Focus 580; The Politics of Asian Americans: Diversity and Community

Good morning and welcome to focus 580. This is our morning talk program My name's David Inge. Glad to have you with us on the program today and also tomorrow we're going to be doing a couple of shows talking about political identity participation concerns of two large and growing American groups tomorrow morning on the show I will be talking about Latinos. And our guest for the show will be Adam Siegel who is director of the Hispanic voter project at the Washington Center for the Study of American government at Johns Hopkins. So that's tomorrow. Just want to mention that right at the top this morning though we'll be talking about the politics of Asian Americans and getting some sense again of their interest the level of interest in American politics participation are asked the question Are there particular issues that concern them as a group. And our guest with the program is Paty Lin. She is associate professor of political science and Ethnic Studies at the University of Utah and has been tracking these these particular questions for some time and her academic work. She

is the contributor to a number of books including one of which she is the co-author which came out just quite recently which is titled The politics of Asian Americans. So if you're interested in of course dipping further into this subject you can go look for the book it's published by. Pledge should should be available in bookstores or perhaps in the library. And of course as we talk here this morning in this part of focus 580 questions are welcome That is the idea of the show. If you have questions comments you like to be involved in the conversation you should certainly feel free to pick up a telephone and call. The only thing that we ask of callers is people just try to be brief and we just ask that so that we can keep the program moving along and get in as many different people as possible. But the calls are certainly welcome. The number here in Champaign Urbana where we are 3 3 3 9 4 5 5. We do also have a toll free line. That means he would be a long distance call for you. You can use that number will pay for the call so

whether you're listening around Illinois in Indiana over the air or you might happen to be listening on the internet as long as you're in the United States you're welcome to use the toll free line. And that is eight hundred to 2 2 9 4 5 5 again here in Champaign Urbana 3 3 3 9 4 5 5 and also toll free 800 to 2 2 9 4 5 1. Professor Lynn hello as well. Thank you very much for talking with us. You're very welcome. We appreciate it. Maybe we might just start but talking a little bit about demographics and ask a couple of basic questions maybe beginning with the with this one how many Asian-Americans are there. How many. The Americans are there. Well according to the 2000 census we have proces 13 meeting and in the nation. So 13 million and how how has that what has happened with that number say over over the past couple of decades has there has there been significant growth in that number. Absolutely. Agent Actually I would have to Corey fied and say that you know

because of the complications of the 2000 census we have people who are bi racial or multi racial almost They are part Asian. We come to them in better to me and bigger and that's bigger because they have made the past sentences were not able to write that really identifies part are the wholly ready part. Our You can say that Asian-Americans certainly among the top group in terms of growth and you can almost see it in terms of percentage right. Asian-Americans have a higher growth rate over certainly over 100 percent and even from the United 80 to 90 and we're talking about 70 76 percent of gross from 1992. Yes so that's a very significant one compared to fix a 56 percent of the Latino population out of the question. If you look at the countries of origin and look at where it is that people have

come from how I wonder how that breaks down particularly when you when you look at Asian America what some of the largest segments are according to you according to Origen. Yes well of course certainly the reason for the high growth rate of Asian-Americans is because of immigration rather the second reason actually that method of natural birth rate is higher than the actual death rate in turn Zogby our countries of origin here. The biggest run high and in terms of numbers here we're talking about actually people from the PRC the Chinese going to give us the hope they can come from not only PRC but from Taiwan Hong Kong wealth with you know some of the off tiny that they identify as self. So the Chinese population basically is. It's the largest in terms of early age Americans are you talking about. Run everyone out of Florrie and Americans to the Chinese and that's the part that is mostly is because of that immigration growth. Then we are also talking about a group that is growing much

faster than Asian Americans that eat the Asian Indian population. Salvation not only just India but also comes from Pakistan and also from Bangladesh but mostly from Asia at it. India and they are they big growth rate has been a big high particularly the most notably in the last 10 years and I believe that Brady's going to be continuing high because of all the population pressures in their native homeland and also. The Trinity a new state of the job opportunity for you high tech industry opportunity and probably another group you want to look at the Filipino population. They have been here for a long long time used to be part of the United States territory and they are grown is from immigration and many of the relationships puberty hit American citizens that I'd be fighting in this country. Cancel the family union family migration is high and mostly already because even though it's old they're sort of sorting out a support

