Endorsements

By: AsianWeek Staff, Feb 01, 2008

Tags: Lead Editorial, Opinion |

PRESIDENT

Barack Obama
DEMOCRAT — U.S. Senator Barack Obama is the first-ever presidential candidate of color to have a broad base of support throughout America. A native of Hawaii, Obama’s personal and political background reflects the multicultural future of America. The energy Obama has ignited among young Asian Pacific American activists is unprecedented for presidential politics and could pave the way for future APA involvement.

John McCain
REPUBLICAN — Senator John McCain is the most experienced candidate running for president. His record proves his comeback ability, including this campaign season, where he has reclaimed his frontrunner position after his campaign imploded last year. His common sense and maverick approach click with the politics of many Asian Pacific Americans who don’t match with traditional Republican or Democratic politics.

PROPOSITIONS

Prop. 91 Allocating Transportation Funds NO
This confusing and redundant initiative could actually damage funding for public transit.

Prop. 92 Lower Community College Fees YES
Reduces the cost at all California community colleges. Helps all members of our community get a college education.

Prop. 93 Repeal Term Limits NO
Term limits have opened doors for APA and other minority candidates. Keeping term limits means powerful leadership positions will open up for our APA legislators.

Prop. 94 Expand Indian Casinos NO
Prop. 95 Expand Indian Casinos NO
Prop. 96 Expand Indian Casinos NO
Prop. 97 Expand Indian Casinos NO
Asian Pacific Americans are some of the best patrons of the Indian gaming casinos. But what has the community gotten back for our patronage? These same casino operators targeted California Controller John Chiang for defeat, just to flex their power. Chiang defeated them, and our community should send them packing again.

Prop. A Park Bonds YES
Would increase property taxes slightly, but rebuild parks and recreation areas in neighborhoods with high concentrations of APA families

Prop. B Police Retirement Options YES
A cost-neutral proposition that supports our local police officers.

Prop. C Alcatraz Peace Center NO
This nonbinding pie-in-the-sky measure is a waste of voters’ time.

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CORRECTION APPENDED:

In the original version of this story, Barack Obama was misidentified — he was born in Hawaii and spent part of his youth in Asia.

Comments

Thank you, AsianWeek, for endorsing Barack Obama! Even more than his biography and his ability to inspire a new generation of leaders, he also brings a demonstrated commitment to issues that matter to our communities: improving our schools, making higher education more affordable, putting money into the pockets of working people, expanding healthcare, supporting minority-owned small businesses, and achieving humane and compassionate immigration reform that keeps families together.

–Angelica on Feb 01, 2008
I strongly agree with your endorsement of Obama, but I have one quibble about your editorial: Obama is a native of Hawaii, since he was born in Honolulu, but he is not a “native Hawaiian” because that term refers descendants of the indigenous Polynesian settlers of Hawaii who came centuries before the arrival of Captain Cook in 1778. It is not just semantics, it is an important recognition of a native people whose country was taken by the United States and who still exist.

–Gary Kitahata on Feb 01, 2008
Thank you for endorsing Senator Obama! It’s great to see the Asian American community uniting behind such an amazing candidate, who will work to bring our issues and issues that affect every American, to the forefront of national politics.

–Jenn on Feb 01, 2008
Thank you for your endorsement of Senator Obama! There is something in the air - a break with the past, a new beginning, new promise and a fresh approach, combined with good judgment and the ability to inspire and lead. I look forward to seeing him inaugurated as our next President!

–Ravi on Feb 01, 2008
Great choice, AsianWeek!
Obama is the Global Person to represent & unite us all.

–Janet on Feb 02, 2008
Describing Obama as “a native Hawaiian” is infuriating. Not only would he NEVER describe himself as such, the Asian American community and press should know better, especially since the Native Hawaiian people fought to have a separate category on the US census after decades of being problematically lumped in with Asians.
A “native Hawaiian” (with a lower case n) is legally defined by the US Congress as “any descendant of not less than one-half part of the blood of the races inhabiting the Hawaiian Islands previous to 1778.” A “Native Hawaiian” (with an upper case N) is defined as any descendant of the people inhabiting the Hawaiian Islands previous to 1778. In both cases, native Hawaiians, Native Hawaiians, and simply Hawaiians are Polynesian people, not Africans. Obama is of African descent; hence the US national debate about whether American is ready for a “Black president.”
From an actual Native Hawaiian, J. Kehaulani Kauanui

–J. Kehaulani Kauanui on Feb 03, 2008
Great article, however please make the correction on him being “native Hawaiian”. While he does have roots in Hawai’i, he is not “native Hawaiian”, a term reserved for those who are Hawaiian in ancestry. He can be considered “Hawaiian-born”, “Hawaiian-raised”, or “Hawaiian-educated”, whatever the case may be, but not “native Hawaiian”. Please make the correction. Mahalo nui from the land of tumbleweed in Wakinekona.

