7 Days: Racial Fears Rearing

It's hard to know how much is media hype, how much is real... but the supposed plot to kill 102 African Americans and then assassinate Barack Obama by White supremacists does seem real, (however loopy the plot itself). Check your local paper.

On NPR's Morning Edition today, evidence that Senator McCain's accusations that Obama wants to "redistribute wealth" (socialist implications) has gained at least a bit of traction. A (White) woman interviewee says she thinks an Obama administration will "take money from people who are working and give it to people who aren't working." While it's possible that this comment has no racial aspect at all, it's also possible that it reflects something another White interviewee expressed during NPRs York, PA focus group session on race: that if Obama takes the White House, there will be "pay back"--Blacks against Whites. "It used to be that a Black person couldn't stay on the sidewalk if he saw a White person walking towards him; [under Obama], I think it might be the other way around."

Generational Issues in Chinese American Voting

Listen to this great PRI piece, with Marco Werman and Yan Tai of the Chinese-language daily World Journal, about second generation Chinese Americans trying to convince their more conservative parents to vote for Obama.

Click here to listen.

13 Days: What Does the World Think? and Mixed Race

Listen to NPR's spots on world opinion with regard to the US Presidential election. In particular, here's the piece on China.

Also, an interview with Time's International Editor about how the US candidates are talking about (or not talking about) China.

Finally, listen to Jen Chau, Founder of Swirl, talk about Obama's candidacy and mixed race identity issues.

16 Days: Live Blogging From NAASCon

What's NAASCon, you ask? It's the National Asian American Students Conference, taking place this year at Emory University in Atlanta. Conference theme: "From Visions to Actions." Lots of exitement from the youngins about political change and participation. Opening night screening of WHO's VINCENT? by Asian Pacific Americans for Progress was telling--about 1/2 knew who Vincent Chin was or had vaguely heard of the landmark 1982 hate crime/murder in Detroit; about 1/2 had never heard of him.

ACV brought filmmaker Johnny Kwon, director of ALWAYZ BE BOYZ--an AAIFF '08 feature and National Festival Tour offering--out to Atlanta to help us conduct a media arts and social change workshop. The kiddos were excited about "cultural activism," or, what we called "right-brained activism." The wave is catching on.

Most of the students were excited about Obama; but a thoughtful student leader from North Carolina State expressed reservations about Obama's pro-choice stance (the student having strong Christian beliefs), and also a skepticism about the idealistic visions being presented: "It sounds good, but..." he said. He was undecided, as a large percentage of Asian Americans still are.

AALDEF and APIA Vote conducted a meaty workshop about voters rights protection and Asian American voter participation. 2006 stats show Asian Americans at the lowest participation rate of all ethnic/racial groups--across the board, and in the 18-29 age range specifically. Hopefully we'll see something different in 16 days. Daunting accounts and reality check about what goes down at the polls--poll workers violating all kinds of rights (rushing people who have language issues, sending ESL speakers to the back of the line, refusing to let elderly/ESL voters bring a relative with them into the booth for assistance, which is their legal right)--so volunteer to monitor voters rights! Go to the AALDEF Web site for more info; they're in 13 states.

19 Days: Two Debates

See the video of Ramey Ko of Asian Americans for Obama and Shandon Phan of Asian Americans for McCain giving closing statements at a sprited debate a few weeks ago at the University of Texas at Austin.





Click here for audio of last night's final Presidential debate between Senators McCain and Obama. Commentators seem to agree that "the gloves came out" and Senator McCain landed some solid body blows, at least in the early part of the debate. But whomever you think prevailed, one can't help but wonder if Obama's "oceanic" temperament throughout the last 20 months of campaigning might sway some Asian American voters who, culturally, might value that calm, that steadiness.


Lots of talk about negative campaigning in both. Joe the Plumber is the new Everyman. Still no answer from Obama about which of his plans/promises might have to go, given the economic crisis, if he were to become President; he seems to be standing by his "pay as you go" approach as viable.

A Break from Campaign '08 and Economic Collapse: An Audio Interview with Paula Yoo

Young-adult novelist and TV Writer Paula Yoo spoke with us about her stint as a writer for the NBC political drama "The West Wing." Click here to listen.






