Difference between revisions of "Neil Abercrombie"

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Abercrombie remains a friend to both Obama Jr. and his half sister [[Maya Soertoro]]. He was among the guests in attendance at Soertoro's wedding on December 28, 2003 along with then State Senator [[Barack Obama]].<ref>Stu Glauberman, Jerry Burris, ''The Dream Begins: How Hawaii Shaped Barack Obama''(Honolulu: Watermark Publishing, 2009) p.4</ref>
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Abercrombie remains a friend to both Obama Jr. and his half sister [[Maya Soertoro]]. He was among the guests in attendance at Soertoro's wedding on December 28, 2003 along with then State Senator [[Barack Obama]].<ref>Stu Glauberman, Jerry Burris, ''The Dream Begins: How Hawaii Shaped Barack Obama''(Honolulu: Watermark Publishing, 2009) p.vi</ref>
  
 
===Supporting Obama junior===
 
===Supporting Obama junior===

Revision as of 18:57, 31 December 2010

Neil Abercrombie

Template:30seconds Template:TOCnestleft Neil Abercrombie was a covertly socialist Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives 1st district of Hawaii, until he resigned in early 2010 to seek the Governorship of Hawaii.

He is married to Dr. Nancie Caraway.

Early life

Neil grew up in Buffalo, New York. a city with" strict ethnic and religious divides".

He often got into fights to defend himself and others for having the “wrong” background. In his childhood, Neil also saw Lake Erie literally die over time from pollution. He saw the city’s entire population of elm trees wiped by disease. From an early age, Neil formed a strong desire to right things that were wrong.

He attended Union College, a small men’s college in New York State. When he decided to go on to graduate school to study sociology, he turned to the University of Hawaii, attracted by the Islands’ reputation for social diversity and the adventure of studying in a place that was about to become America’s newest state.[1]

Coming to Hawaii

Neil Abercrombie arrived in Hawaii a month after statehood, in September 1959, to study at UH Manoa where he earned a masters degree in sociology and later a Ph.D. in American studies. To support himself, Neil worked as a waiter at Chuck's Steak House in Waikiki, a locker desk clerk at the Central YMCA, a custodian at Mother Rice Preschool, a construction apprentice program director, an elementary school teacher and a college lecturer.[2]

Part of the Obama "set"

While attending the University of Hawaii in the early 1960s, Neil Abercrombie was part of a circle that included Barak Obama and Stanley Ann Dunham, the parents of future U.S. president Barack Obama[3].

The self-assured and opinionated Obama spoke with a voice so deep that "he made James Earl Jones seem like a tenor," said Neil Abercrombie, a Democratic congressman from Hawaii who was part of those regular gatherings.
Although he didn't say it at the time, Abercrombie privately feared that the relationship would be short-lived. Obama was one of the most ambitious, self-focused men he had ever met. After Obama was accepted to study at Harvard, Stanley Ann disappeared from the University of Hawaii student gatherings, but she did not accompany her husband to Harvard. Abercrombie said he rarely saw her after that.
"I know he loved Ann," Abercrombie said, but "I think he didn't want the impediment of being responsible for a family. He expected great things of himself and he was going off to achieve them."[4]

The marriage failed. Stanley Ann filed for divorce in 1964 and remarried two years later, when her son was 5. The senior Obama finished his work at Harvard and returned to Kenya, where he hoped to realize his big dreams of taking a place in the Kenyan government.

Years later, Abercrombie and another grad school friend looked up their old friend during a trip through Africa[5].

At that point, the senior Obama was a bitter man, according to the congressman, feeling that he had been denied due opportunities to influence the running of his country. "He was drinking too much; his frustration was apparent," Abercrombie said.
To Abercrombie's surprise, Obama never asked about his ex-wife or his son.

Abercrombie remains a friend to both Obama Jr. and his half sister Maya Soertoro. He was among the guests in attendance at Soertoro's wedding on December 28, 2003 along with then State Senator Barack Obama.[6]

Supporting Obama junior

Barack Obama, Neil Abercrombie

Neil Abercrombie would become one of the first people in the nation to support their son, Barack Obama, in his historic candidacy for president. He served as the honorary chair of the Hawaii Obama Campaign.[7]

Abercrombie also served as an Obama surrogate, "campaigning for Barack across the state of Iowa" before the 2008 first in that nation caucus.[8]

Senate campaign

In 1970, motivated by opposition to the Vietnam War, "Neil made a bold and unlikely bid for the U.S. Senate against Republican Senator Hiram Fong."

Neil’s colorful campaign as “Super Senator” has become a legendary part of Hawaii’s political history. Fong won, but Neil’s political career was launched. It was clear that Neil was a man willing to stand up for what was right against any interest, no matter how powerful or entrenched. Now began the work of collaboration and reaching out to earn people’s trust and faith.

Political beginnings

NAYoshinagaEd1.jpg

In 1974, Abercrombie ran for the State House of Representatives in Makiki-Manoa.

He walked the neighborhood relentlessly, often visiting families two or three times to introduce himself and to talk about issues. His primary focus in that campaign was the prevention of overdevelopment in Makiki and Manoa. He focused on the need to conserve our water supply and protect our watersheds.

During the campaign, Democratic Party leader Nadao Yoshinaga endorsed Neil. As Neil remembers: “Here was a political visionary giving a long-haired haole boy from Manoa a chance. Nadao became my mentor in public service. To him it was always about what’s on the inside. He is my hero and role model to this day.”

Abercrombie was elected and served in the State House of Representatives from 1975 to 1979 and in the State Senate from 1979 to 1986. He earned a reputation as a tenacious fighter for the interests of the people. Neil helped elderly depositors regain their life savings when Manoa Finance collapsed. He helped start the award-winning Healthy Start prevention program for at-risk mothers and children.

