Tri Ta Race for Westminster Mayor

UPDATE: Tri Ta won the mayoral election of Westminster on Tuesday. He just immigrated to the USA at age of 19 and has made great strive in the political process by becoming the … Continue reading →

Asian Republican Irvine Mayor-Elect Steven Choi

Steven Choi was elected Mayor of Irvine in November 2012. He was elected to the Irvine City Council for the first time in 2004 and was re-elected to a second term in 2008. Previously, he served 6 years as an elected Trustee of the Irvine Unified School District.

Steven is a passionate and experienced educator. After earning his bachelor's degree from Kyung Hee University in Seoul, South Korea, he immigrated to the United States as a Peace Corps language instructor for the State Department in August, 1968. He then continued his post-graduate studies, earning his master's degree in Library Science from Louisiana State University, and his Ph.D. in Library and Information Science at the University of Pittsburgh. Since then, he resumed his teaching career, primarily in higher education at several universities and colleges including USC, UCI, California State University, Los Angeles, Henderson State University in Arkansas, Saddleback College, and most recently, Coastline Community College.

In many ways, Steven's vision for the City is to maintain and improve the quality of life for its citizens by assuring responsible growth, effectively managing traffic, keeping Irvine as one of America's safest cities, and providing quality education for our children, while ensuring the City's fiscal stability and growth.

Irvine's cultural and ethnic diversity and harmony serves as a very important role on Steven's agenda. Enthusiastic about expanding Irvine's cultural diversity, he has organized and participated in many largescale city events such as the Irvine Global Village Festival and Korean American Day Festival. He also values Irvine's wonderful assets comprising of its aesthetic beauty, high standard of living, and high intellectual standards. Most importantly, he is strongly aware of the importance of listening to the voices of Irvine residents. He sends out highlights of the City's news via his eNewsletter on a steady basis, encouraging residents to get involved by asking for their opinions on particular issues and proposals discussed at the City Council Meetings.

Hoping to provide a sufficient educational and desirable experience for Irvine residents, he is exceptionally committed to supporting programs for children and senior citizens. Steven has contributed to Irvine's education as the founder and director of highly academically successful Dr. Choi's Academy. The Academy focuses on providing tutoring and academic enrichment programs for students. Along side Steven, his wife, Janie, has also been serving Irvine children over 21 years with Kumon Math and Reading academic program.

In addition to his City Council appointments, Steven is a member of the Concordia University President's Advisory Council and Irvine Library Advisory committee. Steven is also Irvine's key representative of the Orange County Public Library Advisory Board, the Orange County Vector Control Board, and the Santa Ana River Flood Protection Agency Commission.

Since 1993, Steven has lived in Irvine with his wife, Janie, and their two children, Daniel and Michelle, who attended Eastshore Elementary, Lakeside Middle School, Rancho Middle School, and University High School. Daniel received his BS from Stanford University and his MD from UCSD. He is now working as a resident physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Michelle received her BA from UCSD and now attends the University of Michigan Law School.

 

stevenchoi.org

Little Saigon gets its first (Republican) Vietnamese American mayor

In the weeks leading to his historic win, Tri Ta roamed Westminster City Hall, often hearing: "Hello, Mr. Future Mayor. This way, Mr. Mayor."

The six-year councilman would greet fellow workers with a salute or a handshake but didn't respond to the titles.

"I'm grateful to have the trust of so many people," he said during a gathering to help residents prepare for natural disasters. "I like having the chance to meet new faces."

After Tuesday's election, he'll have plenty of opportunity as the first Vietnamese American mayor in a city that gave birth to Little Saigon -- the largest Vietnamese district outside the country itself.
Ta, currently the city's mayor pro tem, won more than 42% of the vote in the five-candidate race.
On Wednesday, he continued making the rounds, visiting radio stations for interviews. He and his wife, Que Anh Doan, a pharmacist, are authors of three books of poetry. They live with their two daughters in the Mission del Amo mobile home park near Little Saigon.

In previous years, two other Vietnamese American candidates - Chuyen Nguyen and Andy Quach - mounted mayoral campaigns. But both failed.

Now Ta, 39, can claim victory. As he drove from one appointment to another after the election, buzzed on just a couple of hours of sleep, he reflected: "I'm so happy. The phone has not stopped ringing" with more than 100 callers, in addition to Facebook messages.