in a computer he possibly can and other groups that we can talk about well you know I think one of the things that that people who study the political behavior of Latinos I think have have tried to a point that they've tried to make is that you should be very cautious about talking about them in a monolithic terms and have said that in fact if you talk with Latinos about how it is they think about their identity there that there is even a disinclination to use a term like Latino and. That they identify much more strongly with their place of origin in that rather that some rather than having someone describe himself or herself as Hispanic or as a Latino or as Latino American they are much more likely to say that they are Cuban American or Mexican American or Puerto Rican or or Guatemala or whatever reflecting this tie to the place from which they came to him I think if

I get them to they're going to be more like you know like you can say I'm a Mexican. I didn't know you know that sense of to be even higher. Well that's I mean I wondered so what is there a parallel if you if you talk with Asian Americans are you going to get that same kind of thing. Act absolutely yes yes. And that one can even say that be other degree of ethnicity ethnic consciousness rather than parrot at a cost. Right. Even high is even higher party to force me Frank. The much higher percentage of before book you the population and then we also talk about the ethnic diversity that is also you can you can one can claim that maybe that was a much much more diverse and I'm here and I can then you know population as a whole at so be careful and one of the survey being. It actually shows the at the at. When you ask people to read into that and how those have identified each arch and asked them how do you prefer to identify yourself. And they

basically will come up with some Chinese coming to me. Right. I mean I mean rather than saying I am a Haitian American and that you know but also ethnic group differences if you ask a Japanese American if in fact they have a much higher can then he can say I am an American and say that I am a Japanese American. Well I'm an American. Well I am. And Japanese. Oh except for the activity of respecting the group's history and something you know I don't think such as the incumbent taking in the different states of the Union I think that could be a number of factors that help shape that kind of opinion but it is true that most of whom I can prefer to identify themselves by single term. Let me just very quickly for anybody who might have tuned in introduce Again our guest Paty land. She is associate professor of political science and Ethnic Studies at the University of Utah and her primary research interest is the political participation of Asian and also other nonwhite Americans and she's written a number of things or contributed to a number of books on

the subject She's author of the book The Making of Asian America through political participation which came out in 2001 and also was one of the authors of a more recent book titled The politics of Asian America's diversity and community. Questions are welcome. 3 3 3 9 4 5 5 toll free 800 2 2 2 1 4 5 5 1 0 1 of the things that some of the writing in the speaking that you've done that I think that you have emphasized is that particularly if you look at the way that the mainstream press has portrayed Asian Americans when it comes to their interest in American politics and participation in American politics you get the impression that Asians are not particularly interested. And one of the things I think that you've certainly found in your research is that that's really not true that in fact they are engaged in politics and if you look at at Asian-Americans who are registered their rate of participation their rate of turnout is really quite high.

Yes yes yes do you think here whining that if in fact because of the demographics the fact that he might not be the majority for a book be able people have. The idea they are making the foreigners are that they are just not as equal American and that their interest in politics if they are interested at all. My writing beyond a side of the Pacific and baby survey that we conducted is a multi lingual multi linking multi-city multi ethnic ethnicity surveyed basically shows people are equally concerned about the politics of both sides of the Pacific and really want to push people out with it. If you can only choose one you seem to switch sides. Actually they would say of course is America is the US because this can solve this kind of finding certainty speak to some kind of stereotypical images of a human being or being a fat pig and no thanks and the other thing about the participation is there.

