On Saturday the largest Asian-American political action committee, the 80-20 Initiative, formally endorsed Sen. Obama for president. They decided on the endorsement after a day-long convention and discussion among 33 delegates of various ethnicities, ages and party affiliations. The delegates represent a national, nonpartisan organization of 700,000 supporters.
80-20's press release did include a caveat at the very end, to say that if Sen. McCain chose Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana as his running mate, the organization would "view it very helpful in winning equal opportunity for Asian-Americans. In that event, this convention may reconvene" to reconsider its endorsement. But since vice presidential candidates are not yet known, and the 80-20 Initiative did not wish to speculate, leaders encouraged members to fully support Barack Obama, including financial donations to the campaign.
The PAC came to its decision after a three-hour discussion at the Crowne Plaza in Foster City, Calif., on the San Francisco peninsula. The debates centered on how effectively Sens. Obama and McCain would address issues of the Pan-Asian American community. The group specifically focused on equal opportunity in the workplace through the enforcement of Executive Order 11246 of 1965, which outlined laws for equal employment opportunity.
80-20 had sent out questionnaires early in the primary season to all presidential candidates, asking for their written commitment to equal employment opportunities, and to give Asian-American legal professionals equal opportunities to be judges at all levels of the Federal Courts. All the Democratic candidates responded to the questionnaire, but McCain never did.
"I'm very disappointed that John McCain did not respond to our questionnaire," said Victor Lee, a Republican delegate to the endorsement convention. "He didn't say no, but he didn't say anything." Lee said that as a Republican, it was hard to argue for a McCain endorsement at the convention, when McCain simply ignored the group's questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of six questions, and can be found here.
The 80-20 Initiative is a national, nonpartisan group dedicated to the issues of Asian Pacific Americans. Saturday's convention followed group bylaws, under which one-third of the delegates must be Democrats, one-third Republicans and one-third Independents. According to the rules, the group may endorse one, both or none of the major party candidates for president.
The group formed six years ago with the intent of creating a swing voting bloc among Asian Americans. Putting aside political differences to look at this ethnic community's interests as a whole, the goal was for 80 percent of the community to vote for the candidate that the organization would endorse.
On Super Tuesday, the Asian American vote produced a 71-to-25 percent victory for Hillary Clinton in California, where Asian Americans make up more than 12 percent of the population. The 80-20 Initiative had endorsed Clinton before the primary, purely due to the candidates' timing. Clinton had responded to their questionnaire in December, while Obama did not respond until four days before Super Tuesday.
The Obama campaign sent surrogate Ted Lieu, a California assemblyman, to speak at the convention. The campaign also sent a video message from Obama's sister, who is half-Asian. The McCain campaign sent no representative. At the end of the day, all the delegates unified in support, based on what they described as unequivocal commitment from the Obama campaign to better the rights of Asian Americans.
Victor Lee said he would tell Republican friends beyond the Asian community to vote for Obama, because he said he'd like to spread the word and get the candidate in office who can deliver on the promise of giving Asian Americans the opportunities they deserve.
Lee was not the only Republican delegate feeling disappointed in McCain. Charles Zhang, a Republican from Michigan, said of their endorsement, "I know we'll probably pay more taxes. But the most important thing for Asian Americans is equal opportunity and justice...I hope during the next election, the Republican will do more for the Asian American community."
The 80-20 Initiative had even lacked the necessary number of Republican delegates to their endorsement convention initially, filling the last four spots only a week before the event. While Republican delegates bemoaned their own party's candidate, Democrats at the convention were expectedly upbeat. But a unified attitude of determination and full support for Obama eclipsed the usual party tensions .
"We have to separate the emotions from the 'brain' side of it," said Arthur Cheung, an Independent from Mountain View, Calif. Cheung, among the younger delegates present, had stood up in the rounds of introductions earlier and said, "My name is Arthur Cheung. I don't have kids and I'm not married. But I think the work we did here today will affect the future -- for my kids that I will have."
When asked whether issues of the pan-Asian community would trump matters of national security, economy or environment, Cheung let his actions speak for themselves. In 2004, when 80-20 withdrew their initial endorsement of John Kerry, in effect making no endorsement at all, Cheung did not vote in that general election. "Sometimes it's what you identify with. Some people identify with age, some identify with gender -- high on my list is ethnicity."
