Asian-Americans and Obama?

[George_Bonanza]

I'm technically not an Asian-American (Asian-Canadian, actually), but whatever, kind of the same thing. I was just wondering how the Asian-American vote is tilting towards or away from Obama. I know that it is a demographic that doesn't quite yet have much political sway nationally (since most Asian-Americans reside in solid blue states like Cali and New York), but still, I think there are some pockets of Asian-Americans in important states like Colorado and Virginia.

I sometimes go to Asian-American forums and I can't stand the political culture there. Basically, I think it's dominated by a bunch of frustrated Asian chumps whose main beef with racism is that they think it prevents them from scoring with chicks. Their political sympathies seem to be quite Republican (low taxes, free trade, pro-business), and many of them seem to be somewhat hostile to Obama's candidacy because they feel that blacks don't like Asians (stemming from the L.A.-Koreatown riots). I think they think that an Obama presidency will cause the blacks to leapfrog the Asians in terms of social respectability, and they can't stand that. McCain may freely use the racist term "gooks", but whites are socially superior to Asians in America anyway; thus, electing McCain would preserve the status quo, whereas an Obama victory seemingly pushes Asians down.

It sickens me, and makes me embarrassed to be of that same demographic. Luckily though, most high-profile Asians (i.e. activist and Survivor victor Yul Kwon) seem to be solidly behind Obama and the Democrats. But I guess the internet forums are dominated by socially-stunted and bitter nerds.

[aein]

1. I'm Asian-American and have always been a democrat...

My impression is most AA's aren't very politically involved.

[darius15]

2. I am an Asian American

In my extended family, I know about 25 people voting for Obama (including me), and about 7 voting for McCain.

I always thought that Asian Americans were about as Democratic as Hispanics.

[PBS Poll-435]

3. It seems to me that the increasing political involvement of Asian-Americans

Caused California to go from a Republican state to a reliable Democratic one.

[nsd]

10. I doubt this is true.

Asian-Americans make up less than 10% of the California electorate. Democrats probably outnumber Republicans, but not by that much. Exit polls in 2004 put the Kerry-Bush split at 56-44. That's good for maybe an extra point or two, but it's not enough to explain how blue California has become.

[grantcart]

4. only white guy in an Asian American family and it has been interesting to see

our friends drift more and more to Obama. I am talking about Asians who have immigtated to America and they tend to be more conservative and somewhat aloof of Blacks in general.

What I am seeing is that they are drifting away from McCain and with the Palin pick think that if America chooses McCain/Palin its as if the country has lost its mind.

[TuxedoKat]

5. One of my good friends

was born in China, now an American citizen and married to a conservative Republican guy. Fortunately, she is very assertive and thinks for herself and can see very clearly who would be the best president. I saw her yesterday and she said she and her husband have been having some very spirited debates in her house! I have some other Asian American friends in VA who I'm going to contact to see if they are registered to vote and encourage them to vote for Obama.

[FrenchieCat]

6. Well, Obama has Indonesians and Chinese in his family and he was born in Hawaii......

So I'm sure that will play a factor, in the end.

Here is his 1/2 Indonesian sister speaking on the subject
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x194036

[TNMOM]

7. Asian American here, too

Political loyalties among Asians break down by education and assimilation. Most younger Asians (highly Americanized/assimilated) and those with higher education lean left almost uniformly.
Older Asians (immigrants to this country) buy into the Rethuglican "USA, USA!" rah-rah rallying - I think because they think it's impolite or unpatriotic to question the government.

[Median Democrat]

8. You Are Totally Over-Generalizing

Asian American as a label is way too over-broad to try to analyze support for Obama. For example, Filipino American, who are the second largest group of Asian Americans in the United States generally support Obama. On the other hand, some Asian American groups trend towards the conservative, thus you will see some groups supporting McCain.

[4lbs]

9. I'm half Asian and am voting for Obama this election.

However, I'm more Southeast Asian, than the "traditional" Asian look of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. Thus, I tend to look more Pacific Island / Latino than have "traditional" features.

I also voted for the future Nobel Prize winner in 2000 and wrote in "Wesley Clark" in 2004.

I live in Southern California, so my write-in vote didn't change things in the grand scheme in 2004. However, my reasoning was that since we were actively involved in two wars at the time, I would cast my vote with the person (former candidate) who had most recently been in a war and won it.

[deoxyribonuclease]

11. Another Asian-American here

I'm an Asian (Taiwanese)-American of descent raised in Texas. Most of the Asians I knew growing in a upper-middle class area up were independents or republicans, but that has been shifting since the success of the Clinton administration and the utter failure of the Bush administration. My parents, who have previously always voted for the republican candidate, will be voting for Obama in November. Like so many others, they're sick of the gross incompetence of gov't.

I'm now living in SoCal where there are much larger and more visible Asian communities, and from what I've been able to deduce, many of them tend to vote Democratic. I will also say many people in my industry (biotechnology), regardless of ethnicity, are voting for Obama since he realizes the importance of scientific discovery.