Immediate focus is on issue of age

Case urges a young leader to provide transition; Akaka touts his experience

U.S. Rep. Ed Case called for a "choice between the past and the future," and U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka asked voters to pick "legislators who have character and a belief in strong values."

Welcome to the only debate between the two Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate.

Case moved to the attack first, saying that while in Congress, Akaka had voted against balancing the federal budget and had ignored the dangers in Iraq, and then stressed his central theme that Hawaii should pick new, younger leaders.

In the opening minutes of the one-hour forum last night, sponsored by AARP and broadcast live on PBS Hawaii, Akaka sought to defuse the issues of his age and reluctance to debate and instead stressed his experience.

"The more deliberate speed of my words is not seen as a handicap," Akaka said of himself, adding that it should be considered "a sign of thoughtfulness and care."

"Age makes a difference," Akaka said.

As for the need for debates, Akaka said the real work in the Senate is done through communications and consultation.

"Building relationships is what matters -- showing respect," Akaka said.

The biggest division between the two men was over the issue of the war in Iraq, with Akaka saying President Bush led the country into a war with invalid information, and Case saying it was unwise to issue a strict timetable for withdrawal.

Akaka has stressed his votes against the Iraq war and his call for withdrawal by next July as reasons why he should be returned to office.

"I was looking for a postwar strategy. It wasn't there. These were factors that caused me to oppose (allowing the war to continue)," Akaka said.

"We must put pressure on Iraq to provide for its own security," he added.

Case disagreed, saying that it would be a mistake to "withdraw unilaterally, unconditionally on a fixed timetable."

After the debate, Akaka said he thought Case's challenge was shortsighted.

"I felt he was looking at transition, meaning a change because I have been there for many years, disregarding what the loss would be for Hawaii if we lost that seniority," said Akaka, who is running for his third six-year term.

Case said he was pleased with his performance and offered to debate or meet with Akaka any time before the Sept. 23 primary election.

"I think any voter watching tonight would have picked up an incredible amount of information in both substance and style," Case said.

Because the debate was sponsored by AARP, several questions, posed by Gerald Kato, chairman of the University of Hawaii School of Communications, were framed to be of interest to seniors.

On the issue of Social Security, Akaka said Congress should not tamper with the program.

"It has been a most effective retirement and anti-poverty program," said Akaka, who repeatedly looked down and referred to notes on his podium.

Akaka went on to criticize Bush's plan to privatize Social Security, saying, "It turns a guaranteed benefit into a risky investment scheme."

In contrast, Case said Social Security must be fixed because too much money has been withdrawn from Social Security programs and it is likely to run out of money.

"We have to maintain that basic safety net," Case said.

On the issue of health care, Case called it one of the top 10 challenges for the federal government. Case said small businesses should be able to pool their health insurance costs to manage costs.

"They could manage health care costs and spread the risks," Case said.

In response, Akaka said the nation should improve health care.

"We must insure that everyone in Hawaii has health care coverage. The majority (the Republican Party) has weakened Medicaid and Medicare," Akaka said.

Even before the debate started, dozens of shouting and sign-waving Akaka and Case supporters lined Dole and University avenues, outside the PBS Hawaii studio.

Akaka supporters said the senator deserved high marks for showing up to face Case.

Wally Fukunaga, a Makiki minister at Moanalua Community Church, stood beside the road shouting, "Vote Akaka, vote character."

"I expect him (Akaka) to come across in a dignified and humble manner," Fukunaga said. "He is not one who likes to establish adversarial conversations. I think most people in Hawaii appreciate that qualify in Dan."

Case supporter Rico Gomez, however, said it is Case "who speaks from the heart."

"He speaks from his convictions, what is right and where we should be going," Gomez said.

Pauline Worsham, a small-business owner from Makiki who is native Hawaiian, said she strongly supports Akaka because he is Hawaiian.

"I give him a lot of credit for going head to head against Ed Case," Worsham said. "To me it takes a lot of courage because he is not comfortable in that format."

Skip Lambert of Kapahulu, retired restaurant manager, works in the Case campaign. After calling voters for the last few weeks, Lambert says he has seen the number of undecided voters shrinking.

"This debate should clarify it for those people," Lambert said.

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