Editorials
Friday, August 30, 1996
Kihano case warrants
close state scrutiny
THE Campaign Spending Commission last month proposed stricter regulations to stop politicians from aggrandizing themselves with contributions that were intended for their campaigns. Before formalizing new rules, the commission should watch the development of the federal prosecution of former House Speaker Daniel Kihano to determine if they are adequate.
A federal grand jury indicted Kihano on 24 counts of obstruction of justice, fraud, filing a false tax return and other offenses stemming from the alleged diversion of $32,750 in donations for his personal use. Ben Cassiday, Kihano's attorney, calls the charges politically motivated and says his client broke no laws. But the prosecution, if successful, could mark a sad ending to a long career in public service.
Federal investigators may have learned about Kihano's financial dealings while investigating a money-laundering case earlier this year. Kihano was not among those indicted at that time. Cassiday suggested that federal officials brought forth the more recent charges because of their frustration in being unable to involve Kihano in the earlier case.
Robert Watada, executive director of the Campaign Spending Commission, said his agency cooperated with the federal probe but did not generate the allegations against Kihano. "(But) this will put a lot of people on notice," Watada said, "to think twice about how they use their campaign money." It also should put the Spending Commission on notice that its procedures, and even the proposed tightening of those procedures, may not be good enough. How did Kihano's actions - if indeed they were illegal - go unnoticed by the commission?
The commission should monitor Kihano's case to determine if candidates can find future loopholes that will allow them to circumvent expenditure requirements. If so, the proposed rules should be revised.
Farrakhan's folly
NATION of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan is much like a pesky mosquito, trying to spread his message of black separatism, power and hatred across the nation. But now he is hungrily hovering over blood money from Libya. While the Treasury Department has tried to swat down any notion that Farrakhan can accept a $1 billion "gift" from Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, the African-American activist is refusing to cooperate.
Farrakhan's reckless disregard of U.S. policy reflects poorly on his mission to empower the black community. Potential sympathizers should be turned off by his ministry benefitting from funding tainted with the blood of fallen Americans.
An untimely scandal
DICK Morris will not be sorely missed by many of his colleagues at the White House, but they are not cheering about the timing or nature of his departure, or how it adds to previous criticism of President Clinton's staff. Morris resigned as Clinton's top political strategist after a newspaper reported that he had a relationship with a prostitute and that he allowed her to eavesdrop on White House calls. The news came as Clinton was preparing to accept the Democratic nomination for re-election.
Clinton is no political novice who can be manipulated by an aide. He would be foolish to abandon a strategy that has made him a heavy favorite for re-election.
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John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher
David Shapiro, Managing Editor
Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor
Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors
A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor