tagged w/ Daniel Inouye
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An Open Letter to President Obama
Dear President Obama,
With your inauguration behind us, I would like to share with you one very specific hope (and a corollary fear) I have. Although I did not support your candidacy, throughout the Presidential campaign, I greatly admired your rhetoric on race and race relations.
As the first "hapa" U.S. President, you and I share the experience of struggling with the idea of whether or not we were "half" this or "half" that, or a "whole" something else. I believe the answer we both arrived at is that we are "whole" people. beyond "black" and "white." We are both simply "human."
One of the primary reasons I opposed your candidacy was your support for the Akaka Bill, aka the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act. You spoke on the floor before a cloture vote on the Akaka Bill put forth by both Senators Dan Inouye and Dan Akaka, and acting as the "third Hawaiian Senator," you spoke in strong support of their bill.
This, despite the fact the Akaka Bill promises to divide our homeland, the State of Hawaii, into two governments solely on the basis of race. I imagine your support of the Akaka Bill was politically expedient, and I hope it was not based on a thoughtful contemplation of the issue.An Open Letter to President Obama
Dear President Obama,
With your inauguration... more
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Kepano
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added this
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3 years ago
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Hawaii's prominence in the new administration also includes a cabinet appointee.
Gina Mangieri has that interview with retired general Eric Shinseki, and all the day's inaugural news from Washington.
There's no doubt about it at this inauguration, Hawaii is the state to be from. No where was that more apparent than at the Pearl Inaugural gala featuring some super stars from Hawaii's politics and leadership.
General Eric Shinseki is joining the Barack Obama cabinet as the secretary of the department of veterans affairs. I talked to secretary designate on the eve of the inauguration.
Shinseki said, "I said yes. I am joining his administration very proud, very honored to be asked."
He was making an appearance at the Pearl Presidential Inaugural gala, a gathering of more than 1,500 people from across the nation, celebrating Asian-American heritage.
"Be proud of your culture, be proud of who you are , work hard and this is a great country and with culture and hard work you can do anything."
Shinseki was forced to resign as head of the army under the Bush administration when he gave a frank assessment of the Iraq war saying far more troops would have been needed for success.
Former Transportation Secretary, Norman Mineta says, "He was not treated well by Secretary Rumsfeld and the Deputy Secretary and so for President elect Barack Obama to pick Eric for Secretary of Veterans Affairs was master stroke."
Shinseki has clearly put that behind him, ready to serve his next President.
"Very exciting and aloha to all our friends in Hawaii looking forward to it and very excited looking forward to it this is about our veterans something about I have a great passion for," Shinseki added.
The culmination of Shinseki's role earns the praise of Senator Dan Inouye.
"You have a new administration that will bring the credibility of the United States back," says Inouye.
And with Obama in the White House, Shinseki on the cabinet - and Inouye himself chairing the senate's most powerful appropriations committee, there's just one way to sum up our Island stature.
"One can say that Hawaii runs the show," Inouye said.
What a better way for the Hawaii crowd to be gearing up for the big day that is Tomorrow Inauguration day. The official oath of office, the parade, more festivities and balls much like this--we'll be covering it all starting bright and early Tomorrow.Hawaii's prominence in the new administration also includes a cabinet appointee.... more
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Kepano
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added this
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3 years ago
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