Indian American Group Denounces Obama's Campaign

[goodhue]

Source: News Post India

Indian American Group Denounces Obama's Campaign

Saturday 16th of June 2007

The US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC), a political awareness group of Indian Americans, Saturday rapped US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama's campaign for its 'anti-Indian American stereotyping'.

In letter to Obama, USINPAC chairman Sanjay Puri stressed on ethics in political campaigning and denounced the politics of stereotyping as exhibited by research notes of the Obama for America campaign, a USINPAC press release said.

'As representatives of the Indian American community, we have been encouraged by Senator Barack Obama's message of inclusion and his promise to bring a new kind of politics to the United States.

'This is why we are so concerned about media reports indicating that his staff may be engaging in the worst kind of anti-Indian American stereotyping,' Puri wrote in his letter.

* * *

Read more: http://newspostindia.com/report-3720

[Buzz Clik]

1. Just what every campaign needs -- another group laying out eggshells.

[Deja Q]

2. As in offshoring-to-India Indians or the Native Americans?

Either way, PACs and other SIGs have too much irrelevant influence. And, indeed, narcissism has a tendency to cloud one's judgment too.

If we are to be a globalized world, why should India care about their misperceptions whatsoever? They're in the new world order, aren't going anywhere, and are leading toward change in the US to make our economy just like theirs; only not as separate entities but as global ones where we will all benefit.

What's their problem?

Oh, that's right. An American political candidate has more concern over America and its citizens than peripherally countries who don't need to ally with us if they choose...

Yeah, if I wasn't born an American I'd be pissed off too.

...but if they chose not to ally, they wouldn't (in theory) reap the benefits of inclusion.

[Kagemusha]

3. As in offshoring to India.

FYI.

[goodhue]

4. they were reacting to news of this memo prepared by Obama campaign . . .

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/politics/memo1.pdf

And the complaints are not from India but from folks of East Indian descent who live in America, some of whom were in fact born in America. (Please remember Allen's macaca comment referred to SR Sidarth, who was born & raised in VA).

[Deja Q]

5. Yet the PDF talks of India and Corporate India's interests

The Clintons have reaped significant financial rewards from their relationship with the Indian community, both in their personal finances and Hillary’s campaign fundraising. Hillary Clinton, who is the co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, has drawn criticism from anti-offshoring groups for her vocal support of Indian business and unwillingness to protect American jobs. Bill Clinton has invested tens of thousands of dollars in an Indian bill payment company, while Hillary Clinton has taken tens of thousands from companies that outsource jobs to India. Workers who have been laid off in upstate New York might not think that her recent joke that she could be elected to the Senate seat in Punjab is that funny.

And this gem:

Clinton Co-Founded The Senate India Caucus, A Project Of The U.S. India Political Action Committee.
In 2004, Clinton co-founded and became the co-chair of the Senate India Caucus which was coordinated by the
U.S. India Political Action Committee (USINPAC). Roll Call reported, “The goals of the caucus, which already
has 31 members, include increasing trade with India and improving security against global terrorism.” Sen.
Clinton said, “It is imperative that the Unites States do everything possible to reach out to India. This Caucus is
dedicated to expanding areas of agreement with India and engaging in a candid dialogue of differences.” photo at USINPAC website, accessed 4/17/07; Roll Call, 4/28/04; PR Newswire, 4/29/04]

Had Ms. C co-found the Senate China Caucus, we all know what would happen. (But if Mr. Coleman, by contrast, would have done a Senate China Caucus, it'd be okay... because, for Republicans, other counties are not enemies. Until somebody finds a receipt? I sure as hell don't know.)

Ms C can stand down on offshoring. Plenty has been globalized, we can all work on our own, and engage in fair trade. Unless there's a bigger vision of free trade, which will eventually help the US and its people again. I just want to know the truth.

[goodhue]

6. Bashing the Senate India Caucus is the problem

Here are the members as of March 13, 2005 . . .

http://www.usindiafriendship.net/congress1/senatecaucus/members.htm
U.S. Senate India Caucus
Members of US Senate India Caucus

109th Congress elected in November 2004
List updated as of March 13, 2005
18 Democrats, 19Republicans, Total 37
John Cornyn, Co-Chair Hillary Clinton, Co-Chair
Wayne Allard Evan Bayh
Robert Bennett Jeff Bingaman
Barbara Boxer Maria Cantwell
Saxy Chambliss Thad Cochran
Norm Coleman John Corzine
Mike Crapo Mark Dayton
Mike DeWine Richard Durbin
Bill Frist Lindsey Graham
Charles Grassley Orrin Hatch
Kay Bailey Hutchison Daniel Inouye
Mary Landrieu Frank Lautenberg
Carl Levin Joseph Lieberman
Trent Lott Barbara Mikulski
John Rockefeller Rick Santorum
Charles Schumer Gordon Smith
Arlen Specter Debbie Stabenow
Ted Stevens George Voinovich
Ron Wyden

And here are the current members of House India Caucus . . .

http://www.usindiafriendship.net/congress1/housecaucus/members.htm

Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans
Members of Congressional Caucus

