i L i n d . n e t

Who’s that guy in the superman costume?

If you guessed Hawaii Congressman Neil Abercrombie, you’re probably among the few readers who recall this little slice of Hawaii political history, which I found on a shelf in my office and scanned yesterday afternoon.

It was the 1970 when UH grad student Neil Abercrombie filed to run for U.S. Senate. Neil was pitted against Cec Heftel in the Democratic Primary for the right to challenge the sitting Republican, Hiram Fong. It was, I think, Neil’s first step into electoral politics.

Neil came out as Super Senator, the comic book hero who broke up gangs of fat cats and sent them packing back to the mainland.

As I recall, he spent time campaigning in his super hero costume while handing out nickels to passersby, a comment on his millionaire opponents. Luckily, Neil was already a weight lifter, so he looked pretty good in that super hero outfit.

It’s hard to find this kind of spirit among the current crop of political newcomers. It’s a pity.

I just have to hope that Neil hasn’t disavowed this political history.

In any case, just click on the charging super hero for Neil’s 1970 4-page tabloid spread.

Disclosure: I was part of Neil’s campaign for a seat on the Honolulu City Council in 1988 and joined his staff after the election, serving at “senior advisor” until early 1990, if I recall correctly.

It has been thunder, lightning and rain most of the night here in Kaaawa, and the weather radar shows more rain approaching from the South. We’re close to our deadline for deciding whether we’ll walk or declare a rain day. I’m afraid the rain might win.