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ASIAMS.NET |
ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
WILL GARY LOCKE BE THE FIRST AA PRESIDENT?
ary Locke can tick off almost every qualification for a successful presidential bid: third-generation Washingtonian whose father fought in Patton's tank corps; Eagle Scout; Yale grad; former prosecutor with a tough crimefighting record; popular two-term governor in a state with arguably the nation's most successful educational system and fiscal policies; a highly telegenic wife with impeccable credentials of her own.
Significantly, Gary Locke's 26-year political career unequivocally establishes him to be a republican in democrat's clothing. Political balancing acts of that order have become de rigueur for White House aspirants from both parties, as shown by recent elections. And he's only 51.
But one misstep may haunt Locke in any quest for higher office -- he was born to Asian parents.
Locke's ties to Washington state go back to a paternal grandfather who had immigrated to Olympia at the turn of the century and worked as a houseboy before returning to China to start a family. His father James returned to Washington and fought under General Patton. Gary was born January 21, 1950 in a Seattle veterans public housing project called Yesler Terrace.
Gary worked at his father's grocery store but earned the rank of Eagle Scout and graduated with honors from Franklin High in 1968. He worked his way through Yale, earning a poli sci degree in 1972. Three years later he got a J.D. from Boston University Law School and became a deputy prosecutor in King County.
His crimefighting record got him elected to the state house in 1982 where his star rose rapidly through hard work on the Judiciary and Appropriations committees. He chaired the latter from 1988 until 1993 when he was elected chief executive of King County. That office gave Gary Locke the opportunity to prove his knack for improving social services while enforcing fiscal discipline.
Locke's popularity is undoubtedly boosted by his pretty wife, the former Mona Lee. Before their marriage in October of 1994 she was a news reporter at Seattle's KING-TV. She gave birth to a daughter in 1997, then a son in 1999. As first lady Mona has won raves by championing the causes of early learning and quality childcare.
Gary Locke has never publicly shown interest in running for national office.
Supporters see no other progression for the lifetime civil servant. They dismiss racial concerns by citing the fact that only about 6% of Washington voters are Asian, not very different from the 4% figure nationally. Some even feel that Locke's prospects for winning the presidency are better than that of any other minority politician. They cite his cleancut image combined with a sterling track record at the helm -- not to mention the likely support of the world's biggest software company.
Others believe that on the national political stage an Asian politician would have so much of an uphill battle simply trying to establish that he is an American to have a shot at getting his message across.
Could Gary Locke win a presidential election or would he be foolish even to consider a run?
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:59:29 PM)
"Twenty years ago, blacks were No. 1 in U.S. minority business ownership. Not anymore. Now, Hispanics are first, Asians second and blacks third, a USA TODAY computer analysis of new government data show." USA Today, February 27, 2002
This is the reason why I say, Gary Locke has no chance. He needs to lock up the minority vote. But with headlines like this, the white media, divides and rules. They conveniently forget that most of the inroads by Asians have been in restaurant industries where Thai and other Asian restaurants are increasing in popularity and Dairy Queen, Burger King and other franchises which are essentially run by whites are declining in popularity.
Asian American Male
Wednesday, February 27, 2002 at 06:44:03 (PST)
Tae-Yun Park:
One main reason why not to vote for the GOP. A vote for GOP is a vote for Texas and Southern interests! They would not even back a decent midwestern candidate for a House Whip. See the attachment on Ray Lahood below.
http://www.hillnews.com/022702/lahood.shtm
Asian American Male
Wednesday, February 27, 2002 at 06:37:18 (PST)
i vote for anyome no matter black, white, or asian as long as he/she is honest.
The problem is where can you find an honest president? oh well. i guess i'm stuck with Bush.
junkie
Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at 23:19:19 (PST)
T.H.Lien,
"If a person doesn't speak Chinese, it's unlikely he could hold too many real Asian values. Difficult to maintain culture without language."