110th Congress elected in November 2006
List updated as of March, 2007
115 Democrats, 61 Republicans, Total 176
Jim McDermott, Co-Chair Joe Wilson, Co-Chair
Neil Abercrombie Gary Ackerman
Robert Andrews Joe Baca
Brian Baird J. Gresham Barrett
Xavier Becerra Shelley Berkley
Howard Berman Judy Biggert
Rob Bishop Earl Blumenauer
Rick Boucher Kevin Brady
Corrine Brown Henry Brown
Ginny Brown-Waite Michael Burgess
Ken Calvert Chris Cannon
Eric Cantor Lois Capps
Michael Capuano Dennis Cardoza
Steve Chabot Ben Chandler
Michael Conaway John Conyers
Jim Cooper Jim Costa
Joseph Crowley Barbara Cubin
Danny Davis Tom Davis
Peter DeFazio William Delahunt
Norm Dicks Lloyd Doggett
Michael Doyle Thelma Drake
John Duncan, Jr. Vernon Ehlers
Keith Ellison Rahm Emanuel
Eliot Engel Phil English
Anna Eshoo Eni Faleomavaega
Tom Feeney Mike Ferguson
Bob Filner Randy Forbes
Barney Frank Trent Franks
Scott Garrett Paul Gillmor
Phil Gingrey Bob Goodlatte
Bart Gordon Kay Granger
Al Green Gene Green
Luis Gutierrez Alcee Hastings
Robin Hayes Jeb Hensarling
Brian Higgins Rush Holt
Mike Honda Darlene Hooley
Steny Hoyer Steve Israel
Sheila Jackson-Lee Eddie Bernice Johnson
Walter Jones Paul Kanjorski
Marcy Kaptur Ric Keller
Patrick Kennedy Dale Kildee
Ron Kind Peter King
Mark Kirk Joe Knollenberg
Dennis Kucinich Ray LaHood
Doug Lamborn Nicholas Lampson
Tom Lantos Rick Larsen
John B. Larson Steven LaTourette
Barbara Lee Sander Levin
Jerry Lewis John Lewis
John Linder Frank Lobiondo
Zoe Lofgren Nita Lowey
Stephen Lynch Carolyn McCarthy
Thaddeus McCotter Mike McIntyre
Michael McNulty Carolyn Maloney
Donald Manzullo Kenny Marchant
Jim Matheson Martin Meehan
Kendrick Meek Gregory Meeks
Juanita Millender-McDonald Brad Miller
Gary Miller Jeff Miller
Alan Mollohan Dennis Moore
Jim Moran Sue Myrick
Grace Napolitano Richard Neal
Frank Pallone Bill Pascrell, Jr.
Donald Payne Steve Pearce
Charles Pickering Joseph Pitts
David Price Deborah Pryce
Adam Putnam George Radanovich
Nick Rahall Charles Rangel
Dave Reichert Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Peter Roskam Steven Rothman
Edward Royce Tim Ryan
Linda Sanchez Loretta Sanchez
Jim Saxton Janice Schakowsky
Adam Schiff Allyson Schwartz
Robert Scott Pete Sessions
Christopher Shays Brad Sherman
Adam Smith Hilda Solis
Mark Souder John Spratt
Fortney "Pete" Stark Cliff Stearns
Mike Thompson John F. Tierney
Edolphus Towns Michael Turner
Mark Udall Tom Udall
Fred Upton Chris Van Hollen
Peter Visclosky James Walsh
Diane Watson Melvin Watt
Anthony Weiner Dave Weldon
Robert Wexler Ed Whitfield
David Wu Albert Wynn

Capitol Hill Building, Washington DC USA
Capitol Hill Building, Washington DC USA



And since you bring up the china caucus . . .
http://forbes.house.gov/Biography/chinacaucus.htm

Who is a member of the Congressional China Caucus?

Congressman Randy Forbes (R-VA), Co-Chairman
Congresswoman, Madeleine Z. Bordallo, (D-Guam) Co-Chairwoman
Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO)
Congressman Brian Baird (D-WA)
Congressman Spencer Bachus (R-AL)
Congressman John Boozman (R-AR)
Congressman Charles Boustany, Jr. (R-LA)
Congressman Henry Brown (R-SC)
Congressman Jim Cooper (D-TN)
Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY)
Congressman John Culberson (R-TX)
Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis (R-VA)
Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-CA)
Congresswoman Thelma Drake (R-VA)
Congressman Phil English (R-PA)
Congressman Tom Feeney (R-FL)
Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)
Congressman Sam Graves (R-MO)
Congressman Rick Keller (R-FL) \
Congressman Brian Higgins (D-NY)
Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA)
Congressman Steve King (R-IA)
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)
Congressman Thaddeus G. McCotter (R-MI)
Congresswoman Candice Miller (R-MI)
Congressman Gary Miller (R-CA)
Congressman Jeff Miller (R-FL)
Congressman Steve Pearce (R-NM)
Congressman Todd Platts (R-PA)
Congressman Adam Putnam (R-FL)
Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH)
Congressman John Sullivan (R-OK)
Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC)
Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA)

[goodhue]

7. By the way, I'm proud that my Congressman Keith Ellison belongs to House India Caucus

I would expect no less. And he is no friend to corporate free trade, but a friend to immigrants of all backgrounds.

[badgervan]

11. This is About Offshoring

And most Americans are with Obama's views as to this practice born of corporate greed, disloyalty, and a complete lack of patriotism.

[iamjoy]

8. What About Biden

Didn't he make some foot-in-mouth remark about Indians and 7-11's?
I say this not to trash Biden (if his remark had been said by anyone of a number of commedians we would have laughed guiltily), but did they criticise his remarks? Of course, Obama is a contender while Biden is polling in single digits. Given the support of this group for Hillary Clinton, it all makes this "attack" seem...well, convenient.

[goodhue]

9. I know many many Indian Americans supporting Obama

At least they did yesterday

[Lord Balto]

10. What stereotyping?

Why does this organization confuse complaining about Hillary's support of Indian offshoring with stereotyping? I see no stereotyping whatsoever. It's not stereotyping to point out that a large percentage of high-end offshoring is going to India. It would be stereotyping if Obama complained about Indian funerals being a fire hazard. Or that it's hard to understand their accents. Or that the Hari Krishnas are annoying at the airport. Jai!

[IndianaGreen]

12. Are they complaining about casinos?

:eyes: