Posted on 12/01/2012 6:50:41 AM PST by blam
Why Asian Americans Voted So Overwhelmingly For Obama
Menzie Chinn, Econbrowser
Dec. 1, 2012, 7:18 AM
Menzie Chinn is a professor at Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs
Noahpinion asks: “[W]hy did Asian-Americans break so strongly for Obama? I provide my (slightly different) answer.
As Noahpinion observes, given Asian American’s higher than average income, the Romney-esque argument that the group is one of “takers” not “makers” cannot be correct (of course, there is little empirical content to this particular thesis, anyway). 2012 was not an isolated event, by the way.
I am not a political scientist, and so am not particularly well-qualified to provide a proper quantitative analysis. But I can at least relay some thoughts based upon my own experiences on why some Chinese-Americans of a certain background might not feel comfortable with the Republican party. First, consider the composition of the party leadership, as represented by the new House Committee Chairmen:
Source: DailyKos.
Of course, it’s the policies that matter more. And here, I think the key factor of importance to Chinese-Americans is pragmatism (the generation of my parents -- who came from China -- saw enough rigid, dogmatic ideology run amok, thank you very much), and a belief in progress by way of science and technology. In this vein, Richard Posner speculates that Asian-Americans lean toward the Democratic party, despite the low-tax rate stance of the Republican party, because:
... being well educated as a group, Asian Americans may be disturbed by the hostility to science, particularly evolutionary biology, which Republican supporters and politicians have exhibited of late.
Charles Murray tries to explain Asian-American voting as pure mis-apprehension, to wit:
(snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
I assure you this does not include any Vietnamese Americans I know, and I know quite a few. Every Vietnamese American I know vividly remembers how the Democrat led 93rd U.S. Congress cut off funding for the Vietnam War, withdrew U.S. combat troops in 1973, and abandoned the Vietnamese people to their fate. No Vietnamese I know would touch a Democrat with a stick, as they see the Democrats for what they really are: Communists
And all because of Darwin...
Actulay we have proof that all things don’t evolve. An example.. The monkey passing himself off as speaker of the house has not evolved beyond the rudimentary use of tools and simple language. I think his evolving was truncated by the discovery of booze...
Hate? No, I wouldn’t go so far across the board. They believe themselves superior. Grudging admiration turned to disappointment as far as American whites are concerned. They view us as having become inept and possibly lazy, certainly spoiled. Many immigrant groups believe similarly. The entitlement class will eventually be looking back with nostalgia on dealing with “whitey,” imho. These other groups are not nearly so sympathetic or accomodating.
It was an anti white vote that had nothing to do with anything that makes sense on a higher level than color.
“Almost every SunkenCiv thread or Asronomy Picture of the Day thread gets spammed by a strong anti-science crowd.”
Very true. Additionally, there are a good number of anti Asian posts. However, I am surprised when anyone buys the liberal crap which passes for social science and, all too often, environmental science.
Baloney!
Those who have lived under Communism, hate it.
They just don't see that that is the direction the U.S. is heading in, if we don't change course.
Asian immigrants have been fed liberal lies from the U.S. educational system and assume that those things are correct--after all, they heard them from "Americans," who are supposed to know about these things.
Asians have very little background information about American history and what made this country great, so they rely on teachers and the media, most of whom are liberals, to get their information.
The good news is that most Asians are reasonable and can be educated. They just need the correct information when it comes to history, freedom, and American values.
Talk to your Asian friends, if you have any, and tell them they have been duped by the liberal establishment--just like they were duped by Communism in China.
That will be a sad realization for them at first, because they thought they could avoid these things in "America."
Asians will come around if they are told the truth. I've seen many ABCs (American-born Chinese) at conservative rallies and meetings. They are definitely not a lost cause.
In the end that is what it all comes down too. Free stuff out weights everything else.
Yeah, and only about 36% of the republicans got out and voted for Romney...what does that tell you.
Drive through the suburbs of Cupertino or San Jose and look at houses - how many have any type of Christmas display, fewer than 50% maybe 30% is more accurate. One friend infomred me - they, immigrants are Buddists, Hindu, etc. etc. - they ahve a different set of values. Many that arrive from former British colonies think socialism is the proper form of government. GET USED TO IT, they think Democrats haven’t spoken out for ENOUGH government.
I wonder if this is just a cover for the vote stealing that went on in the inner cities? Not a lot of whites in the inner cities, but a lot of blacks, latinos, and asians.
BS. Global Warming notwithstanding, there's a great deal of hostility to science among some conservatives. Look at the daily creation threads that get posted here. Look at the ham-fisted non-answer Rubio had to give when he was asked the age of the earth. He danced around the subject out of fear of offending Republican-voting constituents who believe that Adam and Eve had pet dinosaurs and at one time the earth was covered in water from the top of Mt. Everest on down for exactly 40 days.
I would not believe much from
A Daily Koz propaganda piece.
Second ,
So few people stop and have time to complete these exit polls they are worthless !
Junk science easily skewed by the left to ram thru there agenda !
2004 landslide Kerry was based on exit pollers!
Garbage in garbage out
I am not sure anyone is really reading the polls on this, or listening. Asian-Americans are VERY socially liberal. This isn’t an economic issue so much as a social one. They overwhelmingly favor gay marriage and abortion. This isn’t a demographic we are going to get ... or want.
Sad but very very true.
Only to simple-minded folks.
Love you, Bro!
- wing ming
Second , So few people stop and have time to complete these exit polls they are worthless ! Junk science easily skewed by the left to ram thru there agenda !
2004 landslide Kerry was based on exit pollers! Garbage in garbage out
So are you saying we won Asian-Americans?
Ultimately, the question is this: Why would you expect people from authoritarian societies with zero tradition of limited-government or respect for individual liberties to vote for a party that (supposedly) epitomises these values?
In short, Asians vote for Democrats because their whole political tradition is basically one of dictators, emperors, and government control of every aspect of life. They’re just voting for what they know.
Only to simple-minded folks.
Love you, Bro!
- Wai-ming
Oooops...It's crazy. Can't even spell my own name right. It's these weird English characters!
you make some good points, but on the “anti science” meme, it’s not the fault of the GOPe. That’s the fault of a very few awful candidates, who should have never been nominated.
Look, I love the chance to slam the GOPe at every opportunity (here are 120 thousand words doing so: www.gone2012book.com).
But that particular issue is not theirs...
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