Ta, recruited for the job by current Mayor Margie Rice, said he's been learning the ropes by attending meetings in her place. He expects the next month to fill up with the details of transition, before taking the oath of office Dec. 12.

"She has guided me," he said of Rice, "and I want to continue her good work. I am thankful for the city staff, for my community members and for support across this whole city. I truly thank everyone."

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/11/westminsters-first-vietnamese-american-mayor-.html 

The Promise of America - Elaine L. Chao

The entire "The Promise of America" video about the life of former Secretary of Labor, Elaine L. Chao.

Asian is the New Republican

You remember the old fashioned saying, Brown is the new Black? In politics, I've heard variations of this: Gay is the new Black, and Hispanic is the new Black, and even Black is still the new Black.

(And some of us have even clung to the phrase 40 is the new 30, though a few years ago a friend of mine saw a young person walking by wearing a t-shirt that said 40 is not the new 30. It took a lot of self-discipline, my friend told me, not to punch the little brat in the teeth ...)

So as the Republican party tries to figure out how to make Hispanic the new Republican, it may be more useful to concentrate on winning the fastest growing ethnic group in America: Asians.

But that raises the question: why aren't they Republicans already? Charles Murray has a few thoughts on that, from the AEI blog -- with a big hat tip to the indispensable Daily Caller:

 

Continue Reading → http://ricochet.com/main-feed/Asian-is-the-New-Republican/(page)/3

MDGOP Launches Asian American Coalition

ANNAPOLIS – The Maryland Republican Party is please to announce the launch of the Asian American Coalition and Coalition Chairman Sastry Dhara. According to Maryland Republican Party Chairman Alex X. Mooney, the new coalition is an essential component to MDGOP’s long term political success and expanding the party’s base throughout the community.

“I’m thrilled to launch the Maryland Republican Party’s Asian American Coalition – one of many revamped initiatives geared at expanding MDGOP’s base,” Mooney said. “Under Sastry’s leadership I’m fully confident our message of fiscal responsibility and personal accountability will gain more traction within the Asian American community.”

The Asian American Coalition is just one of many new coalitions set to be rolled out by the Maryland Republican Party. From our African American Coalition to Small Business Coalitions, the Maryland GOP is committed to expanding our community outreach to build a broad coalition to elect leaders dedicated to putting our economy back on track and Marylanders back to work.

The Asian American Coalition will be lead by Montgomery County businessman and community leader, Sastry Dhara. Mr. Dhara has been an active Republican, serving as the President of the Republican Indian Committee’s Maryland Chapter while playing an active role in Governor Bob Ehrlich’s 2010 campaign. Mr. Dhara’s experience as senior information technology executive, with a proven track record of solid leadership for industries from healthcare to finance, makes him uniquely qualified to build and lead a strong coalition.

“As a member of the Asian American community I know the Republican message of less government, personal accountability, and fiscal responsibility resonates strongly throughout the community,” said Dhara. “I look forward to expanding on the Maryland GOP’s 2010 victories by building a stronger coalition throughout my community, so we can elect more Republicans in 2012 and 2014 and get Maryland back on track.”

http://www.mdgop.org/mdgop-launches-asian-american-coalition/

Ron Villanueva — Delegate, Virginia's 21st District

A native of Virginia Beach, Ron Villanueva was involved in his community at an early age, volunteering for local organizations and elected officials on the grassroots level. He soon began working as a Legislative Aide for Senator (then Delegate) Frank Wagner.

In 2002 Ron became the youngest person ever elected to Virginia Beach City Council, winning an At-Large seat. In 2006 he was re-elected as the top vote getter, with over 50% of the ballots cast, running in a field of 10 candidates.

On City Council Ron worked to hold the line on taxes and promote economic growth, such as by attracting international businesses like Operation Smile to Virginia Beach, and working with local leaders and private business to expand operations of others.

His support of the Town Center office/restaurant/shopping complex has further enhanced the business profile of the area, and Ron’s efforts were instrumental in preserving one of the key economic engines of Virginia Beach, Oceana NAS, which was at one time a target to relocate.
In 2009 Ron won the 21st district House of Delegates seat in Virginia Beach, becoming the first Filipino-American (Fil-Am) elected to Virginia state government.

