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Associated Press
Presidential hopeful Vice President Al Gore hugs the
president during a rally today in Monroe, Mich. Tipper
Gore, left, and Hillary Clinton acknowledge supporters.

Hawaii delegates
applaud ‘one of the
great presidents’

But one predicts the isle
vote will be closer than
many Democrats expect

Inouye to address convention

---

By Richard Borreca
Star-Bulletin

LOS ANGELES -- If President Bill Clinton was ever thought of as a liability, his personal problems and fund-raising tactics are nothing compared to the roaring national economy that has brought good times to America.

That was the message sounded at the Democratic National Convention here last night, first by Hillary Rodham Clinton and then by the president himself.

In his final speech to the assembled Democratic Party, Clinton recalled how the national deficit of eight years ago was turned into a surplus.

After the speech, Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano, attending a reception for Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, said Clinton discussed the changes in the economy and "laid it out perfectly."

"He has to go down as one of the great presidents of the last couple of decades," Cayetano said.

Crowds wanting to get into the Staples Center convention hall last night were so large, the convention security closed the entrances to the arena as the first lady and New York senatorial candidate spoke.

But the crowd inside actually grew as the Democratic National Committee ran a five-minute video montage of Clinton's presidency.

Associated Press
President Clinton, first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton
and daughter Chelsea embrace on stage last night.

After wining the election eight years ago with the overriding message that "it's the economy, stupid," Clinton leaves office, saying the country is "in the midst of the longest economic expansion in our history."

"Clinton and labor have had major disagreements on trade issues, but there is no question he has brought prosperity," said Russell Okata, director of the Hawaii Government Employees Association and a Hawaii convention delegate.

"Because his economic policies passed, he has brought jobs to many more Americans," Okata added.

Hawaii Party chairman Walter Heen said that even though Clinton has been faulted by some sociologists for not being able to raise the standard of living for the nation's poor, his record on the economy is a success: "Clinton has gone for eight good years."

Still, Hawaii delegates add that Clinton's falsehoods regarding his relationship with Monica Lewinsky tempers their judgment of the president.

"Most people would say 'shame on you,' " said Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana, a delegate.

"But, outside of that scandal, Clinton doesn't have a downside," Apana said.

The Maui Democrat added that Clinton makes it easy for Vice President Al Gore to argue that Democrats should stay in the White House.

"Clinton did a lot for Hawaii. The extra money for police allows Maui to put police officers in the high schools and add security in visitor areas," he said.

"So that's why I think he will fare well in Hawaii," Apana said.

Okata, however, predicted that the race will be a lot closer than many Democrats expect.

"It will be a tough race. Labor has not always agreed with the current administration, but I think voters will agree the Democrats would be very different from the Republicans," Okata said.

While speaking before the Asian and Pacific Islander Americans group last night, Cayetano stressed that Gore's election would be a continuation of the Clinton legacy.

"I can't understand why Asian Americans would even consider anything but voting for the Democrats," Cayetano told the crowd of more than 1,000.

"We need to work for Democrats who will open up and liberalize our immigration policies and provide equal opportunity for everyone," Cayetano said.

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Sen. Inouye to address convention LOS ANGELES -- Hawaii's U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye is expected to address the Democratic National Convention early this afternoon. The exact arrangements for Inouye's remarks were still being worked out late yesterday. Inouye was one of 22 Americans of Japanese ancestry awarded the Medal of Honor this summer for heroism during World War II. He will speak after Delaware Gov. Tom Carper, who is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate and before U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina. Inouye is expected to talk to the nearly 5,000 delegates about Vice President Al Gore.