Monday, October 6, 2008

Congressional Non-voting Delegate Faleomavaega Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin, Junior

We have been looking over the stories, press releases and ads for the congressional race in recent weeks and have been struck by how Congressional Non-voting Delegate Faleomavaega Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin, Junior for some reason focuses his fire on one of his two opponents, Aumua Amata. No matter that the governor, the fono leaders, the other opponent, one of the other candidates for governor and a variety of members of the fishing community are opposing his secret tunaboat amendment, Congressional Non-voting Delegate Faleomavaega Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin, Junior seems to relish concentrating his attacks on Aumua Amata. Sounds to me like maybe she is breathing down Congressional Non-voting Delegate Faleomavaega Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin, Junior's neck.

One thing we have noticed in particular is Congressional Non-voting Delegate Faleomavaega Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin, Junior's habit of referring to Aumua by her full name in virtually every instance Congressional Non-voting Delegate Faleomavaega Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin, Junior mentions it. Other than to show contempt for her--or at least her name--we are not certin just exactly what point Congressional Non-voting Delegate Faleomavaega Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin, Junior is trying to make. Our point in doing the very same thing here, of course, is to demonstrate just how childish Congressional Non-voting Delegate Faleomavaega Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin, Junior looks. After all, Congressional Non-voting Delegate Faleomavaega Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin, Junior now is at retirement age. Isn't it about time for Congressional Non-voting Delegate Faleomavaega Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin, Junior to grow up? Or maybe retire?

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Congressman Faleomavaega has served many years as (my) delegate from American Samoa, and while I believe that he has served us honorably and with integrity for most of his tenure, I have also found myself in disagreement with with him from time to time.

However, I feel compelled to speak out on this strange attack which is being leveled at him from... I'm not sure where.

The crux of the story seems to center on the belief that his trip to Jakarta was really some kind of covert act meant to hide the truth of Senator Obama's "real" citizenship.

WOW! Eni as secret agent... Eni as covert lackey for the Obama campaign... Eni as the central focus of one of the Republican's main talking points in their insidious "whisper campaign" against Obama....

this is the stuff of great novels, fascinating movies... and Hollywood.

(having grown up in Hollywood, I feel a particular affinity to bull shit that can be converted to box office.)

Recently, I confronted Eni directly with the allegations. I believe that his shock was real. He had not heard the story, and (I think) he didn't know whether to laugh or take it seriously.

He laughed. We both laughed. I couldn't help feeling just a little silly for bringing it up at all.

I have watched him, and listened to him over the years. If, indeed, there was a "covert" aspect to the Indonesia trip, I would be more shocked than anyone.

Eni went to Indonesia in line with his duties as a member of the Foreign Affairs Sub-Committee. A Senior member. There is nothing more to it than that.

The real problem here seems to be the attacks from ANY angle at Obama. He has turned his birth certificate over to scrutiny, and it has been deemed legitimate.

Given the fact that Hawaii became a state just two years before he was born, obama is a legitimate citizen of the United States.

His mother is a U.S. citizen, which gives him the right to citizenship under ANY circumstances.

Lest we forget- McCain was born in Panama. This was never a U.S. state; but his citizenship is not questioned because his mother was a U.S. citizen, and he was born under the U.S. military.

Let the citizenship issue alone. The real question here is one of leadership.

Eni can be linked to many things,both positive and negative, as can Obama, as can McCain.

They all have something in common: they are not your every day garden variety politician.

Obama - and those who support him-are on the cutting edge of a new America: an America which values substance over rhetoric and intelligent decision making over stubborn ideology.

Let the chips fall where they may- I will vote for Eni, and (if I could) I would happily vote for Obama.

Two of my children were born in Hawaiiand they are the products of a bi-racial and bi-cultural marriage.

I would be furious if their U.S. citizenship was questioned because they were born there, or because I took them to Mexico, or American Samoa (or anywhere else on the planet) after they were born.

Let it alone. We have enough REAL problems to work on.

Anonymous said...

I find your article of the "Honorable" Congressman Faleomaveaga Hunkin, very biased (in case of your illiteracy, biased means one sided). In fact, this whole article is so predictable ofwhat your motives are. SAD really!!!

Congressman Hunkin has been a "servant-leader" for many years and yes, referring to your complaint of his age; he has served generations. Quite frankly, supposing that you know your history; American Samoa being such a small and young territory, has very few generational ushers of history. It is sensible to say that Congressman Eni is one of them.

On the matter of Amata Coleman,I repect her as a person and as a Samoan. Nonetheless, I dissagree with her "rhetoric". Very seldom does she create a dialogue for the betterment of the Territory. Now I know that Congressman Eni has served in his office for a long time. However I can not express how detrimental it would have been if Ms. Amata would have taken the helm. (Yes, my opinion). I truly fell that Congressman Hunkin has paid a great service to the territory and yes to his country.

My father is a American Samoan born national. I was blessed to have been raised in both the territory and here in the states. I just retruned from our islands after spending over two years there. I realized that Samoan politics is getting old. Ironicly, Congressman Eni has been promoting the rising generation to be aware of how we can "CHANGE" and "REDEFY" the odds for a better "FUTURE".

He is a good man. Speaking with him can bring the conclusion that he is a very wise man who truly cares for our people. You can also sense that he understands the power of his position and how important it is to stay the course. Which he has done so with honor. I can not and will not question his integrity. You should not either. Unless of course you have actual facts. Yet you do not. so in closing I close my response with a quote from a great samoan comedian, "I don't know where you get your facts from..." (Laughing Samoans)

Afai ua sasi se upu po'o se tala, ia fa'amalu ave i fale le tou finagalo. Ae measili ua manino le mata o le vai.

Soifua,

Moni

Anonymous said...

I find your article of the "Honorable" Congressman Faleomaveaga Hunkin, very biased (in case of your illiteracy, biased means one sided). In fact, this whole article is so predictable ofwhat your motives are. SAD really!!!

Congressman Hunkin has been a "servant-leader" for many years and yes, referring to your complaint of his age; he has served generations. Quite frankly, supposing that you know your history; American Samoa being such a small and young territory, has very few generational ushers of history. It is sensible to say that Congressman Eni is one of them.

On the matter of Amata Coleman,I repect her as a person and as a Samoan. Nonetheless, I dissagree with her "rhetoric". Very seldom does she create a dialogue for the betterment of the Territory. Now I know that Congressman Eni has served in his office for a long time. However I can not express how detrimental it would have been if Ms. Amata would have taken the helm. (Yes, my opinion). I truly fell that Congressman Hunkin has paid a great service to the territory and yes to his country.

My father is a American Samoan born national. I was blessed to have been raised in both the territory and here in the states. I just retruned from our islands after spending over two years there. I realized that Samoan politics is getting old. Ironicly, Congressman Eni has been promoting the rising generation to be aware of how we can "CHANGE" and "REDEFY" the odds for a better "FUTURE".

He is a good man. Speaking with him can bring the conclusion that he is a very wise man who truly cares for our people. You can also sense that he understands the power of his position and how important it is to stay the course. Which he has done so with honor. I can not and will not question his integrity. You should not either. Unless of course you have actual facts. Yet you do not. so in closing I close my response with a quote from a great samoan comedian, "I don't know where you get your facts from..." (Laughing Samoans)

Afai ua sasi se upu po'o se tala, ia fa'amalu ave i fale le tou finagalo. Ae measili ua manino le mata o le vai.

Soifua,

Moni