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Why Are Asian Americans Democrats?
Politico Magazine ^ | 03/19/2014 | y ALEXANDER KUO, NEIL MALHOTRA and CECILIA HYUNJUNG MO

Posted on 03/19/2014 8:20:36 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

n February, during the confirmation hearings for President Barack Obama’s nominee for U.S. surgeon general—Vivek Murthy, a British-born Indian American—Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) invited Murthy to his home state.

“I’m going to invite you, because we have a lovely doctor from India,” Roberts said good-naturedly. “She’s in her mid-30s and she’s highly respected by the community. And another doctor from India who did a carpal tunnel when I did a stupid thing. And so, I think you’d be right at home, and we would welcome you.”

Although Roberts probably did not intend to offend (his remarks were of the “I have plenty of friends who are Indian” variety) media outlets generally mocked the interaction. At the very least, it likely reminded Murthy that he is different than the white ethnic majority—some other kind of American.

However harmless it might seem, this is exactly the sort of exchange that makes Asian Americans—the fastest growing ethnic group in the country—more likely to identify themselves as Democrats than Republicans, and by stunning margins. In the 2012 presidential election, Barack Obama won 73 percent of the Asian American vote, exceeding his support among Hispanics (71 percent) and women (55 percent). This striking statistic has caused a great deal of consternation among Republicans, who seem generally mystified as to what they might be doing wrong. It’s a puzzle with huge electoral ramifications. More than 16 million Asian Americans live in the United States today, making up 5 percent of the population and accounting for nearly 4 percent of all voters. They’re a sizeable voting bloc, but one far less understood than other groups, given that their political clout has only begun to emerge.

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: asian; asianamericans; democrats
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To: SeekAndFind
I think the reason is simple, at least for East Asians: their heritage is Confucian, while the European heritage is Aristotelian.

The concept of individualism in political theory goes back to Aristotle and his ethics of individual character, and the Founders bought into Aristotle, and his "student" John Locke, both of whom greatly influenced the concepts in the Declaration and the Constitution.

While Confucius also supported individuals working on their own character (仁, ren), however, societal harmony under a political hierarchy is at the core of Confucian organization. The Three Bonds of Confucianism--emperor over ministers, father over sons, husband over wife--are much more like Plato's Republic: if you are a citizen, you do what you are told, and the government acts in your own best interests. We see this most evidently in Singapore, but it's also behind the attitude towards government in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Viet Nam, and is re-emerging in China, as Confucian thinking is restored in place of Maoist thinking.

Moreover, India is the DMZ between Aristotle and Confucius: India(n)s are in general more individualistic than East Asians, but their trust, or desire to trust, in government is greater than that which was taught by Aristotle.

In short, to bring ethnic Asians into the political-conservative arena in the US will require a retraining in political theory, to show that Democrats provide a fake Confucian style government at best, and a pseudo-Maoist government at worst.

21 posted on 03/19/2014 8:50:33 AM PDT by chajin ("There is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12)
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To: SeekAndFind
engrish photo: TRAIN ENGRISH ENGRISHTRAIN.jpg

Because they are very, very confused.

22 posted on 03/19/2014 8:51:01 AM PDT by Snickering Hound
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To: DJ Taylor
To me, the real mystery is why Jewish Americans are, for the most part, Democrats.

It's very simple: Jews and Asians mostly live in cities. Cities vote Democrat, rural areas vote Republican, suburbs are a mixed bag. Cities are communes where most everything is shared and little property is personally owned. As farm automation continues, young Americans needing jobs are forced into the communes where most of them eventually become communists.

23 posted on 03/19/2014 8:53:02 AM PDT by Reeses
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To: Reeses

A lot of younger Asians are really into pop culture. It’s cool to be a Dem so they follow the herd.


24 posted on 03/19/2014 8:57:05 AM PDT by lodi90
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To: SeekAndFind
* According to the 2009 Current Population Survey, the median Asian household had a higher income, $65,469, than the median white household,$51,863.

So why are they considered a disadvantaged minority and given preferences over non-Hispanic whites, e.g., minority business set asides? We are reinforcing and incentivizing group identification. Here is how the federal government describes the phony definition of what constitutes an "Asian."

"Asian American" means a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands, including but not limited to Japan, China, Vietnam, Samoa, Laos, Cambodia, Taiwan, Northern Mariana, the Philippines, a U.S. territory of the Pacific, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, or Sri Lanka and who is regarded as such by the community of which this person claims to be a part."

Notice that being from Australia and New Zealand is not considered Asian. And exactly what do these people from India, Japan, Bangladesh, and China share in terms of culture and history? It is ludicrous to lump these people together, And someone can step off a plane tomorrow and take advantage of these preferences. 87% of the 1.2 million legal immigrants who enter annually are minorities as classified by the USG.

25 posted on 03/19/2014 9:00:33 AM PDT by kabar
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To: max americana
The Dums had a “multicultural” table and the GOp had an all-white table for registering voters. Who did you think had the most visitors?

So the immigrants who have been here for five years have already been programmed to view things thru the prism of race and ethnicity. It is more a commentary on them than the GOP.

Non-citizen immigrants are more pro-Dem than those already with citizenship. A harbinger of things to come.


