Interview with Charles Djou, Republican candidate for Congress.

I just concluded an Interview with Charles Djou, the Republican candidate for Congress in Hawaii's upcoming special congressional election. He has a chance to represent the district that Barack Obama grew up in, as well as to provide Conservatives and Republicans with another voice and vote against the horrific policies of President Obama, and members of the Democratic leadership. Please urge all of your friends in Hawaii to support Mr.Djou, and please visit his website at http://www.djou.com/ This is the 68th interview in our on-going series.

Tim Knight - Mr. Djou, will you be a vote for repealing Obamacare?

Charles Djou - Yes, I would vote to repeal. To withstand an inevitable Obama veto of any repeal legislation, those - like myself - in favor of repeal need a veto proof majority in both chambers. Returning a Republican majority to Congress won’t be enough to fix the health care act and its financial mess. We will need two-thirds support in each body. Mathematically, even if the GOP wins every single US Senate race in 2010, Republicans will still be 8 votes shy of a 2/3 majority in the Senate.

If we do not have the votes to repeal the bad law, I will do everything I can to amend the legislation to ameliorate its inevitably deleterious effects, even if we have to fix the law one subsection at a time. For example, the 3.8% on all so-called passive income will stifle investment.
This tax attaches to interest, dividends, rents, pass through business income and other income. Similarly, raising the threshold for deducting medical expenses from 7.5% to 10% of adjusted gross income will hurt families who are struggling with massive medical expenses. We should be increasing the deduction for medical expenses, not pushing struggling families further down the road to financial ruin.

Tim Knight - Mr.Djou, how do you feel about your upcoming election?

Charles Djou - I feel great. I have met with people from one end of the district to the next. I enjoy sharing my message—what I believe in and why I want to make a difference for Hawai‘i. I enjoy learning from people that I meet and hearing about what matters to them. I look forward to meeting and speaking with many others as we near the election period.

Tim Knight - Mr.Djou, what is your opinion of America's National Defense?

Charles Djou - I serve in the United States Army Reserve, and I know that our uniformed men and women are the most capable soldiers in the world. Hawai‘i has a unique and critical role in our national security. My Congressional district is home to key military bases and stations, including the Navy's Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, the Army's 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, and the Air Force's Pacific Air Force at Hickam Air Force Base. To face the diverse and challenging threats facing the country, America must maintain its strong military and Hawai‘i must retain its central role in military preparedness.

Tim Knight - Mr.Djou, how corrupt is the Congress, and how can you fight that corruption?

Charles Djou - I share your frustration, but there are many honest men and women on both sides of the aisle. Unfortunately, there are individuals who abuse their position. These kinds of people have always found their way into government.

While we will never rid government of corruption, we must do everything we can to adopt and enforce sensible ethics and conflict of interest rules for legislators and their staff. The personal integrity of our elected officials has a direct impact on our citizens’ faith in government and more broadly affects the economic well being of Hawai‘i and the nation. When people have trust in their elected officials, they have trust in their government.

I am proud of my record of fighting corruption. As a council member, I passed major ethics reforms to give the City ethics commission the power to issue fines and cleaned up Honolulu's corrupt liquor commission. This is the record I will bring if elected to Congress.

Tim Knight - Mr.Djou, what is your opinion of gay marriage, and how could that factor into your campaign?

Charles Djou - I support traditional marriage. Marriage has both religious and civil implications. Marriage is undeniably a religious institution, in which a personal relationship between individuals is instituted and celebrated according to their religious beliefs. In addition, government has long conferred legal benefits and protections on married couples. In other words, marriage is also a public institution. This public institution has historically been limited to men and women, even where other relationships were respected.

I support the continued restriction of marriage to an institution between men and women. This does not suggest that society should deny gays and lesbians the legal benefits of marriage. On the contrary, I support domestic partnerships. Domestic partnerships afford the same legal benefits of marriage while preserving the sanctity of the marital institution.

Tim Knight - Mr.Djou, for those residing In the Mainland, could you please detail the Hawaii special election format?

Charles Djou - This special election will be held in a "winner take all" format. Under Hawaii law, unlike most states, there are no primary or runoff elections. All candidates from all parties run in a single election. The candidate who receives the most votes, even if it is just a plurality, wins the Congressional seat. As the only major Republican candidate in this race with two major Democrats in the race, this format clearly favors my campaign.

The Office of Elections has set May 22nd as the date of the special election and has determined that the election will be an all mail-in special election. Ballots will be mailed to every registered voter in the district on Friday, April 30. The deadline to register to vote is April 22. Ballots must be returned to the Office of Elections no later than May 22nd.

Tim Knight - Mr.Djou, how can Americans from across the Land support your campaign for Congress?

Charles Djou - Nothing can make a more profound statement that Congress is taking the nation in the wrong direction than sending a Republican to represent the President's hometown in this upcoming special election. I understand that every dollar the government spends comes from a family. I also understand that it is more important to elect a Congressman who holds down taxes and lets families keep more of their money than to elect a Congressman who wants to spend all of their money.

If you believe as I do that Congress needs to change direction, you can help me in three ways. First, tell your friends, family and coworkers about me. Show them that we have the same values. Elections are won one voter at a time.

Second, come out and help. Wave signs with me. Walk a neighborhood with me. Sponsor a dinner or coffee hour. Help me to connect with the voters of our great state.

Finally, please consider making a financial contribution. There is no taking money out of politics. My campaign uses donations to buy air time on television and radio, to support volunteers and to buy bumper stickers and yard signs. Every dollar that my campaign receives goes toward our effort to shake up Congress.


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