I think I want to emphasize that Asian-Americans are voting as long as they are able to. And what what I mean by they are able to is that they are some legal various associated with rugby not born in this country you have to be become a citizen through nationalization in the States a long time and you have to be able to registered before you can actually cast a vote and of course in order to actually go cast that vote out certain things that all Americans know things as things such as I'm too busy might cost of money to go away from my already paid job or that I am I don't know. The language you know because we have talking about people of native languages not many people whose language is not native english so you have made it so you have that language barrier factors like this so they are a number of things that are prohibiting the who are highly interested in Asian markets from Canada and manageable Asian Americans from casting about how Evers the sophisticate know that once they are eligible they are

voting date is as high as the non-Hispanic white group the majority American that I mean here and even some form bone groups such as Japanese Americans and the nanny's Americans they will face an even higher than the beer they had none to make. Non-Hispanic Rikon about I'm talking about forcible form from basically Actually they are voting at a higher rate compared to the native born and basically all races they get when they are out of people. So this is actually something about immigrants that you know that the that the American being the imagination that they are putting energy to this country and. Yes he added But during your natural process you know you know one of the things that really I guess it got me thinking about having having a conversation like this with somebody on the program was going back earlier in earlier in the summer getting some e-mails sort of unsolicited e-mails which happens to us a lot from various people who are indeed interested in promoting certain topics from

a group identifying itself as and Asian-American political action committee that are interest that we're interested in trying to really encourage Asian-Americans to to to participate to be involved in politics and to vote. And one of the statistics that they cited that really struck me was that according to this organization was that in the 2000 election only one of every six Asian-Americans voted. Now having looked at some of the figures that that I see and talk that you gave it suggests to me of that that perhaps is not accurate or you have to ask some questions about are they counting everyone or are they just counting people of voting age or are they just counting people who are actually registered. It may be this whole question about likely voters and actual voters. So it's seems this is in fact that that probably a figure like that is is not correct. Or maybe that's a little misleading. Well yeah I mean at the organization certainly. We're talking about basically that confrontation threatening one to you but basically poetry be most

mystic rope to some of us the strongest bill you know in trying to getting people out there figure basically loving coming of those people who are under age as well and you know he's an American. Some people are American group certainly has a high percentage of those lottery stands so when I look at the figures I think that that's you know that we could have about running is actually the sense produced by the Census Bureau a current population survey poll or stop with a file and when I look at their income pages for presidential elections two presidential elections you look at figures for the 2000 election basically among those who write it in years and over. Voting age population here yet only 25 percent of everyone not a fly. People who actually cast a vote in 2000 in November 2000. OK. Having been on those waiting years and over again of course you know as I mentioned before do you need to be citizens to be registered and before you are able to grow and learn. He looks like a Trump was built but he know that. What an 8

out of 10 that 80 percent Asian American or Asian Americans actually cast cast that vote it at you register and vote at it thank you November 2000. So that's a that's a set that that is indeed I think a significant figure to point to when you look at again people people who who are able to vote. They're old enough to vote they're registered. Of those people who can vote the voting rate is is really quite high. As you said it is the ship back to the most significant Barry. Yet if this is going to be jumpy just look at those. They come up with cities and then the mama registers. If you ask Americans or those people who express a preference that is an identity a party identification new yes. Do you consider yourself a Democrat or Republican do you consider yourself an independent. How do you do that. What sort of. How does it break down in terms of people's tendency to either say I identify with one of the other party or in fact to say that

I'm an independent I don't really identify exclusively with one of the other. OK I'm here I'd like to ask people to pay to keep the baby separated two kinds of questions. It sucks to kind of one of those. Right right. Just over that may that may not necessary be able to vote. I may not have had to go. So I'm mum about some of the most common characteristics of a party that he might indicate he has not been the most like that not to be an American. Actually not heating up the major party and they could they have some identification with the about 13 percent. Being in the with the with the independent so-called third party candidate. But actually many of them to say that I just don't find a party and it is this concept partisan that indication of relevant to me or did I don't know if I can say still indicates a preference either Democrats or Republicans. And now among those voters that exit poll

results exit polls will just you know an analysis among the voters you see actually at least in the 2000 election and even today there was a stronger Democratic advocation compared to the Republicans. Actually the percentages for the Democratic indication is a slowing of going rate is about three to one in 2000 election and that number actually has done. Hope for you that composer you were actually talking about. One Democrat Republican I don't like. So that's again this is this is of people who are. This is of those people that we might say are likely voters that is people who are able to vote and not just not just anyone who happens to be a voting activity. Yeah actually voters are OK with an edge of Democrats over Republicans but overall if you just ask people you're likely to get more people saying none planning to be an independent essentially than that and find that one of the things that you see again I guess I'm just reaching over for more parallels to to talk about

