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Making It in the USA The 80-20 Asian-American Initiative Endorses Senator Clinton for California Primary
| The 80-20 Asian-American Initiative Endorses Senator Clinton for California Primary |
The 80-20 Initiative, by far the largest Asian-American political action committee, announces today that its Board has voted unanimously to endorse Sen. Hillary Clinton for California's Democratic primary. It has appropriated $30K to support Senator Clinton in the Asian ethnic media, to be spent by Super Tuesday on February 5. The Board also explicitly stipulated that it would appropriate more if needed.
The 80-20 has a record of delivering block votes to its endorsed candidates in 2000, 2004 and 2006.
Present at the press conference were many top leaders of the Asian-American community in the Bay Area, including Harrison Lim of the Chinatown 6-Company, Niraj Baxi of the Indian-American community, Fel Amistad of the Filipino-American community, Peter Cheng of the Vietnam/Cambodia/Laos community, Ann Mencie of the Korean-American community, and Leon Chow of the Chinese-American community. In addition, leaders of the 80-20 and its affiliates in the area were present. The affiliates include the APAPA, CAPA, and CBC, which are well-known Asian-American organizations.
Ms. Kathleen To, the president of 80-20 said, "Senator Clinton promised in writing with one unambiguous word, YES, that she'll use the power of the presidency to eliminate all discrimination against Asian Americans in workplaces, including the glass ceiling, and signed it. Senator Obama willfully refused. That is why we endorse Senator Clinton."
Frank Lee, an 80-20 Board member said, "We are truly fighting for ourselves -- to finally enjoy equal justice and equal opportunity in workplaces -- rights already enjoyed by ALL Americans except for Asian Americans."
Joel Wong, a two-time former president of CAPA said, "If we can target an unsupportive top-tier presidential candidate, Senator Obama, and defeat him soundly in California, Wow. Word will go forth in both Democratic and Republican Parties that politicians are not to ignore the rightful concerns of Asian Americans any more. If they do, there will be severe consequences for the politicians."
Dr. S. B. Woo, founding president of the 80-20 and former Lieutenant Governor of Delaware said, "I urge every registered Asian American, especially Independents, to be sure to vote in the Democratic primary on Super Tuesday. If exit polls verify that Asian Americans came out in droves and voted overwhelmingly for Hillary resulting in her big victory, I assure you that Asian Americans will become first-class citizens from that moment on. No politician will ever ignore us again." # # #
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