With about a week’s notice, more than a thousand Asian Pacific American political activists from across the country converged in Washington, D.C. for a June 18 fundraiser supporting Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry. Hundreds more listened to Kerry via telephone hookup at house parties in 24 states.
The Democratic National Committee did not release any official figure, but one organizer estimated “more than a million dollars” was raised for the Massachusetts senator’s bid for the White House.
Afterwards, Rep. Michael Honda (D-San Jose) underscored the evening’s accomplishments.
“We raised money for Sen. Kerry. We let the Democratic Party know that we have built a structure to support a candidate that we want to support. We also let the DNC know that we have the structure that also provides policy and a talent pool. We know that Kerry has said that Asian Americans will ‘not be an after thought,’” said Honda.
At the DC event, the crowd packed a rock and roll and dim sum gala inside the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel. Then Kerry, Locke and Honda on the telephone exhorted supporters at 70 house parties from Honolulu, Hawai’i to Atlanta, Georgia. Kerry, running late, spoke by cellular phone from his car after Locke and Honda reintroduced him from the hotel. Both are members of Kerry’s national steering committee.
“We’re showing just how important we are and how seriously we are to be considered,” Governor Locke told the audience. “We as Asian Pacific Islanders can not just sit out. We’ve got to figure out what is the best for our children and is America at its best. That’s why we have to work even harder to raise money and to get our friends to register to vote and to turn out to vote.”
Honda meanwhile reminded listeners that a handful of votes in Florida determined the outcome of the 2000 presidential election. However, 2.5 million registered APA voters and a similar number — if they register — could determine November’s presidential election.
After greeting the audience with “Aloha,” Kerry ripped Bush’s conduct of the war in Iraq.
“I believe the United States of America should never go to war because it wants to. We should only go to war because we have to. And I don’t believe the President followed that standard in Iraq,” said Kerry.
Kerry also talked about immigration.
“With respect to immigration reform, there are countless numbers of families that are seeking reunification. Countless numbers of Americans are finding it very difficult when they are racially profiled and separated,” he said.
He then emphasized “putting America back to work, providing health care, fixing our education system, creating a tax code that’s fair, having immigration reform, and most importantly we need to reach out to the rest of the world.”
What APAs said about Kerry:
Praise:
“When [Kerry] came into the main hall, he was well received. For an Asian American crowd, it was quite boisterous and loud. Sen. Kerry seemed to enjoy himself. It wasn’t a canned speech. He made a lot of references to the Asian American community and the community really appreciated that.” — Bruce B. Lee, Washington D.C., attorney and DNC finance vice chair
“I’m 24 years old, and I feel like he’s trying to reach out to my group. It’s been a momentous occasion for me to finally feel that I’m part of this campaign.” — Nancy Bui, Sacramento, Calif., software systems designer for Deloitte & Touche
Criticism:
“Sen. Kerry needs to have a better analysis of our population. Since the Clinton administration, you’ve got a fairly sophisticated [APA] population. We care about a more refined analysis of affirmative action in this country. We care about international relations because technology has pushed us [beyond that]. Immigration reform is far more complex than the reunification of families. It is about global capital, globalization of justice movements and globalization of human rights concerns.” — Angela Oh, Los Angeles, Calif., attorney and a former board member of President Clinton’s Initiative on Race
“For the most part I agree with the positions he has taken on a number of domestic issues, but I would like to see more in terms of his positions with respect to APA issues and international — particular Asia — issues.” —Alice Young, New York, attorney and vice chair of the Committee of 100
“It would be good if [Kerry] wasn’t too timid about making a few more progressive types of statements. Instead of being overly cautious with the conservative wing of the Democratic Party, he might say, ‘We’re in support of American ideals such as diversity. We support more affirmative action for the citizens who can use the help. Kerry has already won the Hawaiian Islands, but we can help win the national election.” — Anson Chong, Honolulu, Hawai’i, educator and a former politician
“Sen. Kerry, with his military record, people respect him. But the way the Democratic Party is shaping him and his campaign is too centralistic. I think that’s a mistake. All of the things that are going on in the country, people don’t like it. They don’t like this war [in Iraq]. They don’t like anything that this administration has done. Sen. Kerry is really in a good place to advocate his policies. I think he needs to be himself and somehow convey his message with more passion to the public.” — Sabina Lee, New York, host of house party
“It would have been nice if he would have addressed a few more specifics concerning our community. We had sent over a number of questions to his campaign, and it would have been nice if he had answered some of them. This is considered a first step in terms of working together with our community.” — Curtis Chin, Los Angeles, Calif., political activist for Asian Pacific Americans for Progress
How the API Vote Will Make a Difference:
“People might think that Georgia will go to Bush, but there’s a lot of work going on here to make Georgia a swing state. I don’t have a poll, but based on my experience, I think a majority of Asian people here are going to vote for Kerry.” — Hai Ying Huang, Atlanta, Ga., aerospace engineer
“John Kerry needs every vote that he can get. The APIA vote in California will make a big difference. That vote will resonate with other APIA’s in such critical states like Texas, Nevada, and up north in Washington and Oregon. The money that we will raise will be used in other critical states to help Kerry.” — Fel Amistad, Daly City, Calif., realtor and a leader of Filipino Americans & APIA’s for John Kerry.”