Hispanic Americans Latinos is that different people depending on their their place of origin and their identification do have tendencies to identify with the political parties for example. It tends it seems tend to be the case that Cuban-Americans tend more to be Republicans and it has a lot to do with the policy of the United States policy in regards to Cuba and its current government. Mexican-Americans it seems again and 10 for example to be more democratically more democratic. I guess when when you look at major groups within Asian America according to their place of origin does it. Is there any tendency for example Chinese Americans to identify with one of the other parties or Indian people from the Indian subcontinent to identify with one of the other parties. Yes. Actually that any agency manning this kind of to my uncle I'm not in any origin as to my own surprise actually because many people think the Chinese are conservative and that you know many people flee their homeland because of communism

so they seem to be their natural ally of the Republican Party to let the communists anti-communist talk but actually polls are the polls showing that Chinese Americans are actually very proud of the Democratic Party. They are they are they are you know Democratic Party identifiers. They do have a tendency to roll for say they attended a state Senator Kerry so Cheney actually is a strong a strong Florida Democratic Party among Americans and then I guess to the reverse on opposite side I can say Baby Noor nice American population here we are actually talking about a refugee population which you know is a very similar situation compared to Cuban-Americans and also. Yes predictably the party identification is also pretty similar fraud reasons that cited here that they are mostly Florida and this is actually the only group that has that badly cast your vote for a Republican. Then all of a of Democratic candidates in the past. You need to get to the election

and they are you know among likely voters. You seem to think that tendency who will favor a Bush over Kerry as well. Still missing the population however I think it even studies of the students of the Cuban American voters and can tell you and that is echoed by the students of the guineas American voter they will tell you this second generation from someone not of they niggas act rough they are actually running away from their parents I did. MCCAIN That may seem to be I didn't fight him so more with the other Asian a lot of the Makino and therefore they actually have a yes we can get moving well but so much for having me. Well if if you conducted a survey and I'm sure that you had other people have done these kinds of surveys and make an attempt to again look at Asian Americans and find out what what sort of issues are most important to them the things that they really think that government should be paying attention or are acting on. Do you come

up with any kind of consistent list. Yes I think they this is actually a very Americana that they that we worry about jobs and economy you know X and to be economy that is that they are making some sort of concern about immigration or about how they able to bring their families how they are able also to run the Eagles for coming here. Then of course they have you know related to a talking about the best recipe for the government to pull right up bilingual assistance on language assistance to those people too. Who doesn't eat in the regular English and I guess you know Asian Americans as a minority group. They also consume about Haycock becomes wrong about rightly. Race relations. The concern about discrimination. You sort of you know basic race concert and violence and that kind of issues. Then of course that's not forget about education. Education certainly is something of a

very important issue to Asian Americans and I could be baited again to do something to talk about you. Apparently the vanquished by tingle at the things we do in school. Then they could also be 80 shops in the sense that you know people tend to think Asian Americans can do pretty well but actually they seem to be over 35 you know you have to be overqualified in order to be getting to be able to be treated well and so you have to have that kind of issues if they are both American and writing more than not and typical American. Byrne And I guess lastly we can also talk about health care. We do have Americans that are also very thoughtful and at the beginning or been anything City and generating sites but English service providers and they lack insurance and they will. Can happen. He did he planned to protect your house at 80. It's health care and it's you know it's basic.

Obvious to me and I think it that's interesting that that in that in many respects that you would see the items on this list of political concerns would be they would share those with other Americans and regardless of what their ethnic background was I guess I would expect and again it might be a kind of a misconception though that that Asian-Americans would that that foreign policy kinds of issues particularly the relationship and as you have pointed to in some groups that this is a concern. Well that I would think that it would be higher on the list. Generally America's foreign policy and what America's policy is in regards to Asia would be would be higher up on that list or would be more on that less than that but wasn't one of the things that you mentioned. Well before I'm sure what one of us. Do you think Gordon. But it is important only to a limited expand and I believe a tendency for both him her and what he would have brought up the much more interesting

