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GOLDSEA |
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, 05:59:27 PM)
Hey Condolences, your post reminds me of a dog who is eager to please and happy when he receives a treat from his abusive and indifferent master. In this case, you would be the dog and the indifferent master would be the white man. What I mean is, it sounds rather sad that you feel proud that whites would rather share power with Hispanics and Asians than Blacks. Your statement makes you sound like the kind of person who would wake up each day, look at yourself in the mirror, and smile with pride, not because you're Hispanic, but because you're a Hispanic who's in the #2 minority group and who has the blessed honour, opportunity, and privaledge of sharing power with whites while the rest of us "lesser" minorities continue to grovel and duke it out until we can be as lucky as the #2 minority group and get our doggy treat from the indifferent white man. It's such a shame that there's division and competition among minorities. Instead of uniting against racism and discrimination, we bicker with each other in order to get approval from whites. As if they really give a damn about us and our tv networks and community cable stations. Instead of looking up to whites for their approval and finding joy in being a model minority, why not find joy in being human and being YOU. With a mindset like yours, it's you who needs the condolances. YOU LOSE!
Ms. Z
Friday, March 01, 2002 at 22:44:55 (PST)
Condolances:
Whites don't mind sharing power with Hispanics and Asians, eh? Is that I hear Asians constantly bitch and moan about how they aren't represented as much as Blacks or Hispanics? In the case of not wanting to share power with Blacks, who's butt do they try to kiss at every election? That's power, to me. Blacks can make or break a politician. Asians are the most White washed of all minorities so they aren't a threat. Yeah, they'll share the "power"... They share it with Asian women every night, Ha Ha. Hispanics know how to play the game. Earn the trust and be quiet while gradually taking power by strength in numbers. 14-15% of them compared to 12% Blacks and 4% Asian. Hispanics are very intelligent people, in all honesty. They are sneaking up quietly in the Midwestern states and will soon have control over this country. How much do you want to bet that there will be a Hispanic president before a Black? And Whites share power with Asians? ROTFLMAO... Satan will tap dance on ice before there will be an Asian president. Whites aren't sharing anything with anyone and you're a fool if you think otherwise. I forgot, who loses again? Who the hell won anything? o_0
Global Doormat
Friday, March 01, 2002 at 20:17:45 (PST)
Whatever and Asian American Male:
Condolances wrote to me: "Whites don't mind sharing power with Hispanics and Asians, but they don't like sharing it with Blacks."
While I do generally agree with what this person said, I still do believe that Gary Locke can capture African-American votes. Blacks will vote for an Asian-American politician so long as he/she:
A) don't use code words to stir up racial animosity;
B) talk against racial prejudice;
C) campaign in African-American areas of the country;
D) talk about the meaty economic and socio-political issues such as education, jobs and health care.
More Asian candidates should start grass roots campaigns and get in the political field.
On another note, I'm not so sure if Richard Riordan will pull it off in the California gubernatorial race. It's a damn shame too, because I'm a staunch Democrat but I was looking forward to voting for him in the November general election.
Hopefully, he'll surprise me and pull it off. I think he'd make a solid governor.
Geoff DB
geoffdb02@aol.com
Friday, March 01, 2002 at 17:30:09 (PST)
Whatever,
I applaud you on your post. You really hit it on the nose. I have nothing against White people, but I despise those White people who go around pitting asians against each other and other races (these are the same morons that go around professing to know everything about asian culture, like that fool who used to post at Goldsea, O.K. Bohkey). I, too, have seen that perverse giddiness.
I think Gary would be a wonderful candidate, but unfortunately it will be at least a century before we an AA can even think about RUNNING for president. Remember what happened to Phil Gramm's presidential run when the white supremacists publicized that his wife was an asian.
But beyond that, there are other issues. You see, for all the talk from the Black and Hispanic community about combatting racism and all that noise, very little from said communities would actually vote for an asian american candidate. Don't forget what happened to Michael Woo when he ran for L.A. mayor, the other minorities (who usually blast republicans as racist white men) didn't support Woo and instead supported a white republican. How sickening and hypocritical.
Those other communities still view us as alien and foreign and negative as the general white communities.
not fooled
Friday, March 01, 2002 at 13:50:41 (PST)
AAA-
your post begins with the loaded statement:
"You have a right to vote who you want, but all your facts are plain wrong."
You then fail to point out where any of my facts are wrong, other than the recent Field Poll which showed that Riordan is now trailing Bill Simon in California. I will admit that my information on this one was out-dated. I submit to you and others here that the poll you cite (in the Sacramento Bee) was dated the 28th of February, and my post was the 27th.
I would also submit that the REASON that Riordan now trails is due to two factors: 1: that the Grey Davis (current Democrat governor of our state) campaign has poured millions of dollars into smear ads against Riordan because he knows he can beat the other guy, and 2: that prominent national Republicans, such as Mayor Guliani - whom you erroneously claim GOP voters will not support - have come out in support of Simon.
I will re-submit my question to YOU, however, about the nature of the Texas GOP platform. You really did not provide a single example of its xenophobia, instead relying on editorial comment (e.g. anti-NAFTA, anti-trade, anti-Immigrant) with no specific examples. I tried the link, but it is not working.
I find it hypocritical that you attack GOP on this, when it was the DEMOCRATS and their labour union allies who most strongly oppose NAFTA and trade policies such as fast track. My personal rep, Zoe Lofgren whom you offer as a shining example of what you "get if you vote Democrat" has voted no on trade issues more than once.
Additionally, you attack the GOP for the personal pecadilloes of its memebers. These people are as bad - if not more slimy - than Clinton. I don't personally care, however, what they DO. It is how they VOTE that impacts my life. And, continuously voting for policies that encourage illegitimacy is far, far more damaging to me than if they have bastard children of their own.
Finally, you seem to offer the Enron bogeyman frequently. It is curious that the Democrats have not tried to make marks with this. Until one realises that they are dirtied by Enron money, too. One of the biggest beneficiaries of Enron cash was Grey Davis - who then turned around and busted California's budget paying ridiculous rates to out of state energy producers last year.
I certainly agree with your point about the national GOP and its despicable southern strategy, but in this country, we have two regrettable choices, and let's face it, the impact of Democrat fiscal and financial policy is just more damagign than the red neck rhetoric of inbred hicks from Alabama.
Ai Ya
Friday, March 01, 2002 at 10:29:38 (PST)
"Whites don't mind sharing power with Hispanics and Asians, but they don't like sharing it with Blacks."
How quickly you forget Prop 187 in California? Have you read the Texas GOP Platform? Does not seem to me that whites want to share power with other whites...ala Italians, Greeks and East Europeans. They want to stay with the DAR kind. All whites...by that I mean the white anglo saxons want is to divide and rule!
Asian American Male
Friday, March 01, 2002 at 09:23:26 (PST)
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