In his first session in Richmond, Ron successfully carried legislation allowing Virginia to drill for oil and natural gas offshore in the Atlantic Ocean. Ron also focused on helping Virginia recover from a slumping economy by opposing tax increases and working to ease the blow of severe budget cuts, on education, healthcare and transportation. (see Legislation section of web site for more details on Ron’s legislation)

Ron is partner at SEK Solutions, a government and military services provider. A graduate of Old Dominion University, Ron spent 8 years in the Coast Guard Reserves. He and his wife Cathy are raising four children and attend St. Marks Church.

[Official Bio from the Delegate's Website]

John Yoo: Why Aren’t Asians Republicans?

I’ve enjoyed the thought-provoking posts on why Asian Americans went for Obama in such large numbers — at 70 percent, more than any other ethnic group aside from African Americans. My AEI colleague Charles Murray makes some excellent points, as do Rob Long and Ricochet member TheSophist, who sounds like he was separated at birth from me. In fact, having spent some time talking with Norman Podhoretz, author of the excellent Why are Jews Liberals?, on the National Review cruise, I’ve been inspired to write a book on Asians and politics. Taking off on Norman’s book, I may perhaps call it “Are Asians Liberals?”

To me, the similarities between Jews and Asians are compelling. Both have higher incomes and educational levels than the average American. Both hail from a number of different countries and often emigrated here with high amounts of human capital but low levels of material capital. Both come from cultures — despite the broad definition of Asian — that respect and prize scholarship and intellectuals.

 Both are discriminated against — unconstitutionally, in my view — in college and university admissions, and once, no doubt, in government hiring and contracting. Both prize family values and seem to be more religious than the average voter.

Continue Reading → http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/334436/why-arent-asians-republicans-john-yoo#

Filipino Republicans gather to Watch Presidential Debate

 

                        


LOS ANGELES, Calif–All eyes were on the second presidential face-off between the incumbent President Barack Obama and his challenger Governor Mitt Romney on Tuesday night. During the 90-minute town hall style debate, both candidates touched on the economy, the environment, and gun control.

There was that question of when the White House fully acknowledged that terrorists attacked the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. And then there was the expected attempt to appeal to women voters, with Romney flip flopping on his stand on contraceptives.

Filipino Republicans gathered a private home in Monterey Park to watch the debate hoping that Romney can solidify his campaign.

“Romey is sustaining his ability to lead and I think Obama is not making a difference now. It’s just the same Obama talking about not knowing or accepting his problems during his 4 years,” said California Republican delegate Cecil Ramos.

 

Continue reading → http://www.balitangamerica.tv/filipino-republicans-and-democrats-both-believe-they-won-2nd-debate-2/

 

 

Fil-Am GOP Leader Lauds Romney-Ryan Economic Plan

SAN FRANCISCO – About 30 Filipino-American seniors from all over the Bay Area gathered Thursday morning at a community center in a largely Filipino enclave in the heart of San Francisco’s South of Market district.

Along with their regular breakfast and a mental health workshop, Rudy Asercion, who directs the West Bay Filipino Multi-Services Inc., also served up a good dose of politics, rallying them to register and vote. He also invited them to the center that evening to watch the vice presidential candidates Joe Biden and Paul Ryan in their first and only televised debate.

A recent national survey of Asian American voters found that Filipinos show the highest level of support for GOP presidential candidate Gov. Mitt Romney. But, at this local debate-watching party at West Bay, opinions are split among supporters of him and Pres. Obama , with some voters still undecided about whom to support.

Watching the debate, Asercion says Congressman Ryan hammered two key issues that resonate strongly with the Filipino electorate: the economy and health care.

Asercion is the chair of the National Organization of Filipino-American Republicans and an elected member of the San Francisco Republican Party Central Committee.

Continue reading → http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=9a37c343636310f31c2aa3225526d30f

Is the GOP about to have an (Asian American) evangelical problem?

(The Washington Post) Few Americans know that Asian Americans voted largely in favor of Obama when he ran against McCain in 2008.

 Little is known about how Asian Americans vote because most studies that evaluate vote choice and turnout are conducted in one or two languages and are usually not large enough to identify the diversity of political opinion in Asian America.

But a recent survey, the 2012 Pew Asian American Survey, focuses specifically on Asian Americans’ political and religious views and the results are rather surprising.