in American and in the foreign policy front. And then when the time to form prosecute it's really not of the I think you just don't party. He asked if I know I know that this is like consent but we think that they seem to explain to the public Iraqi altie But actually I think historically has not been awakened to think about it but they have been added to taller countries. What Korea China. Two parties a meeting between and and therefore this becomes or is he. I see a factory. As you know helping to vote him in. I mean as I guess you would expect as you said they're one of the issues that Asian Americans are interested in is immigration. And you mention particularly concerns about illegal immigration. Do you find that Asian-Americans said that the the issue of illegal immigration or perhaps concerns about that is is that is it greater than in other groups of Americans or is it

about the same when you make comparisons to other Americans. Well I think the only abit of an American group that that people seem to have a mighty lucky you know OK compared to that's certainly a big issue lucky to get out undocumented immigrants. Very much of a none issue in America. OK. And perhaps for those who you know who are living in cities such as New York or Los Angeles or you know big big American cities they may when they win they may live next to the legal immigrants or a big job may be threatened by an eagle emitted and the mom goes. He reckons they are more concerned about them. That's insane Americans are so much spread out across the nation and also the fact they aren't you know I think bases that they consume at roughly about 1 median billions and billions running this country illegally. This is you know this is in addition to the 30 close to 30 that I cited at the beginning of the program. So I guess

percentage wise you know if they are also not that prominent I guess be integrated into the Asian-American community. So they have a big issue of even ration is actually not talk to him and they thought everything they talk about I mean because many people are related to that be of illegal for reasons such as. China has one party and the people to become he was a part of but he was eventually become B because the process became so when you're talking about he and he's a very you know it's a fluid time. I'd rather not thank you to go for ever and there are reasons for the to be the reasons that why you become me go be gone. The sense that we got you you lying to us. We are a little bit past our midpoint here and I would like to introduce Again our guest. She is associate professor of political science and Ethnic Studies at the University of Utah and her primary research interest is political participation of Asian and other non white

Americans. She's author of a book titled The making of Asian America through political participation was published in 2001 and it received an award and 2002 the best book award on political participation voting elections and political behavior warded by the American Political Science Association and the division of Race Ethnicity and Politics. She's also written some other books and contributed to one recently titled The politics of Asian America's diversity and community which was based on her National Science Foundation sponsored pilot National Asian American political survey. So she's been a lot of times doing research and thinking about this very issue that we're talk. About here this morning and of course questions are welcome if you'd like to call in. 3 3 3 9 4 5 5. We do also have a toll free line and that's good. Anywhere that you can hear us and then he is 800 to 2 2 9 4 5. I'm interested in having you talk a bit about something else that the debris you found in your research when you take a look at the Asian Americans and their public political

participation we've certainly talked about voting and about the fact that actually if you look at Asian-Americans who are registered so people who are of voting age and are registered there their rate of voting is is quite high more than 80 percent turnout. But something else I thought it was interesting that you find is that donating to campaigns is not the most popular act of participation other than voting doing community work is the most common form. Can you talk about that. Certainly yes and I think I want to highlight a point on a lot of people when they look at an American population yesterday it's small and look at how much population has been a small and overall most Asian-Americans want to inform the American elections. And Nabil el-Arabi of thinking think that yes but everything that they can build or make money to the campaigns and uniting to fix it. Presidential actions

certainly have those nice Ripley around the nation. Camp a bit of focusing on the fact that these Indian money even though these are the money by the Americans are natural American citizens they are naturalized American cities originating in to him. I've been popped in China and the so both sort of opinion has been backing the Haitian-American when they donate and they have the first about that they'd prefer to donate and then many donate the money seems to be tainted by and the colors I guess. So it will bear probably asked this question in a survey generally are not the last person to ask this question of course also had a spining survey basically of the several findings for small compared to the American Asian-American and the Indonesian committees actually falling behind and now he's turning right and also African-Americans. OK they are real.

