The GOP’s Asian Problem and How to Fix it

It is well known that Asian Americans in this country vote overwhelmingly for Democrat candidates. Politico.com reported that “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).” What is unclear to many conservative politicians and operatives is why and how to fix it. But as the 2016 presidential race is heating up, any GOP candidate who wishes to have a serious shot at the White House simply cannot continue ignoring the Asian voting block, because the demographics in this country has already changed.

There are 18 million Asians in the U.S., representing almost 6% of the U.S. total population and 4% of all voters (Pew Research). Asian Americans continue to grow mainly due to an influx of new immigrants. The Wall Street Journal reports that in 2013, China replaced Mexico as the top country sending immigrants to the U.S. and the trend is expected to continue. The Pew Research Center’s research shows that Asians as a whole have already overtaken Hispanics as the fastest growing immigrant group.

· Higher median household income. According to the 2009 Current Population Survey, the median Asian household had a higher income, $65,469, than the median white household, $51,863; median black and Hispanic household incomes were $32,584 and $38,039 respectively.

· Higher educational achievement: Pew research shows 49% of Asians have a bachelor degree or higher, while 28% of the general population in the U.S. have a bachelor degree or higher. The College Board reported that the average score for Asian Americans, Asians and Pacific Islanders on the SAT I math was 32 points higher than that for whites.[1]

· Strong family values: The Pew research shows 67% of Asians believe being a good parent is the most important thing in their lives and 54% of Asians report they are satisfied with their marriage.

· Strong belief in hard work: The Pew research shows 69% of Asians believe anyone can get ahead if he/she works hard

· Strong entrepreneurial spirit: Compared to other ethnic groups, Asians are the most likely to start their own business. The Census Bureau's Survey of Business Owners: Asian-Owned Firms: 2007 (released in May 2011) points out that as of 2007, there were 1.5 million Asian American-owned businesses, which generated more than $507.6 billion in receipts, employed more than 2.8 million people, and supported payrolls totaling $79.6 billion.

Based on these characteristics, Asian Americans should naturally support conservative candidates, so why do they vote for Democrats? As an Asian American and a registered Republican, I see there are causes within the Asian community and things that Republicans could improve upon.

There are three internal factors that influence Asians to vote for Democrats. First is location. Asians tend to concentrate in urban environments where liberals are dominating. For example, a third of Asians in America live in California. Other top states with significant Asian populations are New York, New Jersey, and Hawaii. Therefore, Asians are bombarded by Democrat propaganda.

Second, historical discrimination and the “outsider” experiences create suspicions and doubts towards political establishments. For example, the “Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882,” was the only law to prevent a specific ethnic group from immigrating to the United States and it was signed by President Chester A. Arthur, a Republican, on May 6, 1882 and was finally repealed by on December 17, 1943. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a Democrat, ordered the removal of 120,000 Japanese Americans from their lawful homes to concentration camps during the Word War II. Historical events like these leave a bad taste for many Asians. There is also another cultural element in play. America is a young country so for many native born Americans, an event in 1882 is ancient history, but where a Chinese or Japanese thinks of history in a 1000 year increment, 1882 is much more recent. Consequently, many of Asians are left to feel unwelcomed and as if they do not belong to America no matter how far back they can trace their family roots here in America or no matter how long they have lived here. Therefore, the Democrat’s message of embracing diversity, as superficial as it is (because it focuses on diversity of skin colors, not of ideas), still sounds attractive to many Asians, because it gives them a sense of belonging, while the Republicans haven’t done a good job of offering a counter message that equally welcoming.

Third, the cultural influence of the countries of origin still has impact on many first generation Asian immigrations: the top six countries that send 80% of all Asian immigrants to the U.S. are China, the Philippines, India, Vietnam, Korea and Japan. With the exception of India, the other five countries all have long traditions of being patriarchal societies following Confucian teachings. Confucius, a Chinese philosopher from 551B.C to 479 B.C., defined the relationship between government and its people, between the ruler and his subject as a family affair. Confucius believed people should obey and respect their rulers just as they obey and respect their fathers, while a ruler should love and care for his subjects as if they were his children. Under this philosophic influence, although many Asians believe self-reliance and hard work are the only paths to prosperity, many of them believe government has the responsibility to take care of its people, and they are more open to big government as long as there is a virtuous leader to lead it. Like many other ethnic groups, second generation Asians are much less likely to be subject to Confucius’ influence.

For Republicans to win over Asians, it will take time to overcome the geographic limitation and cultural differences. But at the same time, there are things that Republicans have been doing poorly in the past and present that can make a difference now.