If these delegates and the other 700,000 members of the 80-20 Initiative follow through in such a fashion, Obama could very well have gained a large percentage of Asian American Republicans in just one day.
McCain recently declined to attend the Unity convention for 7000+ journalists of color (Asian, African American, Hispanic, and Native Americans). Both Kerry and even Bush attended in 2004. McCain has spoken to Hispanic and African American groups. To my knowledge, he has not addressed the Asian community in any way.
What more needs to be said???
Reading this article reminds me of that conversation. Asian-Americans can be a pretty conservative bunch, and I know the Korean-American population tends heavily evangelical. (A different breed from the Southern evangelicals, but the denominations are quite evangelical and conservative.) It's also a sad fact that a lot of Koreans, at least the older generation, are rather xenophobic. For me that makes this endorsement all the more meaningful. Obama will pick up votes from beyond the traditional Democratic spectrum, and that realignment will have repercussions for decades beyond this election.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonah-lalas/nationwide-asian-american_b_116831.html
Quick note on Jindal. Unlike Obama who openly discusses his multiracial heritage with pride and goes by his real name "Barack" (no longer "Barry"), Jindal shies away publicly from his heritage and proclaims himself to be the all-American kid. Did you know his real name is Piyush? He adopted the name "Bobby" after Bobby Brady on the great American pastime show The Brady Bunch. 80-20 needs to look at his history and where he stands on the issues, not just the fact that he is South Asian. He has done a lot to rollback medicare, abortion rights, stem-cell research, and stands in line with Bush's war mongering. Also remember the Jena Six? These were the black students who the DA charged with second degree murder fighting with a white student who made racial slurs at them with references to nooses found hanging in a tree. While thousands of African Americans came out in the thousands to protest injustice, Jindal referred to them as outside agitators there to "cause problems." This type of candidate, who fails to recognize racial injustice, will not be good for the API community.
It's no wonder there are so few black republicans. It's 2008 and they have still made few attempts to reach out.
If you dont court someones vote, you wont get it.
One other thing.... The republican that said "i know we'll pay more in taxes but..."
thats a crock.
A) Obama has stated publicly that not only would he keep all of Bush's tax cuts for people making less than 200,000 /yr, but said he would add to them for those making less.
B) he said he'd raise taxes on individuals making more than that. And again.
If you are whining about making more than 200,000k per year and the taxes you owe, I'll be happy to switch places with you economically ANYTIME.
Besides, if he can find ways to lower our cost of living, isnt that the biggest tax on the american people right now?
the Oil companies are Taxing us to death with their profits.
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/cont/node/10086
In another sense it was stupid not to reply because it sends the wrong message. Particularly given the Republican party's history the campaign should be showing particular sensitivity to minorities, especially when a minority PAC as big as 80-20 knocks on its door. I mean, they may not care about the Asian vote, but there was no need to telegraph it. Should have gotten some intern to fill out the damn questionnaire, is what I'm saying.
http://www.americablog.com/2008/02/i-hate-gooks-john-mccain.html
He's a creep.
Is there any chance that you can email this link to the 80-20 Inititative? It is rather chilling to hear John McCain say "I hate G@@ks, and I will hate them for a long as I live." McCain does not deserve their votes or their consideration.
Endorse Barack Obama for who he is and even more importantly, endorse him for what he represents. America is stuck in a rut. We need change. Obama = Change.
As an Asian American, I am thrilled to see that the Republicans in our group can see beyond ideology"
+1
McCain has an Asian problem but THE MSM will not report on it!
O B A M A 08!
I am African American voting for CHANGE- Economic, Social & Policy Issues are top on my list of concerns- Obama 08
As an Asian American, I am thrilled to see that the Republicans in our group can see beyond ideology....
O B A M A 08!
McCain is at this very moment slamming the Euro groups that help American out in Iraq; that type of gratitude and honor is not welcomed.
Many groups fight and sacrifice to be first education only to see people like 5th from bottom of the class reap the rewards. NO MORE.