2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumDonald Trump Is Seen as Helping Push Asian-Americans Into Democratic Arms
LAS VEGAS On paper at least, Asian-Americans seem like perfect Republicans. Many are small-business owners. Their communities tend to be more culturally conservative. And a lot of them, having fled oppressive Communist governments, found comfort in the Republican Partys aggressive anti-Communist policies. But in what could be a significant realignment of political allegiance, Asian-Americans are identifying as Democrats at a quicker pace than any other racial group. And many Republicans worry this election will only accelerate that trend, damaging their party for years to come with what is now the fastest-growing minority in the country.
The Republican presidential nominee, Donald J. Trump, is not helping. His attacks on the Chinese which he has sometimes delivered in a crude, mocking accent are a feature of his populist campaign. He has suggested cutting off immigration from the Philippines, citing fears that the longtime American ally poses the same national security threat as countries like Syria and Afghanistan.
Mr. Trumps talk of deporting millions of undocumented immigrants has also stirred up painful memories among a group that has been singled out under American law before, whether by the Chinese Exclusion Act, which barred the immigration of Chinese laborers until 1943, or by the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II.
Its like were going back in time, said Marc Matsuo of Las Vegas, who grew up in Hawaii with parents of Japanese ancestry and recalled how his family used to feel uncomfortable expressing their heritage, to the point they would not speak Japanese. He now helps register Asian-Americans to vote. I was always brought up that you dont talk about religion, you dont talk about politics. Not anymore.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/02/us/politics/trump-asian-american-voters.html?emc=edit_th_20161002&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=57435284&_r=0
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,955 posts)The Grumpy Old Palefaces bought tRump's snake oil. Now they have buyer's remorse. That's their problem, not ours.
AgadorSparticus
(7,963 posts)I remember one of the Asian tv channels immediately talked about the Japanese internment camps. That sent red flags throughout the entire community. Asians are taking notice and paying attention.