The DNC reception took place in Chinatown restaurant in Austin on Sept 10, four candidates speak at the reception about their campaigns.
Ramey Ko, president of Capital Area Asian American Democrats, organize this event, he hopes to showcase and demonstrate locally and nationally that Asian American Democrats are very active and will influence the voting constitutes.
Bel Leong-Hong, DNC AAPI Caucus Chair
Her speech at the DNC reception
The AAPI Caucus represents all of Asian American democrats across the Nation, and trying to establish a national network of Asian American democrats, to build pipeline for Asian American candidates. Wants to see representations in the elected offices as well as appointed offices at all level of government in all states of US. This caucus is trying to build this network, and encourages activists to run for all the offices that are available to run.
Tom Schieffer for governor,
His speech at the DNC reception
He wants globalization move to China, we need to do better in Texas in order to compete with China, wants open market to have Texas products in China. A better education system is needed.
Personal Interview:
His view on human right issue in China, Falun Gong, Taiwan-China relation, Health care reform, illegal immigrants.
Human Rights in China is a sensitive issue, have to remind China that they have to be responsible, they have to allow religious freedom, China needs to recognize Falun Gong is a religion and a movement, be more tolerance of freedom of belief. China’s economic strength is growing and vibrant but we want China to be responsible, in order to be supportive of international system, China needs to observe basic human right, he has interest to help Chinese to see broader view, to foster democracy in the world, to be more tolerance in the world. When he heard about organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners, he was shocked, he didn’t know about it. He said we couldn’t have human beings having organ remove for others, that’s wrong. He wants to increase trade between China and Taiwan; increase trade will promote democracy. China needs to work on the human rights in order to be mainstream of international world. He hopes Taiwan/ China will reconcile, and solve their difference peacefully. Health care reform is the most important thing, it will give people access to health care, both democrats and republicans have to come together, he believes that the bill will be passed. We have to recognize illegal immigrants, recognize their hard work in US, give them green cards and put them on tax rolls. Believe that partnering with Mexico will improve the illegal immigrant issue and bring prosperity to Mexico.
Hank Gilbert for governor
His speech at the DNC reception
The democrats believe inclusion for everyone and they are very diverse group. We have to rebuild this party from court system up; build from bottom up, he believes this race is going to come down to character, dedication, and democrat leading to prosperity where it belongs.
John Sharp for Senate
His speech at the DNC reception
The republicans have forgot to build the economy of this country. And to build the economy of this country is to take care of the working family, the middle class. He said what’s happening to the last several years is all the tax break goes to corporate, working family ran out of money and when that happen the economy ran out. What builds middle class clearly is education, universal education is the most important thing we can do economically. He wants to make sure tax break will be handed out to middle class, to rebuild middle class family with the process of rebuilding America.
Bill White mayor of Houston for senate
His speech at the DNC reception
He said our community is used to see Asian American from all background. He is a voice of future in Texas, we are proud of our past but we should be more proud of our future, our future is a diverse state. People have come from all over this country and all over the world to build society in which every person has opportunity for independence to live with dignity and respect to participate in the political process. He emphasized the importance of education, want opportunity for our kids, safe neighborhoods, and employment opportunity, want a society that respect diversity.
Personal Interview:
His view on health care, the cost is a principle issues, hope that the senate will act on bipartisan basis to come up with something that is imprison with current system, that most Americans think it’s broken. His view on immigration, we need reality base politic, this has been a country of immigrants, no one condones its illegal behavior, emphasize the need to have a regulated employment relationship base on the law of supply and demand. And one of the great accesses of the world’s economy is the large number of immigrants to have come to our country and somehow they get lost in the debate. His view on human rights in China, its been the same as success on American administration, we can’t present that we can control the internal affairs of other countries. But America at its best exemplify what happens in the free society, whether its affecting individual rights as a result in large part on the productivity and the fact that people come all over the world to here. He thinks the influence on the US is having an effect. His view on encouraging China to democracy, China needs a government that a public policy will not depend on lecture from US, the more Chinese come to US and more Americans are able to visit, the more Asian Americans prospers, this will set an example to all nations in this world what a multi-culture society can be and respect the dignity of individuals.
Brandy Mueller: democrat for judge, county court-at-law
Personal interview:
One tool that the law allows us is community service, a way for people to give back to others; they would expose to something that they ordinary be exposed to. She said that the defendants of county court is composed of advance, vibrant, talented, well educated people. For example a graphic artist with lower level of misdemeanor would be better served in community service such as designing a logo for non-profit organizations instead of cleaning up trash. She thinks that it would be more innovative as to how we utilize the tool that the law allows us at county court level. She would like the community and different non-profit organizations/ institutions in need of volunteers to have access of these defendants; this will be a win-win situation for both the defendants and community.
About what she can do for Asian American community, she’s said she’s learning what need to be done, have to be sensitive to all the issues of defendants from Asian American community. A lot of defendants may not have legal status to be here, that’s a consideration, it’s very important for a judge to make sure that the defendant is adequately represented, the outcome of the case will be carefully considered especially for someone who has a pending immigration case. She wants every defendant to have representing counselors, the last thing that we want our criminal justice to do is to cut off opportunity.
Jennifer Kim
Personal interview
She is one of the organizers for the event and sponsor. She said that she wants to show that our caucus is growing and wants to use this opportunity to highlight why the current party is relevant in the need of Asian families. She encourages Asian Americans to run for offices, it is a bidding process, will need strong will, also volunteering for commissions, in the city or in the board is a good resume, and can learn more about policy making. Also working for campaign or volunteering for campaign will gain a lot of experiences by meeting everyday citizens. And as an Asian American we need some kind of closure, it’s a career ladder, a political ladder, and this is something that she teaches people about.