ROB
REPORT
BY ROB PARSONS
ROBPARSONS@EARTHLINK.NET
ELECTION: continued from page 8 mary against Johnson, who withdrew two
weeks later after Senator Robert F. Kennedy
gloves in my Wailuku post office box, of New York entered the race.
with a call for “Many hands working Madison was a liberal university town
together.” Extra points for any reader with a growing reputation for radical
who can remember which candidate protests of the war, ROTC recruiting on
sent these island-wide. campus and job fair participation by
I still use the (Kauai Senator Gary) Dow Chemical, makers of napalm. My
Hooser chip bag clip from a previous father, a physician I knew to be more
election and recently found a purple inclined to serve as a Cub Scout
and yellow Mike Molina pen in Packleader than a political
the back of a drawer. Often, activist, nevertheless grabbed
it’s the functionality the baton of the McCarthy
of the campaign anti-war campaign. He
doo-dad that deter- drove me to junior
mines whether it high school in a ’64
will be picked up Buick Special sport-
in the first place ing a triangle-shaped
and kept and used Styrofoam McCarthy
thereafter. emblem strapped to
the roof.
y early He took my older
M
political brother and me to a
awareness McCarthy rally at the Dane
dates even further back. County Fairgrounds, though
Growing up in the 1960s in Madison, without a lot of preaching or fanfare.
Wisconsin, I knew little about local “Boys,” he said, “I want you to see this
elections. But I remember vividly man speak tonight.” The campaign had
the day I came home from sixth won the support of some Hollywood
grade to find my mother glued to the celebrities, among them Paul Newman,
television and in tears at the news Barbra Streisand and Burt Lancaster. The
that President John F. Kennedy had comedian team of Jerry Stiller and Anne
been shot. Meara (parents of comic actor Ben Stiller)
I recall the lopsided victory of attended the rally. What caught my atten-
Lyndon Johnson over Republican tion was the amount of money my father
Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater, a pulled out of his wallet when the collec-
race that is echoed this year, some 44 tion basket came around—far more than
years later, with another Arizona what I had typically seen at Sunday
Senator, John McCain, seeking the Presbyterian services.
White House.
During my high school years, I paid he political seed had been planted.
much closer attention to the unfold-
ing presidential campaign. I was T
I found myself involved with
school politics, first in junior high
intrigued by the persistence of former as campaign manager for my friend run-
Minnesota Governor Harold Stassen, ning for Student Council Vice President.
who had run for the country’s top Once elected, he appointed me to be
office three times previously, (and five Council Sergeant-at-Arms. The position
times after 1968). I applauded the was primarily to keep order at meetings if
audaciousness of deadpan comedian anyone spoke out of turn, but also extend-
and political satirist Pat Paulsen of ed to picking up a tray of milk cartons
the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour from the cafeteria and bringing them
in a half-baked run for president. On a upstairs to the biology classroom where
show that often stretched the limits of meetings were held during lunch hour.
media censorship policies, Paulsen I later found myself serving as Student
announced his presidential campaign Senate representative to my high school
slogan, “I’ve upped my standards. homeroom. The biggest issues back then
Now, up yours.” revolved around student dress codes.
On his political party affiliation, Fast forward to 2000, when I entered
Paulsen stated he belonged to the the Maui political scene and sign waving
Straight Talking American Government faithful by running for Council. After a
party, or STAG party for short. long battle to “Save Baldwin Beach” and
But my greatest awakening came “Stop Spreckelsville Sprawl,” I tossed my
with the entrance of Senator Eugene hat in the ring to help bring greater atten-
McCarthy to the race. No sitting tion to the issue, which eventually failed
Democrat had challenged Lyndon by a close 5-4 vote.
Johnson’s party leadership until This year, many other hopefuls are
McCarthy, an outspoken critic of the doing all they can to illuminate vital issues
increasingly unpopular war in Vietnam. and earn your support to serve the best
He made an unexpectedly strong show- interests of Maui County. Please show up
ing at the early New Hampshire pri- and vote! MTW
10 OCTOBER 30, 2008 MAUI TIME WEEKLY
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