False Rumors and Attacks

There are a number of baseless rumors circulating on the Internet and in whisper campaigns meant to distort Neil’s record and smear his character. Many were started or corroborated on an attack website run by a Hannemann political appointee who works for the City and County of Honolulu. Check here often for the facts, and if you hear a rumor that needs an answer, let us know.

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QUESTION: Did Neil promise Ed Case anything in exchange for his endorsement?

ANSWER: NO. On August 21, 2010, Ed Case released a statement that he was endorsing Neil for Governor. Ed Case’s decision and his announcement were done by him on his own terms and with no input or coordination with the campaign. Rumors that Neil promised anything to Ed Case in exchange for his endorsement are completely baseless. Neil does not engage in this kind of political trading. The campaign does not control the comments of people not directly affiliated with Abercrombie for Governor, least of all the fiercely independent Ed Case. He is a citizen who is free to express his opinion. Neil appreciates his endorsement as one in a wide spectrum of people who are calling for change in Hawaii.

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QUESTION: Is former Governor Ben Cayetano Neil’s “campaign strategist”?

ANSWER: NO. Governor Cayetano and Neil are friends who agree on many issues and disagree on others. Governor Cayetano endorses Neil’s candidacy, but he is not part of the AFG organization and he has no role with regard to any aspect of Neil’s campaign. Bill Kaneko (Campaign Manager), Amy Asselbaye (Operations Director), and Andrew Aoki (Deputy Campaign Manager) work directly with Neil, oversee the campaign organization, and are responsible for all aspects of the campaign including strategy, fundraising, communications, policy development, and grassroots organizing.

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QUESTION: Will Neil appoint Clayton Hee to head the Department of Land and Natural Resources or the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands?

ANSWER: NO. This rumor is completely unfounded to stir up opponents of Senator Hee against Neil. Furthermore, Neil has not even thought about whom he might appoint to any position if he is elected Governor. He has made no decisions, has made no promises, and has not had any conversations with anyone about a possible cabinet appointment. Neil’s entire focus is on winning the election.

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QUESTION: Did Neil’s position in Congress and his work on a bipartisan energy plan have anything to do with the BP oil spill?

ANSWER: NO. This distortion of Neil’s record is being pushed by the Hannemann campaign and first appeared on the attack website managed by a Hannemann appointee on May 1, 2010. While in Congress, Neil helped lead a bipartisan effort to advance the nation’s independence from foreign oil and raise revenues to invest in clean energy. Read more about Neil’s energy plan for Hawaii and his views on oil drilling.

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QUESTION: Does Neil think Condoleezza Rice rose to her position and received special treatment because of her race and/or gender?

ANSWER: NO. In 2007, Neil was one of the most vocal critics of then Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the administration of George W. Bush, especially with respect to their approach to Iraq, civil liberties, human rights, and torture. In the course of a news interview, a reporter asked Neil whether Secretary Rice gets treated differently because of her race or gender, to which Neil replied, "Who knows if the whole question of race and gender come into it."

Neil’s opponents are suggesting that his response suggests Neil is a racist or sexist, despite Neil’s long history of protecting the civil rights of all people. This particular smear appeared on the attack website managed by a Hannemann appointee on March 31, 2010. Neil’s political opponents are digging up everything Neil has said, whether on or off the record and in or out of context, in order to attack his character. Neil freely admits that in the many years he has been in front of audiences and reporters, he has been far from perfect, and he has said things that can be interpreted in ways that he does not mean. Neil takes responsibility for what he says for good or bad. But beyond words, Neil believes that people should be judged on their actions and their record.

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QUESTION: Is Neil anti-Israel and does he support terrorist organizations like Hamas?

ANSWER: NO. Neil supports Israel’s right to exist and defend itself; he supports the close friendship that exists between the United States and Israel; and he has publicly and repeatedly condemned acts of terror and expressions of anti-Semitism. It is true that Neil did not vote in favor of every House resolution expressing an opinion on Israel because, in some instances, he believed specific language in those resolutions could have had unintended negative effects on the efforts of the Department of Defense or the State Department. The inflammatory suggestion that Neil is some kind of terrorist sympathizer or anti-Semite was advanced by an attack website managed by a Hannemann appointee in a blog post that appeared on March 5, 2010.

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QUESTION: Did Neil set fire to the army ROTC building as part of the protests against the Vietnam War?

ANSWER: NO. Neil was not involved in that incident at all. In February 1971, protestors set fire to the ROTC building in the early morning hours, destroying two rooms and causing an estimated $65,000 in damage. Two men were arrested in connection with the burning, one woman was put on probation, and protest leader Rev. Robert Warner Jr. fled to the mainland to escape prosecution. Neil was not involved in this incident.

Read more about Neil and his views on the military.

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QUESTION: Did Neil dodge the Vietnam Draft?

ANSWER: NO. Neil was registered for the draft but his name was never called. Neil signed up for the draft as required by law. He took his draft physical at Fort DeRussy. His number never got called. The draft picked up in the late 1960s and by the time the “draft lotteries” began in 1969, Neil was no longer in the age range for the pool of potential draftees, which was for men born between 1944 and 1950.

Read more about Neil and his views on the military.

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QUESTION: Is Senator Inouye supporting Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann for governor?

ANSWER: NO. Senator Inouye has said on several occasions that he will remain neutral and will NOT endorse a candidate for the primary election in the governor’s race.

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QUESTION: Was Neil a member of the Democratic Socialists of America or any other socialist or communist organization?

ANSWER: NO. Neil has never been part of any socialist or communist organization. These rumors are being spread by Neil’s political opponents and conspiracy theorists including those behind the so-called “birther” movement who continually claim that President Obama was not born in the U.S.