ELECTION 2006
Ariyoshi says Case is being dishonest in campaign e-mail
Former Gov. George Ariyoshi said passages from his book are being used unfairly in U.S. Rep. Ed Case's race for the Senate, making it appear as if Ariyoshi is supporting him.
Ariyoshi supports U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, and he does not want Case misusing his "With Obligation to All" book. In one passage, Ariyoshi wrote that in 1972 he warned fellow Democrats to open the party to new people or become "an aged party, unless we brought in new people."
"I called for genuinely opening up the ranks to newcomers," Ariyoshi said.
Case took a passage from Ariyoshi's book and sent it as an e-mail to his supporters, saying only that it was "ex-Gov. ... George Ariyoshi on Loyalty and Change The Time Is Now!"
Ariyoshi appointed Akaka to the Senate in 1990 and spoke at Akaka's 82nd-birthday party Wednesday night, where he blasted Case.
"This is a matter of a man's character," Ariyoshi told about 130 people.
Case was twisting his words around, said Ariyoshi. "It's dishonest. ... That's a terrible thing to do."
"I think it comes down to a matter of trust," he said.
Yesterday, Ariyoshi called a news conference to continue his criticism, saying Case's idea of change and Ariyoshi's call for change in 1972 are different.
"The change he is referring to -- about sending off a very dependable senator to retirement -- is not the kind of change I was referring to," Ariyoshi said.
Case said he never implied that Ariyoshi was supporting him.
"Everyone knows that Ariyoshi supports Akaka," he said. "I thought Gov. Ariyoshi beautifully summarized the need to look to the future and the need for change and to not micro-manage."
"This has obviously touched a nerve, and I think they are overreacting," Case said.
Star-Bulletin reporter Rosemarie Bernardo contributed to this story.