Mazie Hirono: First Asian-American Female Senator, First Buddhist Senator.

[retromike22]

We all know about Tammy Baldwin making history, but Mazie Hirono is making some as well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazie_Hirono

[GLPman]

I had no idea she was Buddhist. Interesting.

[Holmes]

Yup. Hawaii also elected a Hindu, Tulsi Gabbard, to her old seat. And with Amish Bera hopefully winning his race in California, that's potentially two Hindu-Americans in Congress.

[Franzl]

Hawaii isn't really America...but it's still amazing how progressive America was all-in-all on Tuesday. Lots of unimaginable things just a few years ago were routine and unimportant this year.

One can only be proud of this development.

[Benj]

I had no idea she was Buddhist. Interesting.

She was also the first Buddhist person in Congress, tied with Hank Johnson. In 2006, the US elected its first Muslim (Ellison) and two first Buddhists to Congress (Hirono and Johnson). In 2012, the US elected its first Buddhist to the Senate and its first two Hindus to Congress (Gabbard and Bera) as well as its first openly atheist at the time of her election (Sinema). Both great years for religious diversity in Congress.

[Zioneer]

I had no idea she was Buddhist. Interesting.

She was also the first Buddhist person in Congress, tied with Hank Johnson. In 2006, the US elected its first Muslim (Ellison) and two first Buddhists to Congress (Hirono and Johnson). In 2012, the US elected its first Buddhist to the Senate and its first two Hindus to Congress (Gabbard and Bera) as well as its first openly atheist at the time of her election (Sinema). Both great years for religious diversity in Congress.

And Mufi Hannemann, the guy that Tulsi Gabbard defeated in the Democratic primary, would have been the first Mormon Congressman from Hawaii (and first voting Samoan Congressperson as well), so either way, religious diversity would have won out.

[Indy Texas]

I had no idea she was Buddhist. Interesting.

She was also the first Buddhist person in Congress, tied with Hank Johnson. In 2006, the US elected its first Muslim (Ellison) and two first Buddhists to Congress (Hirono and Johnson). In 2012, the US elected its first Buddhist to the Senate and its first two Hindus to Congress (Gabbard and Bera) as well as its first openly atheist at the time of her election (Sinema). Both great years for religious diversity in Congress.

Kyrsten Sinema is also bisexual according to Wikipedia. Isn't that a first?

[CountryRoads]

I had no idea she was Buddhist. Interesting.

She was also the first Buddhist person in Congress, tied with Hank Johnson. In 2006, the US elected its first Muslim (Ellison) and two first Buddhists to Congress (Hirono and Johnson). In 2012, the US elected its first Buddhist to the Senate and its first two Hindus to Congress (Gabbard and Bera) as well as its first openly atheist at the time of her election (Sinema). Both great years for religious diversity in Congress.

Kyrsten Sinema is also bisexual according to Wikipedia. Isn't that a first?

She is so freaking sexy.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Hawaii isn't really America...but it's still amazing how progressive America was all-in-all on Tuesday. Lots of unimaginable things just a few years ago were routine and unimportant this year.

One can only be proud of this development.

There's an increasingly progressive America out there, hiding underneath Fox News, unprecedented gerrymandering, and hundreds of millions of Conservative outside group dollars.

[Zioneer]

I had no idea she was Buddhist. Interesting.

She was also the first Buddhist person in Congress, tied with Hank Johnson. In 2006, the US elected its first Muslim (Ellison) and two first Buddhists to Congress (Hirono and Johnson). In 2012, the US elected its first Buddhist to the Senate and its first two Hindus to Congress (Gabbard and Bera) as well as its first openly atheist at the time of her election (Sinema). Both great years for religious diversity in Congress.

Kyrsten Sinema is also bisexual according to Wikipedia. Isn't that a first?

She is so freaking sexy.

Tulsi's more attractive!

[Vosem]

I've mentioned Amish Bera (probably) winning to an Indian friend, but I didn't know Tulsi Gabbard was Hindu -- that's interesting.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

I had no idea she was Buddhist. Interesting.

She was also the first Buddhist person in Congress, tied with Hank Johnson. In 2006, the US elected its first Muslim (Ellison) and two first Buddhists to Congress (Hirono and Johnson). In 2012, the US elected its first Buddhist to the Senate and its first two Hindus to Congress (Gabbard and Bera) as well as its first openly atheist at the time of her election (Sinema). Both great years for religious diversity in Congress.

Kyrsten Sinema is also bisexual according to Wikipedia. Isn't that a first?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Craig

[Landslide Lyndon]

I'm proud for you guys. It breaks my heart that my (supposedly progressive and color-blind) country is instead taking step backwards, towards bigotry and xenophobia.

[justfollowingtheelections]

One thing that you people need to realize is that in Japan there is no religion (Buddhism isn't really a religion the way Europeans mean it).  Most of the Japanese-Americans here in Hawaii don't really have a religion.  Hirono and Hanabusa are listed as Buddhists, but only because the term religion doesn't really mean anything in their culture.
I have met Hirono a few times.  She's a nice woman, but she really doesn't have an original idea of her own.  I have no clue how she has gotten to the point where she is now in politics.  Hanabusa is more intelligent, but she's not particularly progressive either.  I campaigned for her in 2010 because I didn't want another Republican in Congress, but I don't really care about her.
Gabbard I don't really know much about.  She's probably just a good looking chick, but I might be wrong. Time will tell.

[This user has not been convicted of 34 felonies]

Cool

[Benj]

I had no idea she was Buddhist. Interesting.

She was also the first Buddhist person in Congress, tied with Hank Johnson. In 2006, the US elected its first Muslim (Ellison) and two first Buddhists to Congress (Hirono and Johnson). In 2012, the US elected its first Buddhist to the Senate and its first two Hindus to Congress (Gabbard and Bera) as well as its first openly atheist at the time of her election (Sinema). Both great years for religious diversity in Congress.

Kyrsten Sinema is also bisexual according to Wikipedia. Isn't that a first?

Yes, but being bisexual isn't a religion

Although I think Gerry Studds claimed to be bisexual? No?

[Joe Republic]

Gabbard's opponent was the first homeless person nominated by a major party for this high an office.