Apparently, that is not true for the Irish and Scots. They ve been speaking English, which is a non-native tongue to them, for centuries. They ve managed to retain a lot of Celtic values and customs in their cultures.
FOP
Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at 12:52:13 (PST)
"You're not being fair. Pat Buchannan is no more a representative for all Republicans than Jesse Jackson is a representative for all Democrats. Buchannan was basically told to Piss Off by the Repbulican hierarchy due to crap like you're describing, which is why he ended up on the so-called Reform Party ticket."
True. Buchanan got thrown out because he was openly racist. But, does that mean the GOP does not have characters like Buchanan? Please read the Platform of the Texas GOP 2000, written by that bigoted WASP woman, Susan Weddington. It sounds like Buchanan wrote it and in some cases it is to the right of Buchanan. The only difference is that Susan Weddington is not running for President. Read the agenda of the House Immigration Caucus led by that xenophobe Tom Tancredo...he does not even consider Asians to be real Americans. His district (Douglas and Elbert counties in Colorado) were settled by folks who were running away from Asian Americans and Asians in California. A survey indicated that they moved mostly from Fremont and Richmond because there were too many Asians and the places did not look like real America anymore. No wonder they support Tancredo. The entire Georgia (Barr, Deal, Linder, Collins, Kingston, Chambliss, Norwood) and Louisiana delegation (Cookesy (remember his diatribe against Arbas although he himself is technically one based on the one drop rule!)sound like Pat Buchanan...no wonder he won the Louisiana GOP caucus in 1996. Having said that there are a lot of decent people in GOP: Richard Lugar, Chuck Hagel, Sam Brownback, Mike Dewine, Chris Cannon, Lincoln Chaffee, Ray LaHood, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe. But, sending them to congress means power to southern white males such as Tom Delay and Trent Lott and xenophobes such as Tom Tancredo who think like Buchanan. Moderates in GOP do not have much power. Perhaps another defeat in the Senate (a loss of two or three seats) would make them come to their senses and result in Chuck Hagel or Sam Brownback dethroning Trent Lott and other southern rednecks.
Asian American Male
Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at 12:09:58 (PST)
"I'm going to hold my nose and vote for former LA mayor Richard Riordan in November."
But would the GOP nominate him? They dont like him just for one precise reason: he attracts people with your views.
"Whites would feel more comfortable voting for an American of Asian decent than a black man."
May be it is different in the west coast. The whites here in the South would not even vote for any Italian...not even Rudy Gulliani. They only like Anglo-Saxon males. Why do you think the media plays up John Edwards of NC and Roy Barnes of GA...they want the Presidency to be controlled by the Daughters of American Revolution. Only one president to this day was not descended from DAR and he did not live long: John Kennedy.
"If a Democrat is elected in 2004, look for Gary Locke to get a major cabinet level appointment or some major role in the Democratic Party."
Of for that matter anytime in the next ten years.
"It's not rocket science; just pure politics: Asians routinely split (roughly 55% Democratic and 45% Republican - depending on the specific ethnic Asian enclave)."
More recently the Asian vote is trending towards the Democrats...due to people like Lamar Smith, Bob Stump and Tom Tancredo (who thinks that Asians do not belong in this country) in the GOP.
"Neither Republican nor Democratic politicians can entirely look over Asian-Americans anymore. It's not smart politics. It's too risky. You'll need the Asian vote in a really tight race."
Especially in California.
Asian American Male
Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at 11:55:48 (PST)
FOP,
Asian also make considerable contribution to the mainstream culture. Women's fashion for instance. The Chi-pao is worn by stars. Traditional Chinese underwear/bra is now worn as a chic outerwear.
In entertainment Jackie Chan and Jet Li are active executive producers in the USA.
Sure Asians haven't lead the way in Hip Hop culture. But we will make our marks where we can in the USA. Our mark will be different from the Blacks and the Jew, but no less significant.
AC Dropout
Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at 11:18:04 (PST)
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