In 1986, Neil Abercrombie won a special election to Congress to fill the unexpired term of Congressman Cec Heftel. He was the last person sworn in by Speaker Tip O’Neill. He returned home to serve as Special Assistant to the Superintendent of Education where he helped implement Hawaii’s distance-learning programs.

Abercrombie was elected to serve on the Honolulu City Council from 1988 to 1990. He was one of the leading advocates, along with then-mayor Frank Fasi, of a rail transit system in Honolulu.[9]

Congress

In 1990, Neil Abercrombie was elected to return to Congress and represent Hawaii’s first Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. As chairman of the Armed Forces Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, Neil built strong relationships with Democrats and Republicans to improve the quality of life for the men and women of the armed forces. In 2009, Neil received the Harry S. Truman Award—the highest honor given by the National Guard Association of the United States—for “sustained contributions of exceptional and far-reaching magnitude to the defense and security of the United States.”

As a senior member on the Natural Resources Committee, "Neil worked to protect our national parks, forests, wilderness areas, oceans, natural resources, and the interests of the indigenous peoples of our nation. He was instrumental in the establishment of a humpback whale sanctuary in Hawaii."

In Congress, Neil Abercrombie "helped to secure billions of dollars for the Islands in sectors from high-tech to health and education. Neil has shepherded full funding for every Honolulu rail transit project of the last twenty years, including the current rail proposal."[10]

Supported by Council for a Livable World

The Council for a Livable World, founded in 1962 by long-time socialist activist and alleged Soviet agent, Leo Szilard, is a non-profit advocacy organization that seeks to "reduce the danger of nuclear weapons and increase national security", primarily through supporting progressive, congressional candidates who support their policies. The Council supported Neil Abercrombie in his successful House of Representatives run as candidate for Hawaii.[11]

DSA connections

From Democratic Left, Nov./Dec. 1990, page 4

Neil Abercrombie has close ties to the marxist based Democratic Socialists of America. However his office has been consistently denying his association and membership with the organization. On July 14, 2010, his office published a statement in response to blogger Trevor Loudon's article in which he exposed evidence that Abercrombie had been a member of the DSA:[12]

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.

However despite their denial, the evidence speaks for itself:

DSA wife

In 1985, Neil Abercrombie's wife Dr. Nancie Caraway of Hawaii was listed as a member of the Feminist Commission of the Democratic Socialists of America.[13]

DSA member

In 1990 the Democratic Socialists of America Political Action Committee endorsed two Congressional candidates, "DSAer Democrat" Neil Abercrombie seeking to regain the House seat representing Honolulu and Vermont independent candidate Bernie Sanders.[14]

Speech to DSA

Sept/Oct Democratic Left, 1992

In 1992 Abercrombie gave an "extemporaneous, impassioned speech" to an explicitly D.S.A. organized "Socialist Caucus" during that year's Democratic Party convention.[15] The other speakers at the Socialist Caucus, Cornel West, Bob Fitrakis and Ed Vargas were all confirmed members of Democratic Socialists of America.

DSA event

In 2006 Neil Abercrombie and Dennis Kucinich spoke at a Democratic Socialists of America Political Action Committee event in Washington DC at the home of Stewart Mott, for Bernie Sanders[16].

The questions and comments actually had to be cut off to let Bernie get to the plane.
He flew to Washington and the next day attended the Washington, D.C., DSA PAC party at the home of Stewart Mott. Not only did Bernie Sanders speak; so did members of Congress Neil Abercrombie (HI) and Dennis Kucinich (OH). Christine Riddiough, former DSA National Director, served as host/ moderator

DSA aide

George Roberts, a Democratic Socialists of America member, was at one time an aide to Neil Abercrombie.[17]

Congressional Progressive Caucus

In 1998 Neil Abercrombie Democrat was listed as a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.[18]

As of February 20 2009 Neil Abercrombie was listed as a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.[19]

Staff

The following have worked as staff members for Neil Abercrombie:[20]

External links

References

Template:Reflist

  1. ↑ [1] Abercrombie for governor website, accessed July 10, 2010
  2. ↑ [2] Abercrombie for governor website, accessed July 10, 2010
  3. ↑ http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-0703270151mar27-archive,0,5853572,full.story
  4. ↑ Chicago Tribune, March 27, 2007
  5. ↑ http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-0703270151mar27-archive,0,5853572,full.story
  6. ↑ Stu Glauberman, Jerry Burris, The Dream Begins: How Hawaii Shaped Barack Obama(Honolulu: Watermark Publishing, 2009) p.vi
  7. ↑ [3] Abercrombie for governor website, accessed July 10, 2010
  8. ↑ Stu Glauberman, Jerry Burris, The Dream Begins: How Hawaii Shaped Barack Obama (Honolulu: Watermark Publishing, 2009) p. vii
  9. ↑ [4] Abercrombie for governor website, accessed July 10, 2010
  10. ↑ [5] Abercrombie for governor website, accessed July 10, 2010
  11. ↑ CLW website: Meet Our Candidates
  12. ↑ Abercrombie for Congress 2010: Get the facts on Neil Abercrombie: Debunking socialist rumors, July 14, 2010 (accessed on August 12, 2010)
  13. ↑ DSA Feminist Commission Directory, 1985
  14. ↑ Democratic Left, November/December 1990, page 4
  15. ↑ Democratic Left September/October 1992, page 20
  16. ↑ http://www.dsausa.org/dl/Winter_2007.pdf
  17. ↑ http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0908/090308nj2.htm
  18. ↑ DSA website: Members of the Progressive Caucus (archived on the Web Archive website)
  19. ↑ Congressional Progressive Caucus website: Caucus Member List
  20. ↑ Legistorm: Neil Abercrombie (accessed on Aug. 24, 2010)
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