1) DO YOU AGREE WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA’S STRATEGY FOR COMBATTING ISIL (OR ISIS, OR ISLAMIC STATE) MILITANTS? PLEASE EXPLAIN YOUR POSITION.
CHARLES DJOU (Republican)
Yes. The radical Islamic State is a threat to the American people. It is important for our national security to confront this terrorist organization. The President’s strategy of airstrikes, combined with a unified diplomatic effort and forces from allied nations, is the appropriate approach in dealing with ISIS.
MARK TAKAI (Democrat)
I support President Obama’s efforts to build a coalition to deal with ISIL, and I also support the use of airstrikes in Iraq to reverse the gains ISIL has made. However, I have serious reservations about the decision made to arm the Syrian rebels. This is precisely the same sort of situation that helped to create the Taliban. We don’t know who these rebels are and what their overall goals will be. If we are going to commit to an extended conflict, President Obama needs to return to Congress and introduce a plan that will ensure long-term regional stability.
2) WHAT SHOULD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DO WITH THE TERROR SUSPECTS BEING HELD AT THE GUANTANAMO PRISON?
CHARLES DJOU (Republican)
Guantanamo is an appropriate holding site for extreme international terrorists. The Obama administration is properly complying with the Supreme Court directive to appropriately adjudicate all individuals being held at Guantanamo. Holding terrorists at Guantanamo is a better option than holding such individuals in the U.S.
MARK TAKAI (Democrat)
The terror suspects being detained at the Guantanamo Bay Prison must be processed through our legal and military systems. I support congressional action to lift restrictions on the transfer of detainees. And I support the closure of the Guantanamo Bay Prison.
3) WHAT WOULD YOUR COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION POLICY FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS INCLUDE?
CHARLES DJOU (Republican)
I support comprehensive immigration reform. As a congressman, I voted in favor of the DREAM Act and cosponsored legislation to expand the number of high technology visas for foreign nationals who earn degrees in engineering and sciences in the U.S. I support a plan that could allow undocumented immigrants who pay a fine and properly apply for legalization in their home country to find a path to legal residency.
MARK TAKAI (Democrat)
I would include a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who have been living and working in our country. These individuals pay taxes and are valued members of the community, yet they are unable to openly participate due to the constant threat of deportation. Immigration makes America stronger and I will continue to support initiatives such as the DREAM Act until our country truly implements comprehensive immigration reform. While in the state Legislature, I authored Hawai‘i ’s version of the DREAM Act.
4) SHOULD THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZE CONSTRUCTION OF THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE THROUGH THE UNITED STATES? WHY OR WHY NOT?
CHARLES DJOU (Republican)
Yes. I support a plan to bring the U.S. into energy self-sufficiency using resources entirely generated in North America. Our nation exports too much of its wealth to purchase energy resources from despots in other parts of the world. Building the Keystone XL Pipeline will not only boost job creation in the U.S., but will also help lead to North American energy self-sufficiency for our nation.
MARK TAKAI (Democrat)
I would not support the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. The environmental impact will be tremendous and will very negatively impact the surrounding communities. I feel that we need to focus our efforts not on increasing our access to other forms of fossil fuels, but developing more sustainable energy efforts. While the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline would temporarily lower our energy costs, the overall effect would be to only further increase our dependency on fossil fuels. We need to create a more sustainable future for our children.