First, immigration is one of two top priority issues (the other one is education) that Asian Americans care about the most because Asian Americans are largely immigrants. The Pew Research Center’s research shows 74% of Asian Americans 18 or older were born outside of the U.S. The majority of Asians are legal immigrants who came to the U.S. via either family or employment. Asian immigrants especially dominate the high-skilled labor segment. For example, Indian immigrants represent over 50% of H1B[2] visa holders. Republicans have a tendency to make overly broad statement about all immigrants as a whole, without taking into account the vast differences among different minority groups in terms of income, education and cultural values. For example, Politico.com reported that the Republican populists rhetoric on welfare reforms tend to imply (white) Americans are “makers”, while minorities (non-white) are “takers.” This kind of rhetoric “has cultivated a perception that the Republican Party is less welcoming of minorities. That might help explain why Asian Americans, despite their “maker” status, prefer the Democratic Party—even if the GOP doesn’t discriminate against Asians specifically.” (Political.com) Similarly, Republicans’ rhetoric and narrow focus on immigration and inaction on immigration reform reinforces their image (incorrectly) as the party against immigrants.

Therefore, for Republican candidates to win back the support of Asians, the Republicans need to present a sensible immigration reform proposal and demonstrate their willingness to work on it. A sensible immigration reform proposal should include increasing quotas for high-skilled immigrants and streamlining the legal immigration process to make it easier to navigate. Republicans also need to stop endorsing populists’ call for reducing immigration to preserve jobs for American workers and help raise their wages. This kind of rhetoric is contrary to the principles of free market enterprise, limited government and individual freedom.

Another high priority issue for most Asians is education. There are two aspects in education. For K-12 education, Asian parents often are willing to spend any amount out of pocket to ensure their children receive a first rate education. Not surprisingly, they more often than not will vote for tax increases if they are told it is for educational purposes. Republicans haven’t done a good job of explaining to these concerned Asian parents why the poor performance of public schools is not a money issue and why school choice is a good idea. The other aspect of education which causes high anxiety among many Asian parents and their children is higher education. Many Asians have already known for years that their SAT scores need to be hundreds of points higher than applicants from other ethnic groups to have an equal chance of college admission. The USA Today reports that some Asian youths who have one non-Asian parent now choose not to check “Asian” as their race on their college applications, hoping to avoid discrimination. In November 2014, Students for Fair Admissions sued Harvard and UNC Chapel Hill, claiming that their admissions policies discriminate against Asian students. Discrimination in any shape or form is un-American. So far Republican politicians have been relatively quiet about this issue. To win over Asian support, we need more Republican politicians to take a stand.

Third, Republicans have been doing a very poor job of “showing up” at Asian communities. To many Republicans candidates, minority outreach means outreach to African Americans and Hispanic Americans only. Outreach to Asians has a lower priority, often merely showing up at a Chinese New Year celebration in an election year is considered to be sufficient. In addition, Republicans do a poor job of recruiting Asian Americans at the grassroots level. Being an Asian and conservative is a long journey. When I show up at a Republican Party event, 9 out of 10 times I am the only Asian in the room. Asian Americans put a high emphasis on relationship building for the long haul. To win over Asians’ support, Republican Party representatives and candidates not only need to show up often at a variety of Asian communities and community events, but also need to demonstrate a deeper level of humility and cultural sensitivity. Seemingly harmless questions such as “Where are you from?” or “Where were you born?” can imply the message that “you don’t belong here” if they are asked too many times.

A video titled “what kind of Asian are you?” has gone viral on Youtube.com with over seven million clicks. In this video, a young white American male encountered an Asian female on a trail near San Francisco. He kept asking where she was from, including at one time asking “where are your people from?” he wouldn’t let go until she finally said her great-grandmother was from Korea. Then he immediately put his hands together and bowed, telling her how much he liked Kiamichi (a Korean pickle). I watched this video many times and couldn’t help laughing out loud each time because the same thing has happened to me many times. I don’t think this young man meant any harm but his comments and questions reflect a lack of cultural sensitivity. It is worth keeping in mind that people who are of Asian descent have lived here as long as or even longer than many white Americans. For example, the Chinese started to immigrate to America since 1849 and the Japanese started to immigrate to America in the 1880s. If we go far back enough, it is said Native Americans were migrants from Asia too. There is no indication whether this young man in the video is a Republican or Democrat. To me, it doesn’t matter. Both parties have committed similar cultural missteps. The only difference is that the Democrats get the majority of Asians’ votes in spite of it.

Asian Americans have been and will continue to be the fastest growing ethnic group in America. Republicans have largely ceded Asian votes to Democrats even though Asians and traditional Republican constituents share many similar characteristics and values. I believe Republicans can win back Asian votes if they follow the recommendations listed above. Considering the changing demographics, the Republicans can’t afford not to at least give it a try.

