News

By Peter J. Smith

HONOLULU, Hawaii, August 18, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – GOP Rep. Charles Djou, who won Hawaii’s special election in May, will not be getting the endorsement of Hawaii Right to Life in his bid for two more years in Congress.

The Associated Press reports that while the state pro-life group said Djou shared many of their pro-life goals, the deal breaker was Djou’s support for embryonic stem-cell research. For that reason, they said they could not endorse his candidacy.

Janet Grace, Hawaii Right to Life executive director, told the AP that they also took issue with Djou’s statements that Roe v. Wade is “settled law.”

“We don't believe the abortion issue is finished,” Grace continued. “That's why we need strong men and women in our local and national governments to work toward repealing these laws that harm innocent people.” 

Djou captured the House seat, vacated by Neil Abercrombie, in May’s three-way special election. Djou won with 39 percent of the vote, with his Democratic opponents, Hanubasa and Ed Case, splitting the rest.

Democrats are looking to recapture Hawaii’s First Congressional District, which includes Honolulu, President Obama’s hometown. Obama actually polled 70 percent of the vote, when he won that district in the 2008 presidential election.

However, Djou believes he has a chance to hold onto his seat. A poll from his camp shows him leading Democratic challenger Colleen Hanabusa, 50 percent to 42 percent. The poll taken July 26 – 27 by the Tarrance Group surveyed 400 likely voters with a margin of error of plus/minus 4.9 percent.

During the special election campaign, Djou positioned himself as a pro-family candidate who opposed same-sex “marriage” and pseudo-marriage unions for homosexuals in contrast to his opponents. Yet in Congress, Djou also cast a vote to scrap the 1993 law banning homosexuals from military service, which is commonly known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” although DADT actually refers to a Pentagon policy, not the law.

See related coverage by LifeSiteNews.com:

Hawaii Democratic Primary for Governor Splits Over Same-sex 'Marriage'

https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/jul/10072015.html

Hawaii Bids Farewell to Same-Sex Unions as Governor Vetoes Bill

https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/jul/10070706.html

Pro-family Candidate in Obama’s Home District Wins House Special Election

https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/may/10052401.html