Continue reading → http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/is-the-gop-about-to-have-an-asian-american-evangelical-problem/2012/08/03/a01c5772-dd8b-11e1-8e43-4a3c4375504a_blog.html

Romney courts Asians in Northern Virginia

FAIRFAX, Va. -- Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney reached out to Northern Virginia's fast-growing Asian-American population during a campaign stop here Thursday as he looks to lure more voters under his party's tent to help him get over the finish line in a state he badly needs to win this November.

Romney invited five women to speak before him, including three Asian-Americans, who represent a population in Virginia that ballooned by 72 percent in the last decade and now make up 6.5 percent of the state's 8 million residents. It's a demographic that Romney is actively courting to offset President Obama's advantage among black and Hispanic voters, and it could help even the score in Democratic-leaning Northern Virginia.

Continue reading → http://washingtonexaminer.com/romney-courts-asians-in-northern-virginia/article/2507956  

Live From Tampa: Asian-Republican Summit A Huge Success

Republican National Chairman Reince Priebus addresses 300 political leaders at the Asian Pacific American Summit on August 26 at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, FL

Washington, D.C. — The Asian Pacific American Republican Network says the Republican National Convention from August 28-30 in Tampa, FL, clearly showed who Asian Pacific Americans should support to lead our country forward in this difficult time.

The Network says Romney extols America’s spirit of freedom and entrepreneurship and to build our own businesses and careers.

The Network says Romney believes that hard-working individuals should keep more of their earnings instead of funding inefficient and wasteful government programs. Therefore, taxes should be kept as low as possible.

Read More: http://aapress.com/editorial/apia-in-support-of-romney/  




Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell address the Asian-Republican Summit.

Live From Tampa: Asian-Republican Summit A Huge Success

After several busy weeks and literally hundreds of e-mails, the first Asian-American Republican Summit attracted a huge crowd at the stately St. Petersburg Lyceum.

 Board of Equalization Member Michelle Steel, Steven Fong, Susie and Joel Angeles were heroes! It putting together this event, these four really pulled off a feat!

Without seeking anyone’s permission they put on a really great, quality event! But it was not an easy endeavor. First they had to secure an available venue. Secondly they had arrange for private transportation for people to get there.

Finally they had to put together a list of top notch speakers that would attract a large number of Asian-American Republican. When the Honorable Elaine Chao, Secretary of Labor in the administration of President George W. Bush, agreed to Michelle’s request that she’d be the featured speaker — that led to a cascade of elected Asian Republican officials to want to attend the Summit! Quite by surprise Leehan Chin, Governor Romney’s policy director and all around wunderkind spontaneously accepted Michelle’s invitation and the summit committee was off to the races. Read More:

http://www.flashreport.org/blog/2012/08/27/live-from-tampa-asian-republican-summit-a-huge-success/

Satirical Tweet and photo by Democratic campaign staffer Kelly Steele aimed at Republican candidate for governor Rob McKenna leads to calls for apology

 

The photograph of Rob McKenna at last week’s Asian Pacific American Community Summit in Tacoma has been making the rounds on the web. It shows McKenna waiting for the sometimes lengthy translations of his and Jay Inslee’s answers during a joint appearance at the summit held every four years.

While it is not exactly flattering, it doesn’t display anything more than a guy having to stand on a stage with a neutral expression while a dozen translations of various Asian and Pacific Islander languages were completed.

Continue reading → http://blog.thenewstribune.com/politics/2012/09/27/satirical-tweet-and-photo-by-democratic-campaign-staffer-kelly-steele-aimed-at-republican-candidate-for-governor-rob-mckenna-leads-to-calls-for-apology/#storylink=cpy  

The Asian-American dream and the Republican Party

 

By Michelle Mai Selesky

Senator Rand Paul in his speech to the Republican National Convention Wednesday night highlighted the personal stories of Southeast Asian immigrants, including the Taing family from Cambodia and Vietnamese brothers Hung and Thuan Trinh, who risked their lives to sail to America on a boat from Vietnam. He told us about the risk they took to flee their war-torn countries – a risk often unimaginable to many of us born in the United States – to find freedom, peace and opportunity in the country we call home.

As a second-generation Vietnamese-American, I was proud and encouraged to see Republicans not only praising immigrants who worked hard to build their own success, but calling attention to the often politically-overlooked group of Americans who so embody the American dream and are increasingly important to the future of our country.

Some interesting facts to consider: Asians recently surpassed Hispanics to become the largest group of immigrants to the United States, with Asians approaching 40 percent of immigrants in 2009 while immigrants of Hispanic origin were just over 30 percent. To add to that, the number of Asian-Americans running for Congress this year has more than tripled since 2008.

