Staying along party lines

Since Republican Juan Nekai Babauta was elected Washington Representative for the CNMI in the 1990s and then governor in 2001, his decisions while in public office have been inconsistent with the majority of the members comprising the Republican Party. For example, when George Miller (D-CA) introduced a proposal for a federal takeover of the CNMI in 1999, Babauta was one of his avid supporters. When Miller proposed an increase in minimum wage in 2005, Babauta once again supported the Democratic congressman.

While Babauta was Washington Representative in 1994, he publicly criticized Heinz Hofschneider for wanting to stop any increases of the minimum wage in the CNMI. Interestingly, Hofschneider’s position changed to support increasing the minimum wage to $5.00 an hour in 2005, an election year, approximately a decade after he opposed it in 1994. Babauta’s proposal incorporated a gradual increase over a two-year period.

When Babauta campaigned for governor in 2001, he shifted his position regarding minimum wage. His “anti-minimum wage increase” stance during his campaign in 2001 was consistent with the minimum wage position the then three-term Republican Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio had and adhered to for 12 years as CNMI governor.

After Babauta became the governor, he proposed an Integrated Fiscal Plan, which essentially raised taxes and fees across the board for the business community. To date, Babauta has not deviated from his stance with the increases, notwithstanding the fact that the business community has been struggling since the shift in regulations and tariffs in the manufacture and distribution of garments internationally.

Raising taxes is not part of the GOP philosophy and is indicative of what the Democratic Party advocates. The Republican Party promotes the lowering of taxes, i.e., tax cuts, which has been seen at the federal level since George W. Bush was elected president of the U.S.

Moreover, Republicans are ardent supporters of business and economic development. Babauta’s proposal to raise fees and taxes would have a negative impact on businesses and would hurt them. Again, we see a conflict with Republican philosophy.

When Babauta presented his IFP in 2003, there were some Republicans in the CNMI, as well as on Capitol Hill in Washington, who looked at his proposal with askance because it essentially “went against the grain” and clearly did not follow Republican Party lines. And Babauta wonders why he continually loses political cronies as Election Day in the CNMI draws near.

Those politicians who are affiliated with specific parties and stray from or blatantly deviate from party lines are generally ostracized by the majority of the members comprising the political party. A case in point would be Zell Miller (D-Georgia) who went before thousands at the Republican National Convention in New York City in 2004 and on national television and campaigned for George W. Bush to be the nation’s president for a second term.

Politicians who strictly adhere to party lines and philosophy may be chastised for their positions and convictions, but are never ridiculed for “trying to please everybody all of the time” and “getting the best of both worlds.” An example of a CNMI politician who remained consistent with adhering to Republican principles and philosophy was former Republican Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio. Throughout his three terms as governor, he was steadfast in leading the government and staying along the lines of what the Republican Party promoted and stood for.

It is the prerogative of individuals to change their political affiliation. When people experience changes in political philosophy and positions that are dramatic, then they generally change party affiliations. One of the most notable politicians in the political history of the U.S. who jumped ship was the former and late president Ronald Reagan. He left the Democratic Party to become a devout conservative Republican.

The only way to ascertain if an individual is aligned with party principles and lines is to observe the political decisions made and compare it to what the political parties advocate. When there is a discrepancy with a member of a particular political party and the philosophy of the party, then members of both parties begin to suspect the sincerity and credibility of the individual in question.

When the electorate begins to question the philosophies and positions of individuals running for political offices like governor, then the trust and credibility will generally be in question as well.

The electorate should not have to dwell on what gubernatorial candidates believe in and represent. One of the best ways to eliminate any questions about gubernatorial candidates is the presentation of a bona fide platform for office.

Over the past year, only one gubernatorial candidate, Benigno Fitial of the Covenant Party, took the time and effort to substantiate what he, his running mate Tim Villagomez, and the entire party believes in and what they plan to do if elected. Because the other three gubernatorial candidates did not produce or present any platforms whatsoever, then the electorate must ask themselves if these candidates should be trusted to make decisions for them for a four-year period of time if they cannot produce a definitive “game plan” and/or “vision” in black and white for the voters to peruse before Election Day on Nov. 5.

The candidates from the various political parties who have declared their candidacy for the gubernatorial seat in the CNMI are either consistent or inconsistent with the political party they are affiliated with. The electorate in the CNMI has already experienced a designated political leader who is clearly inconsistent, as well as consistently ineffective. It will be up to those who go to the polls in November whether or not the inconsistency and ineffectiveness will continue for another four years.

Dr. Jesus D. Camacho
Delano, California