26 posted on 03/19/2014 9:04:15 AM PDT by kabar
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To: SeekAndFind

Why Are Asian Americans Democrats?

Free stuff.


27 posted on 03/19/2014 9:06:39 AM PDT by PetroniusMaximus
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To: SeekAndFind

Many Asians perceive the Republican Party to be a group of fratboys and hicks — united in being white, ignorant, and dispositionally (if not actively) hostile to Asians.

Accurately or not, they see Barack Obama and Bill Clinton as far more embodying Asian values (Self-made Ivy League “A” students) than George W. Bush or John McCain (”C”-student scions of privilege).

There’s also the factor that Asians tend to respect the holders of the commanding heights of the culture, who are 95% Democrats.


28 posted on 03/19/2014 9:07:52 AM PDT by only1percent
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To: PetroniusMaximus

RE: Free stuff.

Given that they have the highest average gross income among ethnic groups, don’t they realize that THEY PAY for it?


29 posted on 03/19/2014 9:07:53 AM PDT by SeekAndFind (question is this)
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To: SeekAndFind; All

The Democratic Party (and RINOs) is the party of the perceived, although mostly constitutionally nonexistent, powers of the federal government. And since constitutionally impaired state lawmakers have never made laws to require citizens to pass a basic constitutional law test before being allowed to vote, a test which emphasizes the federal government’s constitutionally limited powers, of course people are going to connect with the party making all the constitutionally indefensible “promises” concerning what the feds will do for them.


30 posted on 03/19/2014 9:17:18 AM PDT by Amendment10
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To: Count of Monte Fisto

“The Republican Party is perceived as the party of White men with guns.”

Hey watch it, I resemble that remark.


31 posted on 03/19/2014 9:18:48 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
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To: SeekAndFind

32 posted on 03/19/2014 9:40:11 AM PDT by kabar
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To: Count of Monte Fisto

It’s deeper than guns and the economy with Asians, it’s religious fundamentalism. I have many friends that are Asians, and to a person, they feel Republicans in general, and Conservatives in particular, want to make America a totally Christian Nation..

They believe, our social issues are tied to Christian Fundamentalism, and they point to our insistence on the posting of the Ten Commandments, birth control, and prayer in school..

Hardly any disagree with our stand on Gay Marriage, the Welfare Socialism, or Abortion, and even immigration control, but they are intractable in the religious aspects..

They have their own beliefs, and have their experiences with radical Islam back home in southern Asia, and secularism in Europe, and don’t see much differences with hardcore Christians..


33 posted on 03/19/2014 9:46:39 AM PDT by carlo3b (Corrupt politicians make the other ten percent look bad.. Henry Kissinger)
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To: SeekAndFind

The Communists (aka “Democrats”) do their best to brainwash minorities to believe the evil white men (Republicans) are trying to “keep them down”, and that their only salvation is the Democrat Party.


34 posted on 03/19/2014 10:03:22 AM PDT by TexasRepublic (Socialism is the gospel of envy and the religion of thieves)
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To: chajin

As a person of Chinese descent, I think your response comes closest to what I have personally experienced. Among Chinese I know, religion is not as important as education and culture, which are both revered and respected in Confucian societies.

However, several Freepers have hinted to related causes which have validity for the Democrat-leanings of Asians.


35 posted on 03/19/2014 10:06:49 AM PDT by 12Gauge687
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To: ex-snook
Getting government involved in social issues?

I wonder what you mean? Gay marriage in the military and federal employment, and immigration? National defense, immigration and border?

36 posted on 03/19/2014 10:13:51 AM PDT by ansel12 ((Libertarianism offers the transitory concepts and dialogue to move from conservatism, to liberalism)
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To: Reeses; KeyLargo; DJ Taylor

Jews vote for their politics, which are leftist, and always have been, you can go back into the 1800s.

The democrats have always won the Jewish vote, EXCEPT, when there was a viable candidate who was more leftist, such as in 1920 when Eugene Debs ran for the Socialist Party.


37 posted on 03/19/2014 10:18:05 AM PDT by ansel12 ((Libertarianism offers the transitory concepts and dialogue to move from conservatism, to liberalism)
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To: ansel12
The most reliable predictor of left vs. right voting behavior the world over is population density. Jews favor high population density for several reasons such as higher paying jobs in the cities and being near other rare birds of a feather.


38 posted on 03/19/2014 10:52:39 AM PDT by Reeses
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To: Count of Monte Fisto

[ 1. Asian culture makes them predisposed toward socialism and corruption which the Democrat Party has in spades. ]

That is because they are used to Fuedalism, and Socialism is nothing more than Neo-Feudalism.

[ 2. The Republican Party is perceived as the party of White men with guns. ]

And this is because we have lost the media fiction story.


39 posted on 03/19/2014 11:36:10 AM PDT by GraceG
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To: Reeses

What a desperate crock of nonsense.

The Jewish vote is always, and has always been, totally predictable.

Jews vote liberal because they are liberal.


40 posted on 03/19/2014 11:46:55 AM PDT by ansel12 ((Libertarianism offers the transitory concepts and dialogue to move from conservatism, to liberalism)
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