–John Book on Feb 03, 2008
Have to add one comment: I think many, if not most, African-Americans will consider Obama, if elected, as “their” president. This will not bode well for relations with other minority groups.

I don’t think HRC would have that problem.

–Dennis on Feb 05, 2008
I am not sure how Barack Obama represents “change” beyond the rhetoric, as his, Edwards’s and Clinton’s views on most issues were close to identical.

Is it his personality that is supposed to embody “the change” he will bring to the White House?

And, then, too, I don’t see how he can unite all Americans since he doesn’t address the rift between Hispanics, Asians, blacks…the black-on-yellow violence (think of the L.A. riots) especially borne of a longstanding ideology of self-victimhood.

–zhongliang on Feb 05, 2008
first I would like to say I am a black American. Many people have questions that he can bring minorities together. Has Bush brought us together? Did Bill Clinton bring us together? Did Regan bring us together? No President has done this.(to Dennis) Why would blacks think of Obama as their President? Everything blacks do is not colored by race, no more than the Asian community supporting an Asian candidate.(to zhongliang) Change will be embodied by what a group of individuals beleive they can do. If you are waiting on a president to “change” your life, you will be waiting for a long time.

–kevin on Feb 14, 2008
If someone born in Hawaii is not Hawaiian, then God save us from prejudice. I think I have only heard Barack say that he is a native son, meaning born in Hawaii. He makes no claim to be Asian or of Polynesian descent. Many of his childhood friends are. Even if you support Mrs. Clinton, that does not change the fact that he was born in Hawaii. I think we can all support the candidate of our choice without insulting the other. Why does racism always have to be a part of our discourse. Can we all not get along?

–Jonathan on Feb 20, 2008
Bravo, Kevin and Jonathan:
Racism exists in individual minds and perceptions.
And to all those asking for substance rather than rhetoric in the “change” Obama heralds:
ANYthing other than Dubyous neoconnings is substantive CHANGE, bro.
Frank Eng
P.S.: Aloha! to the descendants of Kamehameha, their heritage and their culture. And a Bronx cheer to their usurpers, including our missionaries.

–Frank Eng on Feb 20, 2008
It doesnt surprise me one bit that this particular group of individuals back the Change Man. They did the same with their president 5 years ago, elected an individual with no experience who made great speaches (especially to those who didnt know any different). Well change certainly happened and not for the better. the promises of the president were not kept and almost immediately were broken. The only thing Mr. Obama has going for him is “I have written 3 books” and he is a great orator. I remember from history another political candidate who vowed for change, who also wrote books and was a great orator. He came to power in Germany in the 1930. Does any one remember him. He had as much experience as does the man from Illinoise. and he certainly did bring about change. As for me although I would vote
Democrat if Mr Obama is the Democrats choice, my vote and my recommendation to others is to vote Republican.

–Ric on Feb 22, 2008
Ric:
Whathehell are you talking about?
What “president,” “five years ago”?
As for Hitler, what office was he ever elected to?
Republican? McCain???
C’mon, ya gotta be kiddin’. No?
If not, rotsa ruck, as they say they said in old Edo.
Frank Eng
P.S.: And here, on this kitestring of non-sequiturs, I had thought “Christian” had to be the very last word. Or, maybe a Mr. Knight, or a pseudonymous “Captain Obvious.”

–Frank Eng on Feb 22, 2008
Whoa. Everybody needs to take a deep breath. First of all, the AsianWeek endorsement said that Obama was a “native OF Hawaii”, which he is. It did not say he was a native Hawaiian, which Obama is not. Second, Hitler never won an election in Germany. His party took a distant 2nd place in 1932, but he simply took over the government in a coup after a suspicious fire in the Reichstag. Third, we have had another junior Senator from Illinois with no executive experience who became President at a time of national crisis, and he turned out just fine. Remember Abraham Lincoln? The most ardent Obamaites need to acknowledge that voting for him means taking a chance, but it’s one that I’m willing to take because he’s our best shot at a fresh, energized direction for our country.

–Keiko on Feb 22, 2008
Okay. People want to know what “Change” Obama represents? Okay…look at every President in the White House in this country’s history. Then look at Obama. If Obama gets in, there are greater chances and opportunities for an Asian or Latino to be a serious candidate in 2012.

–Dwayne on May 09, 2008

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