Republicans take note: As the Asian-American population continues to grow and become more and more politically engaged we have a huge opportunity – and a huge responsibility – to include Asian-Americans into our party that promotes and defends our shared values of family, small business ownership, and freedom from big government.

Continue reading → http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/08/31/asian-american-dream-and-republican-party/#ixzz27skxlXDQ


Michelle Mai Selesky is the Communications Coordinator at Gingrich Communications where she orchestrates radio and media opportunities for the former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and his co-authors, in addition to promoting speeches, book signings, Newt.org, and DVD and audio marketing. She also serves as the Communications Director of the Young Conservatives Coalition (YCC).

Michelle holds a Masters Degree in Political Management from the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University. In 2007, she graduated with honors from UCLA, where she earned a B.A. in Political Science and served as team captain of the UCLA Women's Gymnastics team. Before joining Gingrich Communications, Michelle was a production assistant intern at The Michael Reagan Show in Los Angeles. She currently works and resides in Washington, DC.

Mitt Romney's Message to Asian Americans

2012 Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders Republican Convention

RSVP, PLEASE CONTACT STEPHEN FONG --  swfong AT comfast.net

Romney must win over Asian voters

If Mitt Romney wants to reach 270 electoral votes, and win the presidency, he must aggressively target Asian-American voters.

Asians -- Chinese, Japanese, Indians, Filipinos, Vietnamese and Koreans -- are the nation's wealthiest, most highly educated and most aspirational voting demographic. Their numbers have grown by more than 40 percent in the last decade, and they are concentrated in key electoral battleground states like Nevada, Michigan, Colorado, Ohio, Florida, Virginia and Pennsylvania.


Despite surveys showing Asian-Americans as more favorable toward Obama and government than the general public, their actual voting behavior in recent elections offers Romney an opportunity. Look to 2009, the year Republicans recovered from the Obama blowout and stormed back to retake the governorships of Virginia and New Jersey.

Republican Bob McDonnell targeted Asian-Americans energetically, even though they constitute just 5.9 percent of Virginians. He employed multiple strategies, such as asking Asian business owners to publicly communicate their support by putting McDonnell signs in their storefronts. His campaign communicated with Asian-American voters in their native languages in everything from mailers to radio ads to yard signs. A postelection survey of Asian-American voters in Northern Virginia found that nearly 60 percent voted for McDonnell.

Middlesex, New Jersey's second most populous county, is a perennial Democratic bastion, but in 2009, it went for Chris Christie by 48 percent to 44 percent -- almost precisely his statewide margin. Not coincidentally, Middlesex now has among the highest percentages of Asian-Americans outside of Hawaii and the San Francisco Bay area.

Asian-American voters are not immune to the national backlash against Obama's big government blowout. Their values and attitudes, by and large, hew more closely to the GOP economic policies, emphasizing hard work, parental involvement in education, the permanence of marriage and family unity. They link success to individual achievement rather than government beneficence.
Romney doesn't need to win the Asian-American vote outright. It would be enough to improve substantially on the 35 percent that John McCain won. Given the clusters of Asian-American voters who now reside in battleground states, a serious outreach strategy along the lines of McDonnell's successful gubernatorial campaign illuminates a pathway to victory.

There are hundreds of media outlets in battleground states through which Romney can reach Asian-American voters cheaply in their native languages -- especially to Korean, Vietnamese and Filipino audiences, where pro-Republican sentiment is strongest. The Korean Times, for example, has 13 bureaus in the U.S. and a daily edition circulation larger than the Los Angeles Times.

Nevada, Michigan, Colorado, Ohio, Florida, Virginia and Pennsylvania between them hold 111 of the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency. Obama carried them all in 2008. Romney needs to flip them. Asian-Americans comprise, on average, 3.8 percent of the population of those states, which could exceed the margin in a close election. A relatively modest investment by Team Romney in Asian outreach, out of the tens of millions it will pour into these states, could put him in the White House. And if, as Democratic strategists fear, turnout by Asian-Americans and other minorities falls below 2008 levels, the decline would occur chiefly among Obama supporters, amplifying any inroads that Romney makes.