Higher rates and then the money and Americans and not the Chinese exactly the Japanese are about 20 percent of that and they would record that that they have donated money to campaigns. OK so again the B-cell figures that try to feed a stereotype and then and then you mention that compared to other activities they also report it a kind of a political participation and you find out that of course voting is the most common one and then the second coming one he's actually working with the hottest in the community can stop a problem some kind of volunteer reason puppies a patient there. Yeah he's about 20 21 percent of them are probably Asian Americans that I've interviewed and then that the poet actually by signing petitions for political. Hot and party this rhythm is about 16 percent through them but a fact that I think I've won here. I guess most of the time I can reside and they can have a pretty popular but you need to party and therefore I had my opportunity for that to be the bet and BAM. You know the amount of

activity above the cake don't he. A key is that people think about it. They have attended a public meeting political summary. OK that and then only 12 percent of Americans that are to be reported to get they have to make money through a party campaign. You know one of the things that I know that you have addressed in other people when they when they study generally speaking in America they study voting behavior and people's what it what issues people follow and their tendency to want to support one party or another is the issue of gender and have asked questions about what is what sort of differences or are there significant differences in attitudes and participation between men and women. And that's also one of the things that you've looked at with Asian-Americans looking about looking at the issue of gender differences or whether there are gender differences and do you find when you do that do you find anything that said that you think is interesting and significant. Well I guess you know I meant that compared to say I'm sorry I mean my own

survey three kids actually cannot do that because this is an American story I'm afraid of comparatively speaking of gender but the gender gap. The differences between men and women among you create it even in poverty falling into the smallest category. You compare in a modest one actually the gap between men and women in political participation are not abuse. It's actually going to spend a quite obvious concern. The difference here. The second given body consumed by white women. We know that the voting rate here he's an American man woman and woman. That's basically they do not differ that much at all. That's a lot of times they you know about one or two percentage points and a lot of times out of actually most of the group that we know that blacks African-Americans Latinos and non-Hispanic whites basically have talking about the women that are more like each role compared to me are among the agents the thinking that they are that generation is a Satan and that

women are actually not well acted compared to men. And then in turn help issues we do. Flying what difference here in terms of the support of the action in terms of you know the efficacy political ethics of the body to influence the government in terms of the interesting article but actually saying well you know the same pattern that you know that he's a general right he's been a white woman. You see my men and women you see that he American women basically in on that. Efficaciously that bigotry yet they are likely more supportive and party oriented you know compared to the male counterpart. We talked a bit earlier I would mention the fact that one of the things that got me thinking about just looking into this and maybe asking some questions about. Asian-Americans on their political participation was the this this particular organization this this Asian American political action committee that was that seemed interested in and getting Asian-Americans interested

and involved in politics. And certainly if you go away you don't have to do spend much time on the Internet to realize that there are great many groups associations of various different kinds of Asian Americans and they do tend to be there's you know there's there are groups for Chinese Americans and for Korean Americans and for Filipino Americans and you know again it's that kind of breakdown according to strew there where it is there that they identify with. But I wonder again this is something that I think that that and the politics of Asian-Americans. You look at is is there a sense even though among Asian-Americans that there's a strong identification with their place of origin. Is there a sense among Asian Americans that that that having them hang together as a kind of a political bloc is eazy important and that that kind there is some sense that that kind of unity

adds weight to their ability to have at least have their concerns heard and to have some sort of voice in the larger political process. Yes I have many of them in fact if I can be more specific. May mean the old Maisie shindy have preferred to I think us comany for into a CD writer. That's right I don't think they want the name they space it comes from the fact that versus a group that try to promote the concept of rock that they produce. Yes given the fact that the Asian-American is a very smart community voting community and the fact that they also lack mixed VeriSign diversity everybody every single way you can think of actually. So therefore are they feel like in order to connect the mind to the effect of being American. Well you have to vote together and so they try to they basically say we need to we run to the 80 percent percentage behind a single presidential candidate actually he was at the place

and you made it a must see. Any yet learned that interest me. You know they say that it was headed by a Chinese. Americans and in the very beginning when he. Yeah I think he was when he looked at it he kept the concept of money and Americans here and basically humidity values where you know if you need to have track opinion among the Chinese Americans but not necessarily a modern American right enough to really have to ask this question who believe this is what it means. Important enough of a movement and it's very serious. An effort to try to rally the Haitian Americans behind one single candidate once right. Thank you Kitty. So we respond and here in the U.S. actually that among Chinese-Americans video hope to deliberate at least percent believe there's 20 percent of the black will actually wind up with a real right or wrong in any part. But it is not so. Thank you and so you look at the big American there they didn't find the root of

