Honda Seeks GOP Action Over Remarks on Internment

A Japanese American congressman Saturday called on Republican leaders to condemn comments made by a North Carolina congressman backing World War II internment camps.

Speaking in the Little Tokyo district of Los Angeles, Rep. Michael M. Honda (D-San Jose) compared the statements made by Rep. Howard Coble with those made by Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.), who was forced to resign in December as Senate majority leader after praising a 1948 presidential campaign that promoted racial segregation.

Honda said he was “outraged” that GOP power brokers have made no move, despite requests from Japanese Americans, to persuade Coble to step down as chairman of the House subcommittee overseeing homeland security.

Coble said during a North Carolina radio show Feb. 4 that he disagreed with a caller’s suggestion that Arab Americans be interned but that he agreed with President Roosevelt’s decision to incarcerate Japanese Americans. “We were at war.... For many of the Japanese Americans, it wasn’t safe for them to be on the street. Some probably were intent on doing harm to us, just as some of the Arab Americans are probably intent on doing harm to us.”

Missy Branson, Coble’s spokeswoman, said last week he would not consider resigning from the subcommittee post and apologized “if these remarks offended anyone.” She did not retract the comments Coble made on the radio show.

Honda said he is not satisfied with Coble’s response to criticism of his statements. He said the issue takes on urgency because Coble is in a key position to affect national policy with a war on terrorism underway.

“Since 9/11, there have been many, many civil liberties eroded away,” he said during a news conference held to criticize Coble’s comments. “Howard Coble has not learned the lesson.... When you set aside the Constitution, bad things happen.”

Honda and his family were interned during World War II, and he said that the rifles in guard towers “were pointed toward us, not outside.” In 1988, Congress -- saying the internment was unjust -- apologized and agreed to pay reparations to internees.

Honda said calls by the Asian American congressional caucus and Japanese American groups for Coble to step down from his chairmanship of the House Judiciary subcommittee on crime, terrorism and homeland security have been ignored by Republican political leaders.

“They’re notably silent on this,” Honda said.

There was swift reaction from Republicans, including President Bush, distancing themselves from then-Senate Majority Leader Lott’s Dec. 5 remark at a 100th birthday party for Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.).

Lott stepped down Dec. 20 after allies either condemned his statement or refused to support his leadership of the Senate.