The stakes for the future of liberty and limited government are simply too high for the Romney campaign to leave any stone unturned in the search for voters. By dedicating real resources to a sustained, strategic campaign of messaging and get-out-the-vote aimed at Asian-American voters, Romney will not only win the White House, but also lay the foundation for a new Republican majority with the fast-growing Asian voting population as a key pillar.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/romney-must-win-over-asian-voters/article/2503341

Shawn Steel is California's Republican National Committeeman and a former chairman of the California Republican Party.

Asian Americans For Mitt Romney

PoliticalNews.me - Aug 03,2012 - Mitt Romney Announces Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders For Romney Community

Mitt Romney announced his Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders for Romney community.

“Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have wonderful cultures that enrich all of America,” said Mitt Romney. “For generations, members of this community have contributed to our country, started new businesses and invented new products, and served with honor and distinction in the fight to protect freedom all around the world. I am honored to have the support of such great Asian Americans, and look forward to working with them to get our country on the right track again.”

“I am honored that Governor Mitt Romney asked me to serve as the national chair of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for Romney,” said former Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao. “Having worked in previous presidential administrations, I know Governor Mitt Romney has the experience and the character to tackle the problems that are facing our nation. Americans are suffering, and it will take new leadership to put this country on a path to prosperity and full employment.”

“I am pleased and honored to serve as a national co-chair for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for Romney,” said Universal Health Care CEO Akshay Desai. “As a businessman, I know all too well what it takes to make it in the private sector. When I hear President Obama tell small business people that “somebody else” made their success happen, I know that he is not cut out to turn around our economy. Mitt Romney is the change we so desperately need, and I look forward to having him in the White House.”

National Chair

Elaine L. Chao, 24th U.S. Secretary of Labor (2001-2009)

National Co-Chairs

Congressman Steve Austria (R-OH)
Akshay Desai, CEO of Universal Healthcare
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney General Viet Dinh
Former Congressman Charles Djou, (R-HI)
Former Director of the U.S. Mint Edmund Moy
Former Congresswoman Patricia Saiki, (R-HI)
Ambassador Sichan Siv

http://www.mittromney.com/coalitions/asian-americans-and-pacific-islanders-for-romney

Republican hopeful Romney appoints Indian-American in bid to win over Asian vote

Indian-American Akshay Desai has been roped in by the U.S.'s Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney for his outreach to the Asian-American community ahead of the crucial November 6 presidential elections.

Florida-based Desai, the CEO of Universal Healthcare, has been made one of the seven national co-chairs of the Asian- Americans and Pacific Islanders for the Romney community.

'I am pleased and honoured to serve as a national co-chair for Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders for Romney,' Desai said


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2183296/Republican-hopeful-Romney-appoints-Indian-American-bid-win-Asian-vote.html#ixzz22bSAoRed

Is the GOP about to have an (Asian American) evangelical problem?

(The Washington Post) Few Americans know that Asian Americans voted largely in favor of Obama when he ran against McCain in 2008. Little is known about how Asian Americans vote because most studies that evaluate vote choice and turnout are conducted in one or two languages and are usually not large enough to identify the diversity of political opinion in Asian America.


But a recent survey, the 2012 Pew Asian American Survey, focuses specifically on Asian Americans’ political and religious views and the results are rather surprising.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/is-the-gop-about-to-have-an-asian-american-evangelical-problem/2012/08/03/a01c5772-dd8b-11e1-8e43-4a3c4375504a_blog.html

Chinese-American Republicans of Virginia - Roast Pork BBQ - May 12, 2012

On Saturday, May 12, 2012, the Chinese-American Republicans of Virginia Association (CARVA) and the Chinese-American Chamber of Commerce are a Roast Pork BBQ in Mason District Park, Annandale, Virginia.

US Senate Candidate and former Virginia Governor George Allen has been invited to attend.

Cost: $12/person; $6/Children under 10 years old.

Location: Mason District Park in Annandale, 6700 Columbia Pike, VA 22003

Time: 5pm - 8pm

Mass Transit: #16A, 16B, 16E or 16L bus.

RSVP: carva2012@gmail.com

Texas Asian Republican Caucus Host Steve Munisteri

A little over one hundred concerned Republicans gathered at Kim Son restaurant Friday, 3-9-2012 night. The two stars that everyone came to see? RPT chairman Steve Munisteri and Houston’s own Martha Wong. TARC or the Texas Asian Republican Caucus was installing new officers for the current year. Very wisely they incorporated the membership dues into the cost of attending the meeting. So for the low price of thirty dollars you got to hear from the leader of the RPT, enjoy an incredibility good meal and become a member of TARC.

