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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, 05:59:23 PM)
"I would be very glad to see an Asian American running for President. Unfortunately for Asian Americans, this possible candidate has NO CHANCE IN HELL of winning. Between the White American's that are prejudiced towards Asians and the organized white pride in America (with ties for election fixing), It will be a LONG time before an Asian American is elected considering the fact that the Voting population of White's hasnt yet put aside hostilitys brought about by WW2 and Vietnam."
We have not had an Italian, East European or Greek American President, and this is not likely to happen in the near future, let alone an Asian American President.
"It is HIGHLY possible that the Latino American, African-American and Asian American population might BAN together in hopes of helping Locke, but I sincerely doubt that we are going to see any non-white presidents for a while. thats just the way it is now. Until non-whites can obtain over 60% of the vote in America for an UNDISPUTED voting ability, white males will dominate the Executive Branch."
So far, only Anglo-Saxon males have dominated the White House with two exception in recent years...Eisenhower, whose grandparents were recent immigrants from Germany, and John F. Kennedy who did not last too long. The Daughters of American Revolution runs the show...which means that most whites do not have a chance either...Anglo-Saxons are only 38% of the white population. You have to be a white descended from pioneers who came to this country before 1865.
"Look at Al-Gore for example. Look how EASILY they stole the presidency from him. Im a Republican voter and I voted for Gore. I wanted McCain though. He was defrauded. It was a travesty. If Locke runs, I guarrantee you that the elements of this nation will do everything they can to disqualify voters and/or fix the election."
Gore lost the elections because the southern whites in his home state did not want a Jewish person a heartbeat away from the Presidency. Had he chosen Governor Dean or even better, Senator Edwards, he would have won the Presidency. In short, a Jewish person does not have a chance at the Presidency let alone Asian or black.
"Personally I feel that this country will see either a White female president, a Black male president or a Latina president long before it sees an Asian American male. I am proud that LOCKE is a republican running though.
Id bet on.......
Congresswoman NYDIA M VELASQUEZ,
Colon Powell, Hillary Clinton or even OPRAH WINFREY.
(Oprah Winfrey could SWEEP this nation by grabbing the White Female vote, the African American vote and the Spanish vote. Women outnumber men in America. and WOMEN LOVE OPRAH)"
Not likely in my lifetime (between today and 2050 max). May be someone like Pataki can make it in twenty years or a Blagojevich (currently running for the Illinois governorship).
"And as far as Gary Locke being a viable presidential candidate...don't count on it too much in the near future. His candidacy worked in Washington for practical reasons. Not too sure if that formula can be replicated in the midwest, south and northeast. Too much racial bias."
Same explanation as above.
"I'm gonna have to agree with geoff on this one. Think about it for a sec. Generally speaking, this does create hesitation by alot asians from voting with the dems. Maybe you're being a little too positive at the expense of acknowleding ethnic racism. It's a touchy subject, but one worth recognizing."
Until the non-whites band together, the whites, particularly the Anglo-Saxon men would continue to run the show their minority status (Anglo-Saxon men not withstanding.
Politics
Tuesday, June 18, 2002 at 12:07:16 (PDT)
Politics,
Geoff wrote "Large African-American voter population within the Democratic Party seems to discourage many Asian-Americans"
I'm gonna have to agree with geoff on this one. Think about it for a sec. Generally speaking, this does create hesitation by alot asians from voting with the dems. Maybe you're being a little too positive at the expense of acknowleding ethnic racism. It's a touchy subject, but one worth recognizing.
Political Observer
Monday, June 17, 2002 at 15:30:52 (PDT)
Guys,
I'll have to agree with Exit Poller. Seems like the asian vote split around 55-45 in favor of the democrats in the 2000 election campaign for president.
And as far as Gary Locke being a viable presidential candidate...don't count on it too much in the near future. His candidacy worked in Washington for practical reasons. Not too sure if that formula can be replicated in the midwest, south and northeast. Too much racial bias.
Political Observer
Monday, June 17, 2002 at 15:03:55 (PDT)
I would be very glad to see an Asian American running for President. Unfortunately for Asian Americans, this possible candidate has NO CHANCE IN HELL of winning.
Between the White American's that are prejudiced towards Asians and the organized white pride in America (with ties for election fixing), It will be a LONG time before an Asian American is elected considering the fact that the Voting population of White's hasnt yet put aside hostilitys brought about by WW2 and Vietnam.
It is HIGHLY possible that the Latino American, African-American and Asian American population might BAN together in hopes of helping Locke, but I sincerely doubt that we are going to see any non-white presidents for a while. thats just the way it is now. Until non-whites can obtain over 60% of the vote in America for an UNDISPUTED voting ability, white males will dominate the Executive Branch.
Look at Al-Gore for example. Look how EASILY they stole the presidency from him. Im a Republican voter and I voted for Gore. I wanted McCain though. He was defrauded. It was a travesty. If Locke runs, I guarrantee you that the elements of this nation will do everything they can to disqualify voters and/or fix the election.
Personally I feel that this country will see either a White female president, a Black male president or a Latina president long before it sees an Asian American male. I am proud that LOCKE is a republican running though.
Id bet on.......
Congresswoman NYDIA M VELASQUEZ,
Colon Powell, Hillary Clinton or even OPRAH WINFREY.
(Oprah Winfrey could SWEEP this nation by grabbing the White Female vote, the African American vote and the Spanish vote. Women outnumber men in America. and WOMEN LOVE OPRAH)
MarriedWhiteFemale
Monday, June 17, 2002 at 13:52:17 (PDT)
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