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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, 05:59:22 PM)
Asian Machiavelli,
You wrote:
"I am not, however, in agreement with those pessimists and cynics who believe that a black president, a female president, or an Hispanic president will occur before an Asian American president. History does funny things, and when push comes to shove, shove wins."
Just out of pure curiosity what do you mean by "shove wins"?
Do you think this may contribute to ethnic rivalry and minority racism?
Political Observer
Thursday, June 20, 2002 at 15:12:45 (PDT)
Political Insider,
You wrote:
"The Republicans have planned a coup for 2003".
Sorry to disappoint you, but there's no need for a coup when you're the party in charge. You may have missed this in the news. 2003? Think you mean 2004.
You wrote:
"The Senate will have no choice but to confirm her because if they don't, they'll be accused of discrimination against African Americans and Women."
Interesting, you mean the president would pass over his secretaries of state, defense, treasury, attorney general and US senators to choose his national security advisor. Wow, that doesn't seem too logical or likely.
You wrote:
"If they mud-sling, the spin doctors will make it out to be a racially biased attack on his VP who's black."
Hmmm! wouldn't the spin doctors be surprised with the choice to begin with? Makes you wonder!
You wrote:
"Rice's presence as VP will probably split the Black Vote along gender lines, with the bulk of Black Females voting for Bush due to the Condaleeza factor."
Political Insider, are you african-american? Better yet are you an african-american woman? How would you know how they would vote? This is a good question because it doesn't sound like you have many black friends.
Hey, Political Insider why don't you cut the racist bullshit and stop being an ass.
Political Insider grow up and learn to present a more rational balanced argument.
Political Observer
Thursday, June 20, 2002 at 12:55:22 (PDT)
"Rice's presence as VP will probably split the Black Vote along gender lines, with the bulk of Black Females voting for Bush due to the Condaleeza factor."
Rice's presence as VP will also likely split the white vote along regional lines, with the bulk of the racist confederate flag waving southern whites staying at home...this includes folks at the "venerable" Bob Jones University..where a day of mourning would be declared and both the confederate and US flags would be flown at half mast.
"As a result, whomever the Dem's nominate--Gephardt, Daschle, Lieberman, or even a second chance for Gore (yeah, right!) is going to lose decisively."
As a result, the election would be very close...and yes, the Democrat with a WASP name is likely to win once again establishing the primacy of the WASPS in this country.
"I don't, however, believe that Locke has enough charisma and political capital to overturn the ethnic tribalistic biases of the WASP or WASP wannabee community in the U.S."
Ethnic tribalism is right...well said!
Politics
Thursday, June 20, 2002 at 11:20:08 (PDT)
Guys:
The Republicans have planned a coup for 2003--Dick Cheney will have a heart attack, leading him to resign as VP. Bush is going to name Condaleeza Rice as his replacement. The Senate will have no choice but to confirm her because if they don't, they'll be accused of discrimination against African Americans and Women.
Come 2004, he's going to keep her on and this is going to put the Democrats in a really tight spot. They'll be hard pressed to accuse Bush of being discriminatory--look at his Cabinet and advisors, not to mention his VP. If they mud-sling, the spin doctors will make it out to be a racially biased attack on his VP who's black. Rice's presence as VP will probably split the Black Vote along gender lines, with the bulk of Black Females voting for Bush due to the Condaleeza factor.
As a result, whomever the Dem's nominate--Gephardt, Daschle, Lieberman, or even a second chance for Gore (yeah, right!) is going to lose decisively.
Political Insider
Thursday, June 20, 2002 at 07:30:27 (PDT)
Politics:
Locke is a Democrat I believe.
I'm not sure, given what's going on in the Middle East, that I want a devout Jew like Lieberman in the Whitehouse either. I'm not so sure that sometimes our Jewish citizens don't put the interests of Israel ahead of the interests of the United States either.
And if you wanted McCain even though you somehow support Asian-American rights, I suggest you reads some articles that still has McCain calling Vietnamese "gooks". McCain is a nutcase from his POW days, and he's not too fond of Asians either.
Annapolis-Harvard Law Grad
Thursday, June 20, 2002 at 00:20:22 (PDT)
"I would be very glad to see an Asian American running for President."
I agree: Locke, as an Asian America male, running for the presidency in the next election would represent a powerful political step for the empowerment and visibility of the Asian American community within the popular imagination of the collective American psyche.
I don't, however, believe that Locke has enough charisma and political capital to overturn the ethnic tribalistic biases of the WASP or WASP wannabee community in the U.S.
In the future, since a governership is a key and necessary step to the presidency, the states of Washington, California, and Hawaii are going to have to elect more Asian American governers. If so, there is the possibility of a charismatic Asian American political leader emerging from that pool of candidates to overcome the historic biases and ethnic tribalism of the dominant group (i.e., WASPs).
I am not, however, in agreement with those pessimists and cynics who believe that a black president, a female president, or an Hispanic president will occur before an Asian American president. History does funny things, and when push comes to shove, shove wins.
Asian Machiavelli
Wednesday, June 19, 2002 at 10:20:30 (PDT)
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