Asian Americans Rally at GOP Convention
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Asian American Voice Is Heard at Philadelphia Convention

2000 Republican National Convention Coverage

By Sam Chu Lin

From the moment the Republican convention officially got underway in Philadelphia, the GOP drummed up an atmosphere of frenzy and excitement for the delegates and the rest of the country via television and the mass media.

Many of the party’s important icons were present to witness the occasion, including former President and Mrs. George Bush, 1996 presidential candidate Bob Dole, and former First Lady Nancy Reagan.

With a carefully orchestrated set of speakers including General Colin Powell and Texas First Lady Laura Bush, the Republicans punctuated the party’s new emphasis on diversity and inclusion. The television cameras panned across the delegations from California and Texas, who were seated at the front of the arena to illustrate that point. Those two states are filled with new immigrants and a diverse population. Even Republican icons of color were featured during the prime-time broadcast hours. Representative J.C. Watts, a prominent African American congressman from Oklahoma introduced former Deputy Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, who was among a list of minorities selected to address convention crowd.

Elaine Chou, former deputy secretary of the Dept. of Transportation under the Bush administration, was among a group of minority speakers lined up to address GOP crowds. photo by Sam Chu Lin.

Chao recounted how her own father held down three jobs to pave the way for his family to leave Taiwan and come New York.

“I don’t have to tell you, our early years in America were really tough,” she said. “Despite these hardships, our faith in America was steadfast, strengthened by faith in God and family. We knew in our hearts, with hard work, perseverance, and the help of new found neighbors and friends, we could achieve the American dream.”

Chao then pointed out that under a Bush administration, new opportunities for hard working immigrants and their families could be achieved.

“The immigrant story is one of hope and promise,” she continued. “Often new arrivals find support from their communities, their churches, their charities, and among their neighbors. And that’s what Governor Bush’s passionate conservatism is all about. Strengthening the pillars of civil society and empowering people and communities to care for one another.”

In an obvious appeal to Asian Pacific Islanders voters, Chao pointed out that Bush, if elected president, plans to overhaul the Immigration Naturalization Service and make it easier for families to be reunited. “Too often new immigrants are not welcomed with opened arms but instead are confronted with long lines and a bureaucracy that views them with indifference and worse, suspicion. As president, George W. Bush will change the character of the INS. He will make America more welcomed to immigrants.”

The Republicans made a big effort to attract the attention of young followers by providing the right kind of entertainment—a heavy metal rock and roll band blared, a Latino singer crooned, and an upbeat black choir kept the delegates hopping and waving their placards. Many of the delegates enjoyed the up tempo program, while others frowned, signaling this kind of a change was a little too fast, too out of character for conservative Republicans. It was traditional values wrapped up in a new package. Even former House speaker Newt Gingrich looked rejuvenated. He had left Congress under a cloud of controversy amidst rumors of a long-time affair with a staff member.

“Under the leadership of Governor Bush, the party is systematically inclusive,” Gingrich commented. “I think his outreach to Hispanics and African Americans has been tremendous. The Rand Corporation just reported that Texas led the nation in math scores for minorities. I think it’s clear that [Bush] really does care deeply and passionately about reform in the way it helps people.”

When Gingrich was asked about the recent nomination and confirmation of Norman Mineta as commerce secretary, he responded that Asian Pacific Americans “are an important factor. If you talk to someone like Matt Fong and others, we have reached out pretty aggressively [to minorities]. I think you’re going to see a continued drift in our direction because frankly a high tax increase, a large bureaucracy platform such as [the one] Gore runs on is not in the interest of Asian Americans or any other group.”

In a polite way, Barbara Marumoto, a delegate from Hawaii and a member of the House of Representatives in the Islands, predicted Mineta’s appointment as commerce secretary would be short lived.

“I certainly wish Norm well,” she said, “but it’s too bad that he won’t play a role in the Bush administration. I’m sure if he were a Republican, he could be a contender for secretary of commerce.”

Dr. Paul Jhian of Malibu, Calif. who was attending his fourth political convention, pointed out that California has the most Asian Pacific American delegates, and that the 40-plus delegates on hand illustrated that “the Republican Party is more inclusive than the Democrats. President George Bush appointed more Asian Americans than any other president before. I expect George W. Bush to do as good or if not better.”