the school and they don't know about us and they are not also probably think that white and Asian Indians is of a NOT example they actually know of the mark compared to the Compared to Filipino Americans or say as you know nice Americans. So this is a safe bet is that he's actually had to read exactly being being getting people it's getting because this organization basically was not a BT in the FAQ until the until the the big to the fire to the igniting a optional 1996 1998 auction and so it was still relatively new and they seem to know the momentum from the fact that yes being beat up and nobody can beat up you know several several Jayanti to deny happening to the Nazis. Yes and it still hurts that you still cannot be capturing all the ads in the attic that were for the money he reckons. Late so they realize that they are some personal sense. They also realize that that figure has been identified used to get in by a strong Democrat. So he tried to say that I am

one nonpartisan I'm neutral I go one myself I don't like partisan and my personal characteristics and he wants the direction of the open a position so I believe that some efforts have been done on that part and so I believe the source of the hope to try to generate a way to construct it all seem to be moving in in the direction that they want to but I don't think we are there yet and even though I would also say the at the idea a paean role is certainly much more much more popular among likely voters competed just in second population so we can see both. Tree after my mom got was oxygen. I didn't want to. But actually I was already going to get it. And this just sort of for the record as they say this particular particular organization the 80 20 coalition I believe her having looked at their website they actually have endorsed John Kerry.

So they're there you know where they're where they come down politically that that's that's that's fairly obvious that they they do or they have endorsed the Democratic candidate in the presidential contest at least so yes. You know I'm I'm I'm interested in maybe you could talk a little bit about what sort of impact Asian-American voters have had Asian-Americans have had in their political participation particularly. If you look regionally at those places where their concentrations are greatest Maybe in all of you know all of the United States. It might be they might get a little bit lost. But in places and I guess particularly I think about California other places on the west coast where there are the percentage of the population has is higher than their present. I'm sure that there are other places too but I suppose that's that's one of the first place you you think of have have they any kind of a regional sense when you take a look at things like races for for mayor or for Congress or for

governor or perhaps for the United States Senate. You know though those sorts of things have Asian-Americans been particularly important. Well yeah if you want if you want me to talk of the sport historically yes Asian-American certainly has the strongest runs in the state of Hawaii. All right you know how like you the only state in nation which produce majority minority and that minority happened to be coming from. Thing that was you know David was talking and some students question and I really realized that the Asian-American vets have a unique influence in the single they want any any racial group and even the right way to do it. So OK outside of what you said of how white we still have Carly Lonnie and and we basically talking about 200 concentrations in northen and in Southern California and since I got to be in Northern California city such a sentiment Cisco we're talking about one third of the Asian-American population one of the

population Asian-Americans in that city. So certainly they have an influence in the supervisor of elections and we can also talk about some of the Asian American cities cities that only city in northern California part of the city there mostly by up to the Peano Americans and the youth who have some value also have you know Los Angeles Orange County. Now he took this speech to the places that I meet and they have a up you know 10 percent and 50 percent 40 percent you know the Senate is very OK. But the most important thing is actually the AT run elections describes when you have really close and they have competitive such as you did. It could be at two percent one percent or less than one percent will be for you elections and that was when the Asian-Americans a minority vote actually come because he ran it actions are very close. You just take you know hundreds about four or six hundred civil such in the state of Florida. In the 2000 election here we're basically talking about what 537 popular vote here and you know how many Asians are there. Rattled people

voting for at that time people actually participating in auctions are talking about something like 150 or so. Some course there's something about I don't know to not be a voting together and whatever but if they are you know just that it just looking at the numbers I guess it's good that you're looking at not breaking into very detail by state by city by local and whether you can stand back and I have to say by election by contest but a contest situation and he won some money from. Frank something from some particular people tend to aim for and I don't believe you have much difficulty that he's an American. You know one of the things that you talked about a little bit earlier. We talked about the fact that Asian-Americans continue to identify very strongly with the place from which they came. And that's one of the things that you found in your research is that Asian Americans are very interested and and are indeed engaged in American politics but they are also continued to be concerned about politics back in

