The formerly impossible has come true. A person of color has become a credible candidate for president. What do we do now to elect an Asian Pacific American to the White House? Here are 10 steps.
1. Electoral reforms. As a community, we must push for the electoral reforms that made Obama’s rise possible. Without proportional representation and other reforms to the Democratic Party nomination process, Sen. Obama would have lost months ago. Comparable electoral reforms have led to four APAs serving in the Maryland House of Delegates. Majority Leader Kumar Barve, Deputy Majority Whip Susan Lee, and Delegates Kris Valderrama and Saqib Ali deserve credit for being strong candidates and legislators, but electoral reform that includes proportional representation, instant-runoff voting and campaign finance reform makes it easier for non-white candidates to get started (see fairvote.org for more information).
2. Foreign-born president. Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 of the U.S. Constitution states that foreign-born people cannot serve as president. This rule, created at a time where fear of British takeovers was still real, is
antiquated today. Changing the rule will let current Govs. Jennifer Granholm and Arnold Schwarzenegger throw their hat in the ring, as well as many APAs.
3. Build organizations. Maryland Delegate Susan Lee spent years helping to build an APA presence within the Democratic National Committee and the Maryland state party. She co-founded the Coalition of APA Democrats in Maryland to help raise the profile of APAs in the state, and when a seat opened in her legislative district, party leaders knew her and were ready to help.
4. Reach back while climbing up. Lee’s story also contains the seeds of another important lesson. Delegates David Valderrama and Kumar Barve had already been elected to the Maryland Legislature and done well by their constituents. Their track record of success in advocating for all constituents, not just APAs, made Lee’s election more credible. In turn, Lee has done so well that two APAs have followed her, and Lee herself has helped other APAs get appointments and otherwise navigate the steps to political empowerment.
5. Be APA and American. Rep. Swati Dandekar of Iowa made a name for herself as a PTA president and super volunteer; so when a state representative seat opened up, everyone knew she would be a great legislator. Once in office, she has helped the local community with its issues. Likewise, Delegate Lee has become a hard worker for her constituents in Maryland’s District 16 and the state Legislature’s expert on identity theft issues, but she also found the time to sponsor an Asian Lunar New Year bill that passed in 2006. The ties she had made across the aisle and with legislators of all backgrounds were key to the bill’s success.
6. Learn the political system. Learning to ask for money and for votes does not come naturally to APAs, any of whom would be admonished by their families for doing so. But this is the way the American political system works. We need to decrease the influence of money, but until that happens, learning how to give and get money is crucial.
7. Redefine your definition of politics. Everything in life is political. Some try to pretend that it is not so, but the reality is that your life is affected by someone’s decision to create speed limits, zoning laws and workplace rules. Getting involved does not make you dirty or impure. Getting involved is empowering and important, especially if immigrants, the poor and other politically vulnerable people are to be protected.
8. Learn the skills of a politician. Get degrees. Amass funds. Work on campaigns and in legislative offices. Assess your own strengths, and work to perfect your speaking, negotiating and other necessary skills. Learn how to present yourself as an empowered person, comparable to the person who already works in the job to which you aspire.
9. Push others to get involved. Too many APAs see pushing themselves forward as unseemly. Take it upon yourself to spot the young people who have the intelligence, energy and community service ethic to go far. Encourage them to serve as elected or appointed officials.
10. Work for justice. Those who see APAs as stereotypes of technocrats, but not leaders, often see stereotypes of women, gays and other minorities as well. Working to help every person achieve his or her full potential hastens the day when we will see the full spectrum of people in our legislatures and in our highest executive offices, including the Oval Office.
