1. What are you telling voters about why you want to be their representative in Congress?

I care deeply about the people of Hawaii and feel that they need and deserve a Congressman who shares their values and who will be effective in helping them achieve our common goals such as improving education, fighting crime and the drug problem, improving housing and transportation and resolving other problems.

Not only does the incumbent not share the values of the majority of Hawaii’s people, he actually looks down on people who hold to traditional values. He believes that those of us who oppose same-sex marriage and partial birth abortion are backwards and small-minded. If he doesn’t respect us, how can we trust him to carry out our will or represent us in Congress.

Due to the high employment demand, many of Kauai 's businesses are searching for skilled workers. The Chamber believes that one solution to this problem is increased Federal funding support for skills up-grade training via the Workforce Investment Act Program (WIA). If elected, what type of Federal legislation and/or amount of budget funding would you sponsor and actively support to provide immediate workforce training assistance on a statewide level?

Better Training for Better Jobs
By: Mike Gabbard

Under what circumstances would you support reviving the mandatory military draft?

I strongly oppose the draft.

I have great faith in our democracy. If a war has the support of the American people, there will be no shortage of volunteers. And if a war doesn't have the support of the American people, then we shouldn't be in it.

The U.S. military is the smallest force the country has had since World War II and is deployed around the world in a tremendous number of countries, many of them actively in conflict. What should be done? Call forces home? Re-instate the draft? Withdraw forces from less vital areas to more dangerous ones? Or what?

The draft is a bad idea. Our volunteer forces are much more highly motivated
and trained than any draft army could be.

I fully support President Bush's plan to drastically reduce the number of
troops in Europe. We should have done this a long time ago. Our present
military structure was created for World War II.

What do you see as the most pressing issue facing Hawai’i’s congressional delegation?

The most pressing issue facing us is the safety and financial security of our loved ones. To deal with this issue, we must work with equal vigor to protect our homeland from terrorists, improve our economy and lower the deficit.

Everything depends on our state and nation being safe and secure. Without security, we won’t have prosperity, our economy will suffer and the deficit will rise. 9/11 is proof of this.

West Hawaii Today - Mike Gabbard’s Responses
August 25, 2004

What do you think of the way the federal government is spending money and what would you do about taxes?

Federal spending is out of control-and there's little to show for it. Waste is rampant. We need to cut spending and waste and drastically reduce federal taxes.

To reduce the national budget deficit, we obviously must cut spending.

Case admits the deficit is a serious problem, yet he recently voted against a reinstatement of congressional spending limits. I'll vote to limit congressional spending and eliminate waste.

Hawaii Tribune-Herald – Candidate Questionnaire
August 24, 2004

Responses of Mike Gabbard, Candidate for Congress

If you are elected, what will be your top three priorities?

• Homeland security, national defense. Nothing is more important than the safety of our family and loved ones.
• Improve economy. Balance budget by cutting waste; reduce spending and save hundreds of billions by moving more quickly to hand over defense of Iraq to Iraqis.
• Improve education. Reduce size of Federal DOE so there will be more funds for Hawaii’s schools.