Well known and respected leader Joe Chow started off the event. Nghi Ho then led us in the pledge to the flag of the United States and the State of Texas. Monique performed her stirring rendition of the National Anthem.

Martha Wong introduced Steve Munisteri. It seems back a “few years” ago Steve and Martha ran for the same seat, which Martha won. Steve spoke of the increase in population among Asian Americans. Asian population in Texas grew by 50% over the past decade and now accounts for nearly five percent of the population in Texas. It is well over six percent in Harris County and even higher in the city of Houston.

http://harriscountyconservativepolitics.com/2012/03/12/texas-asian-republican-caucus-host-steve-munisteri/

Asian-American Elected GOPer Turns On Hoekstra After Ad

Washtenaw County, Michigan Commissioner Alicia Ping (R) says she was leaning toward endorsing former Rep. Pete Hoekstra in the Republican primary for Senate. But that’s all over now. On Monday, Ping donated money to Clark Durant, Hoekstra’s longshot rival in the primary. She told me she’d publicly endorse him if Durant asks her to.

Why the change of heart? Hoekstra’s controversial Super Bowl ad, which the Chinese-American Ping called “demeaning”, is a part of it. But it was more Hokestra’s refusal to acknowledge that he’d made a mistake running the ad that really lost him Ping’s support.

Read more: http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/02/asian-american-elected-goper-turns-on-hoekstra-after-ad.php

Peter Koo, Queens City Councilman, Leaves GOP For Democratic Party

From The New York Times:

Mr. Koo, an immigrant from Hong Kong who started a chain of pharmacies in Flushing, said he had been lured by the reach and influence of the Democratic leadership in his borough.

But he also said that the anti-immigrant tenor of the national Republican Party had played a role in his decision."They can do more, surely they can do more to attract different minority groups to join the party," Mr. Koo said, when asked about the policies of the Republican candidates for president. "So far, they haven't done enough."

Charles Djou serves Afghanistan stint

WASHINGTON — While other candidates for Congress have spent the past six months wooing voters and donors, former Rep. Charles Djou of Hawaii took a detour through Afghanistan where he was part of a team responsible for interrogating suspected Taliban fighters and determining who should be detained or freed.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/73629.html#ixzz1ouSax94c

For Asian American Republicans, Town Hall a Beginning Complete with Newt Appearance

For Asian-American Republicans, Town Hall a Beginning Complete with Newt Appearance

The town hall Saturday didn't include a question and answer session, but Asian-American elected officials from across the state who have never been contacted by the Republican Party got a chance to speak and connect. Oh, and Newt Gingrich dropped by.

source: http://southsanfrancisco.patch.com/topics/Asian+Town+Hall

Ricky Gill for Congress

Indian American UC Berkeley law school student has announced his candidacy for 11th Congressional District.

Ricky Gill is a native of San Joaquin County, born and raised in Lodi, California. The son of immigrant parents, Ricky is a small business owner, a family farmer, and a former member of the California State Board of Education whose story speaks to the power of the American dream.

Ricky is the only candidate with local roots in the 9th Congressional District. A Lodi native and graduate of Tokay High School, Ricky has a long record of service to the communities of this district. As a high school student, he volunteered at St. Mary's Interfaith Community Services for the Homeless in Stockton, where he helped provide medical care for the indigent, and at Lodi Memorial Hospital.

He was appointed by the Mayor of Lodi to co-chair the Greater Lodi Area Youth Commission, where he was charged with developing career opportunities for local youth. In 2006, he championed the property rights of local farmers in a Lodi News-Sentinel op-ed article. Ricky now serves as a member of the Lodi Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors.

http://www.rickygill.com/

Marisha Agana M.D. for Congress - District 13 (OH-R)

Marisha Agana M.D. U.S. Congress District 13 (OH-R) Born June 10, 1960 growing up in Manila, Philippines under martial law, she participated in the restoration of her country’s republic in 1986 through the non-violent protest known as the “People’s Power Movement” that peacefully overthrew a corrupt dictator.

Dr. Marisha is a general pediatrician with an economics degree and masters in public health. She is a mother of three and children’s advocate living in Warren, Ohio. She has her solo practice in Warren, Ohio known as Pediatric Corporation of Warren.

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