we are already experiencing some questionable actions among certain individuals, who are attempting to hijack the TEA Party groups here in Hawaii, and turn them into Republican Party auxilliaries of some sort.  This is very sad in some respects.  Yet in others, it could be viewed as a good thing.  Why?  Because it is causing us all to evaluate the situation and, hopefully, take a stand.

The Democrat Party, especially in Hawaii, is blatant about the fact that it will back just about anyone, as long as there is a “D” behind their name.  To them, it’s ALL about “the Party” and keeping the Democrats “in power”.  Apparently, there are some in the Republican Party who have the same political mindset.  Though fiscal conservatism is certainly a major issue this year, it seems to matter little to these hard-liners where their hand-picked favorites stand on social issues.  A candidate’s ethnicity seems to carry more weight than character and values do – because that will “resonate” with more Hawaii voters.  I beg to differ with that.  I honestly do not care if a candidate is part Martian and has purple polka-dots.  What I’m looking for is content and character.  And I maintain that, if a candidate will be bold enough to speak out and stand up for what he or she TRULY believes in, it will embolden the voters who agree to support and vote for them.  We have already seen this with the formation of our TEA Party organizations nationwide!  Think about where we all were only a year and a half ago.

Those of us who have been with our TEA Party groups all along have stayed involved because we are fed up with the petty, superficial mentality that has dominated too many elections in times past.  What we need in this country now, more than ever, are solid conservative leaders (on both fiscal and social issues), who are thoroughly grounded and not afraid to stand firm when the going gets tough.  We’ve had enough of the games, the pandering to the masses, and the back-handed power plays.  We are facing a serious turning point in this country (and in this state), and we need leaders who understand what our Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence are truly all about.

It is human nature to want to do whatever we can to see our favorite person win in any kind of contest.  Healthy debate and competition are part of what makes America so great — even today.  We are so blessed to still have those kinds of freedoms!  But we TEA Party members, no matter which group we are involved with, need to determine to stay above the fray during this campaign season.  Many candidates will solicit our “official” endorsements, yet precious few will actually merit them.  Some individuals will even claim to have the “authority” to endorse without ever consulting the real TEA Party leaders before doing so.  What one chooses to do reflects on the TEA Party as a whole.  We have made it clear what we stand for.  It is up to the candidates to prove to us that THEY endorse and support US – not the other way around.  After all, they are applying for some of the most important jobs in the nation.  We, the people will be their bosses — and they need to be ever mindful of that fact.

We have a unique opportunity right now to send forth the message that we will not sit still for “politics as usual”.  We deserve responsible – and responsive – leaders, and we will NOT settle for anything less anymore.