I don’t understand the GOP. All these deficits and upcoming disasters in SS and Medicare and not a peep to the Xers and Milennials. FAR more important to them than “homosexual marriage” and this other stuff. At least it should be. Those generations are getting screwed, as well as their future children and grandchildren.

And Asians? Ever heard of “affirmative action”? Code words for racism and quotas against Asians. Stop pandering to blacks, they’re never vote Republican. So use the inherent unfairness of quotas/preferences, etc. against them and appeal to Asian work ethics, achievement, sense of fairness, family. Don’t let the Demonrats establish the narrative with false “diversity” BS. Merit is what matters and this should be what’s important.

This is something I don’t understand.

Many of these people are industrious and intelligent.

Certainly they must see who Obama’s other supporters are, and that many of them are neither of these things.

Don’t they resent that even a little. Don’t they resent that Obama wants to take their earnings to support his followers? This is strange to me.

Many of these people are industrious and intelligent.

Voting for a 'RAT shows a distinct lack of intelligence. These Orientals may be crafty and quite cunning but they are certainly not intelligent. Of course, that applies to any member of any race that fails to vote for Conservatives.

Asians vote for Democrats, they vote for “diversity”.

That means more big dummies getting in (over their kids) and getting straight `A’s in ethnic studies programs.

Too bad. but maybe Asians aren’t as smart as their grades.

“So far Republican politicians have been relatively quiet about this issue.”

And therein lies the problem: Cowards.

BTW, I’ve found that Asians, esp those with an accent, DO appreciate asking about their heritage. This “you don’t belong here” is PC poop. People do not like to be ignored, they like to be engaged in conversation, and they especially like to talk about themselves. If one is uncomfortable striking up s conversation, do some research. Learn some names, some geography, come culture, some language. One of best ways to break the ice is to greet someone in their native language. I’ve yet to find anyone “offended” by this, even when I’ve guessed wrong. Usually it evokes a chuckle, the ice is nevertheless broken.

And in the rare occasion some left winger might be “offended” . .screw em, move on the next person. I gladly and proudly share my heritage, even when others have mistaken me for another ethnicity or religion. So what? Some people need to grow up and also grow some nads. Asian Americans should firmly be in the Republican and Conservative camps. Demonrats offer nothing to them, just quotas and lipservice.

I don’t know.

An immigration law passed in 1882 is the same as Roosevelt sending Japanese to camps and taking their property?

Republicans rail and rail about improving education and education-fixated Asians don’t notice?

Republicans have been decrying racial selection in jobs and education (which disadvantages Asians) for a long time. And do Asians care when the abuse of H1B visas are clobbering Americans who have held those jobs?

Of course Republicans need to show up but if Asians are all in urban areas there aren’t a vast number of Republicans that are near by.

My heritage involves more than Americanism, and please don’t even think about questioning that. Nevertheless, genealogy is very interesting and has been especially for me. And I’m damn proud of the contributions my ancestors have made here, including the ones who escaped religious persecution in their native countries. Don’t we call such “The American Dream”? Well I’ve now seen it up close and personal.

Its interesting, the democrats have done a good job of being both for and against immigration. In fact they are for Mexican immigration and Unions have been against all immigration. But Asian think that democrats are for immigration for Asians. Not true.

Asians are actually hurt by most progressive policies that allow quotas on Asians at colleges and jobs. For instance, Hispanics are considered a protected group. But Asians are not. When it comes to silicon valley, the story is that its all white. That could not be further from the truth. Its very Asian. When they mean silicon valley needs to be more inclusive, they mean fire Asians and hire blacks.

But Asians live in the cities and the west coast. So they hear democrat propaganda all the time. They do not know and have no experience with the old laws of discrimination referred to in this article. And if they say that they are a minority to a black person they will be quickly corrected. The reality is that Asians are often more racists against dark skinned people than anyone. In China, having dark skin is a sign of a lower class farmer family. And they can be quite blunt in their rebuffs of lower class individuals.

I believe Asians will start to vote republican in the future as they start to realize that their self interest is with the republican party and not the democrats.

No thanks. The Asian way is to climb as far as you can through legitimate means (ie public skrewl), and then counterfeit/embezzle/steal the rest. This is Confucianism extant 2015, and it meshes perfectly with the lie/cheat/steal modus operandi of the Democrat Party.

Their % participation vote is marginally greater than other minorities but not enough to Give. A. F*ck. as they are self-interred almost entirely in Blue states...

Wisdom and intelligence are often thought to be the same thing. They are not.

Highly intelligent people can vote Dem, because they lack wisdom to make the right choice.

Low intelligence people can easily, and often do, vote Repub, because they have developed the wisdom needed to overcome their lack of intelligence.

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