Top Democrats Condemn Party for Rejecting Thielen

[ellisonz]

By Chad Blair 04/03/2012

The surprising decision this weekend by Hawaii Democrats to reject Laura Thielen's request to run in the party's Aug. 11 primary for state Senate is causing many Democrats to question their own party.

Dismay over the decision is playing out in blog posts, including on Civil Beat, and in an exchange Monday between state senators during floor session. (See YouTube link below.)

The kerfuffle began Saturday when the party's State Central Committee sustained an earlier decision by Oahu Demo­crats that Thielen was not a party member in good standing for the six months leading up to the state's June 5 filing deadline. Thielen only registered with the party Feb. 21.

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Party Chair Dante Carpenter, however, said he knew of no plan to revisit the Thielen vote.

More: http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2012/04/03/15404-top-democrats-condemn-party-for-rejecting-thielen/

Seems clear to me, she wasn't a registered Democrat and so she's not eligible.

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1. The Thielen Affair: Debate Continues On Senate Floor

By Chad Blair 04/06/2012

Just two days after speaking out on the floor of the Hawaii State Senate about Laura Thielen, Sens. Clayton Hee and Pohai Ryan — both Democrats — were at it again Wednesday.

The Democrats are abuzz over their party's rejection of Thielen, who once worked for Republican Gov. Linda Lingle, as a candidate in the Democratic primary. That happened Saturday at a party meeting and on Monday, Hee and Ryan who has the seat Thielen wants — tangled over the issue on the Senate floor.

It was more of the same Wednesday. Hee explained he was prompted to again address his colleagues after the Democratic Party warned him that his earlier remarks could be "potentially damaging."

Hee ignored the warning and stood by his main point: His party should not reject people who want to run for office.

More: http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2012/04/06/15433-the-thielen-affair-continues-on-the-senate-floor/