Hawaii GOP chairman denounces Republican challenging Tulsi Gabbard

Hawaii’s Republican Party chairman is denouncing the GOP candidate challenging Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, calling the comments she made about the congresswoman “racially-bigoted” and “religiously-intolerant,” according to Roll Call.

{mosads}Chairman Fritz Rohlfing said GOP House candidate Angela Kaaihue’s remarks about Gabbard’s and former Rep. Colleen Hanabusa’s religion are not representative of the Republican Party, and urged other Republicans in the state to “disavow her candidacy.” Kaaihue also criticized Gabbard’s appearance.

“Her vulgar, racially-bigoted, and religiously-intolerant descriptions of Democratic Party candidates are offensive, shameful, and unacceptable in public discourse,” Rohlfing said in a statement. “I unconditionally denounce her despicable statements. I strongly urge all Hawaii Republicans to join me in disavowing her candidacy.”

Last week, Kaaihue took aim at the two Hawaii Democrats over their religion; Gabbard is Hindu and Hanabusa is a Buddhist. Hanabusa is running for her old House seat that is now open after the death of Rep. Mark Takai (D). Gabbard has represented her safe Democratic district since 2013 and is running for a third term.

“Then Hawaii, YOU can have YOUR so-called ‘perfect’ pathetic Hindu 1000 GODS leader along with YOUR pathetic ‘career politician’ Buddhist Hanabusa, and your pathetic American Traitor, And my family and I will go our merrily way,” Kaaihue wrote in a press release, offering to drop out of the race if Gov. David Ige (D) “and his Japanese constituents” would settle a land dispute she is involved in.

According to the Honolulu Civil Beat, Kaaihue knocked Rohlfing over the weekend, saying that he is heading a “disenfranchised party.”

“I am talking about God, preaching about God, restoring his kingdom back into Hawaii,” Kaaihue said. “This is God’s country, America is God’s country. I am trying to educate people about that.”