See Paula's blog and her amazing over-achiever's bio at her site.

Rutgers Study on Asian American Likely Voters

WNYC (our local NPR here in New York) reported this morning on the first-ever study about likely Asian American voters in the NY metropolitan area. See below for the segment and click here for audio.


Rutgers Takes Pulse of Asian American Voters
by Jenna Flanagan

NEW YORK, NY October 14, 2008 —Asian Americans are one of the fastest growing segments of the national electorate and have a significant political presence in the New York-New Jersey area, according to a new Rutgers study.

The report's co-author Jane Junn says even though roughly 80 percent of the adults in the Asian American community are foreign born, many enter the U.S. on employment visas, putting them in a higher income, and professional skill set that drives their political behavior.

Junn says they share many of the same concerns as the majority of the electorate, with one exception.

JUNN: Whether that concerns undocumented migration or the issuance of visas and lawful permanent residence on the basis of employment characteristics or family unification.

REPORTER: The Rutgers report is the first ever study of likely Asian American voters in our metropolitan area. It found that 41 percent support Senator Barack Obama, while 24 percent support Senator John McCain. Another 34 percent say they're still undecided.

Junn says there isn't much information to compare their study to. She says this one was successful because researchers conducted it on 8 different languages.

22 Days: Vietnamese American Coalition Endorses McCain; Mrs. Park Endorses Obama

The Vietnamese Americans for McCain-Palin Coalition announced on Saturday its endorsement of Sen. John McCain for President of the United States at an endorsement rally in Falls Church, Virginia. Click here for the Asian Americans for McCain press release.

Virginia resident Annabel Park recently asked her mother, a Korean immigrant who voted Republican in the last two elections, why she is voting for Barack Obama. Click here to see the video.

Coming soon: podcast conversation with Paula Yoo, novelist, TV writer, professional violinist, who spoke with ACV's Sonya Chung about her stint as a writer on "The West Wing."

25 Days: McCain Endorsements, Obama's Blueprint for AAPIs, and "That One"

Asian Americans for McCain reports that 100 former U.N. Ambassadors are endorsing Senator McCain, including Julia Chang Bloch (Nepal), the first U.S. ambassador of Asian descent:

"Democrat Mark W. Erwin, a former Hillary Clinton supporter and an ambassador during the Clinton administration, is co-chair of the group. 'I will vote for John McCain because the differences between the two candidates are so vast and profound,' he said. 'Senator Obama does not have sufficient leadership experience, nor has he been tested in difficult times,' Erwin said in his endorsement. Other co-chairmen of the group called 'Former U.S. Ambassadors for McCain/Palin' are former U.S. Ambassador to Sweden Gregory J. Newell and former Ambassador Gilbert A. Robinson, both of whom served in the Reagan administration."

Asian Americans for Obama reports that Senator Barack Obama released his Blueprint for the Change We Need for Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders: "The document identifies the issues affecting the AAPI community and describes Senator Obama’s plans to address the issues and his record on addressing those issues. The Blueprint also is the most comprehensive planning document for the AAPI community from a presidential campaign." The Blueprint is available at here.

Also, read here AAfO's response to Senator McCain's controversial reference to Senator Obama as "that one" in the most recent presidential debate.

26 Days Out: NY Voter Registration Deadline--Oct 10

Tomorrow--Friday, October 10--is the last day to register to vote in NY State! Click here for information.

Make sure your registration is up to date, and that you know where your polling place is. The Board of Elections has volunteers to help you get to the polls if you need it.

Is the country ready to hear about sacrifice?

A quick note regarding last night's presidential debate in Nashville: once again, the candidates were asked how they might govern differently--i.e. what sacrifices the American people would have to make--in light of the national/international economic crisis. Neither candidate has really answered this question outright...in other words, neither candidate has taken the political risk of "straight talk" about what the government will/can do--what real change can occur--in the midst of this near-depression...

