Hawaii Race War: How about American?

WE are all American I think?

Asian-American Democratic take offense at DCCC Hawaii move

Asian-American Democrats are criticizing the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for favoring a white former congressman from Hawaii over the Asian-American State Senate President in a hotly contested special election to represent a majority-minority Hawaii district.

“The DCCC should focus the party on uniting Democrats and keeping this seat blue rather than dividing us and helping us defeat ourselves. It is unseemly for party officials to step into a special election with more than one Democrat, particularly in a district where 58 percent of the population is Asian Pacific American," says the Asian American Action Fund executive director Gautam Dutta in a statement, provided to POLITICO, that's likely to be the first shot in a campaign to resist DCCC's efforts.

"Imagine the disgruntled reaction were the DCCC to step into a contested special election in a predominantly African-American or Latino district," Dutta pointedly added.

Viewing Case as the stronger candidate, the DCCC is reportedly quietly siding with former Rep. Ed Case over state Sen. Colleen Hanabusa in a nonpartisan election that also features a strong Republican candidate. But Hanabusa is also the more liberal politician, and the race is drawing comparisons from some on the left to the upstate New York congressional election that divided the Republican Party last year, and the issue of race adds another explosive element to the mix. Case, whose wife is Asian-American, has always been popular among Asian-American constituents, but the increasingly organized national Asian-American political class has long felt slighted by Democrats.

“We believe [Hanabusa] is an outstanding candidate who has already broken racial barriers, just like President Obama, by becoming the first Asian Pacific American female to ever preside over a legislative body in the United States. Sen. Hanabusa has consistently upheld Democratic ideals which are in line with Hawaii values. Hawaii voters value candidates like Hanabusa who keep their local roots strong, their ear to the concerns of Hawaii voters and their campaigns homegrown. They do not appreciate interference from Washington D.C. AAA-Fund has chapters, board members and supporters from across the country, including in Hawaii," said Dutta. "Asian Pacific American votes cannot be taken for granted, and the DCCC's actions risk alienating this critical bloc of voters and donors."

Another prominent Asian-American operative said Asian-American Democrats see the move as "beyond an affront" and that there's an effort to organize a boycott of the DCCC by Asian-American donors.

What is an Asian Pacific American?

Also Running in this Race is an Hawaii Chinese Republican Charles K. Djou