their country of origin a platform from which they came. And one of the things that seems to concern a lot of people is that when you when you take a look today at at the immigrant experience that we do see continue to see people have very strong identification with the places from which they came and now it is much easier to maintain ties. It's much easier communications are much easier it's much easier to travel back and forth it's not like the time there would have been a time in American history when one one came to the United States that was that there was no going back and it was very difficult. It would have been very difficult even to communicate with people in the place from which you came but now things are are very different and it makes it easier makes it more possible at least for people to maintain the the idea of a dual citizenship and that for some people in this country that seems to. Burn them.

They seem to have this idea that that means that newcomers to the United States don't have a maintain some sort of divided allegiance between the United States and their their home country their place of origin the end and that worries them and other people say well you don't need to be worried about that that's just that's just one of the ways in which America is changing. And just because someone continues to be concerned with or connected with or travels back and forth between the United States and China India the Philippines nowhere Japan wherever they came from that that doesn't somehow mean they're less American. But I guess I wonder if that's something that you can you can reflect on I'm I'm certain that it's something that you've thought about and discussing with students and people who are interested in your research. Absolutely agree. Yes I quote myself a Chinee anything from Tehran. I'm particularly rabid party is actually

a person that's remembers beginning let me know when I am proud. My legions to the United Nations I'm signed to the United States of America. I I have to for sake my loyalty to my my home country. OK in the U.S. We only recognize the citizenship to one country. However the cons about dual citizenship come from the fact that the home and the home country may permit both the diplomat but they be a legion to the original home country of origin and also to the United States. So it happened that in Taiwan one is able to do that but in a lot of Chinese-Americans from the PRC the People's Republic of China. They would not be able to do that. So actually defend home and country has different different practices. In terms of committing to her citizenship so actually not every not going to run wanting her to deal with citizenship they may not be legally able to do so because you are talking about two countries. You're wrong. OK

that's one thing and the other thing is the at. Yes we're talking about this in the era of globalization transnational reason the Internet you know that the I think back and for all the Asian population and people and skills and concept and culture in across the two sides of the Pacific and in this situation here who is an American and what is the cause of citizenship it is really being challenged. OK so we know that legal ways of doing that and they just mention the legal rights and of course they are. It is the culture of citizenship I think that she will probably let people talk about culture citizenship is something perhaps one just can the complete run of the perp when the person is practicing that trans national culture is that they do not read the at that to conflict with each other and actually to reverse this study. Martino at least now they're saying that for the countries who actually permitting dual

citizens legally OK. You actually think a greater level of national ideation for those people from their origin because the cost of U.S. citizenship is not high to them they don't have to choose who will swear allegiance to. It's in the original to the city in order to become American and because that's a city that actually was waiting to become American and right under the American. He's being challenged by Dad's home country forging the enemy keenness of the Legion so that home country of origin is really no statistics that can support that they cannot they can support that is that you know conflicted contradictory situation. Actually from a release point of view from a almost like a rational choice being the faded American citizen or American taxpayer and immigrant American taxpayer he or her major concern when they need to just basically with where the money goes so it is the

United. Right at that rate he probably didn't want me to beat me to a set of that need to cut the pie. And so you know I guess my response is really people. This is people when they are they are going off. They are being referred by to this idea to citizenship they are copied for going to the pretty obvious anti American sentiment. Happy nation. I was writing this book for one century. Well you know we've come to the end of our time and will simply have to leave it at that and Professor Glenn I want to thank you very much for giving us some of your time today we certainly appreciate it. Thank you very much. Our guest Brady Lynn She is associate professor of political science and Ethnic Studies at the University of Utah and has done a lot of research on political participation of Asian Americans. She's the author of the book The Making of Asian America through political participation and also a contributor to a recent book titled The politics of Asian Americans and that's a book

that came out just earlier this year and is published by Routledge. So if you're interested you can head out to the bookstore or the library and take a look at it.