IT’S probably not very realistic to expect a community as diverse as Guam to speak with one voice on anything. Thus the whole concept of the Guam First Commission is well-intentioned, but maybe just a little bit foolish.

Witness the current kerfuffle over the hiring of a Washington D.C. lobbying firm by a group of private citizen business people on Guam, trying to make sure Guam’s story gets told accurately, or at least according to the lobbying spin desired by the paying clients.

Foul, cried Senate Majority Leader Rory Respicio in a release. “A separate, business-only group speaking directly to the U.S. government on matters of great impact to all residents of our island, and not just businesses, should be everyone’s concern,” he huffed. He then went on to tell the history of the Hawaii monarchy and how it was overthrown by a consortium of Hawaii businessmen and American troops.

Nonsense, responded Gov. Eddie Calvo; these people are just trying to help. “They get a big thank you from me and my administration,” he said.

He also stated in a release, responding to Respicio: “They’re trying to clean up the mess certain people helped to create.” Certain people? That’s the key. Who are those people? Well, Sen. Respicio for one, plus Sens. B.J. Cruz, Ben Pangelinan, Judi Won Pat and Judi Guthertz – the so-called “Fab Five” blamed by many in the business community for screwing up our military buildup.

These five are being targeted for de-election this fall, in a not-very-subtle campaign, perhaps supported by these same business people who are hiring the lobbyists in Washington. Republicans, meanwhile, sensing majority, are shaking the trees trying to get attractive, qualified, electable candidates to fall out.

It’s unlikely the business group would spend more than $100,000 of their own money to reach members of the House and Senate just for political reasons. And they certainly have the absolute right to spend their money however they want. “Raising money to lobby in favor of advancement for our island is a good thing,” Respicio stated. “But raising lobbying money to drown out the voice of a legitimate, democratically elected government, in favor of advancing special interest groups” is not.

But all politics is local. We shouldn’t be surprised if the partisan squabbling of our local solons reaches all the way to our nation’s capitol. And we surely can’t be too surprised if “Guam First” is interpreted differently, depending on who is telling the tale.