...which begs the question of whether the American public can handle a straight answer to that question. The campaign managers, and arguably the candidates themselves, think not. So they continue to stick to stump promises developed six months ago. What do you think? If one of the candidates gave a big long speech about how hard this economic disaster is going to be, what we'll have to sacrifice, how we'll have to step up and grit our teeth--would we respect and appreciate that as honest leadership, or run the other way?

27 Days Out: Filipino Republican Leader Drops McCain Endorsement

Filipinos for Obama reported the following yesterday:

October 7, 2008 - Founder of the National Federation of Filipino-American Republicans (NFFAR), Perry Diaz, resigned from his seat today as National Chairman of NFFAR and dropped his endorsement of Senator McCain. “I endorsed McCain before the California primary believing that he was the right man for the job. I was wrong,” said Diaz in his letter to the Executive Council. Diaz cites Senator McCain’s selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate and Senator McCain’s recent personal attacks on Senator Obama as the reason for his “[loss in] respect” for the Republican Senator.

"Reel in the Vote" Announces PSA Winner

Congratulations to Henry Ahn of Washington, DC, who's been announced the winner of the San Diego Asian Film Foundation's "Reel in the Vote" PSA contest.

From the SDAFF Web site:
An independent jury selected Ahn and his PSA, "My Vote, My Voice" as the winner of the competition. Jurors included San Diego city council members Tony Young, Brian Maeinschien, and Donna Frye, Supervisor Ron Roberts, State Assemblyman Leland Yee, business man Bryan Min, philanthropist Tom Hom, and Sara Katz of Katz & Associates. Ahn won $1000 plus a Sony HD Video Camera valued at nearly $4,000. "My Vote, My Voice" will be screened before every film program at the 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival, October 9-16.

Asian American Candidates

For Asian Americans who grew up on the east coast, as second or one-point-five generation, it may (still) seem surprising that Asian Americans do indeed hold high public office in this country--mostly on the West coast, but increasingly coast to coast.

Click here for a list of Asian American candidates in 2008.

29 Days Out: Post-Debate, Asian Am Leaders

Asian Ams for Obama have a blog post up about last night's debate between Ramey Ko, founder of Asian Ams for Obama, and Shandon Phan, founder of Asian Ams for McCain, at UT Austin. Read it here.

Nothing yet on the Asian Ams for McCain site, but we'll post it as soon as we see something.

From Ramey Ko on the AAfO site:

"I really have to give Shandon props for taking a trip half way across the country to represent his candidate in front of what he knew would be a pretty pro-Obama audience. We talked after the debate, and while he and I may disagree on the election and what policies will move this country forward, we both share a passion for giving our community a voice. Shandon is also very committed to service in his personal and professional life, which is very commendable. All of us would benefit from more AAPIs like him."

Video coming soon...

30 Days Out: Asian Americans Duke It Out

Good for us--we're throwing down the gloves and going at it. Tonight, October 5th from 6-7 pm at the University of Texas at Austin, Shandon Phan, Founder of Asian Americans for McCain, and Ramey Ko, Founder of Asian Americans for Obama, will debate. Is someone videotaping or podcasting? Stay tuned for post-debate analysis.

32 Days Out: The Veep Debate

See what Asian Ams from each camp are saying about the Palin-Biden VP debate:

From Asian Americans for Obama: Click here

From Asian Americans for McCain: Click here

SDAFF "Reel in the Vote" PSAs

In March 2008, our friends and collaborators at the San Diego Asian Film Foundation (SDAFF) launched “Reel in The Vote,” a non-partisan voter education and registration campaign designed to encourage more Asian Pacific Islander Americans to participate in the democratic process during this crucial election year. SDAFF put out an open call for 30-second PSAs, designed to motivate the Asian American community to register and vote. See here the PSAs which made it to the final round; the winner will be announced later this month. Congratulations SDAFF and contest finalists!

We at ACV support this effort and encourage you to circulate these PSAs—-to get involved and get out the vote!

PODCAST: ACV Staff Gab--The First Debate, Race, & Generation

ACV Festival Director Sonjia Hyon and ACV Associate Director Sonya Chung gab about the first Presidential debate, generational voting patterns (and exceptions), and racial dynamics of the 2008 Presidential race.

Click here to listen.