Sunday, October 24, 2004
Indian Americans much sought after group in US elections
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theworld/2004/October/theworld_October671.xml§ion=theworld
25 October 2004
WASHINGTON - Indian Americans, the wealthiest and most educated minority group in the United States, are much sought after by both Democratic and Republican parties ahead of upcoming closely contested presidential elections.
The affluent community wants to use its growing clout to highlight issues affecting them and influence national policy, with over a dozen Indian Americans running for Congressional and other political offices.
The 1.9 million Indian Americans are a small voting bloc, being the third largest Asian American group behind Chinese Americans and Filipino Americans, but their median income of 60,093 dollars is nearly double that of all American familes, according to latest government census figures.
A separate study by investment house Merrill Lynch says one in 10 Indian Americans is a millionaire.
This makes the Indian Americans, nearly half of whom are employed as managers and professionals, a reservoir for campaign funds by both parties.
A Florida-based Indian American cardiologist helped raise 20 million dollars as co-chairman of finance for President George W. Bush’s campaign in the battleground state.
Significantly more Indian Americans back Bush’s rival Senator John Kerry’s Democractic party, although there is a definite trend towards change.
Despite their financial might and prominent role in society, however, the voting record of Indian Americans is less than the national average.
And while they make significant contributions to election kitties of political parties, Indian Americans have not learned to use this clout effectively, said the Indian American Center for Political Awareness.
“In the immigrant curve, we are such a new community and if were to compare with the other communities, even in terms of being politically savvy, we have come a very fast and a very long way,” said Veena Merchant, the center’s board member.
“I think it is appropriate during this election, which is so neck-to-neck, that people begin to take their vote seriously because every vote counts,” she said.
The 11-year-old non-profit center said only 57.1 percent of Indian Americans registered as voters in the 2000 presidential elections. Of the figure, only 44.8 percent voted.
“One major reason why the Indian American community lacks political clout is because of the lack of voter turnout,” said Gopal Raju, founding chairman of the center, which recently launched a series of voter registration campaigns and political debates over Indian-American privately owned TV Asia.
“Campaign contributions can only do so much. We need to demonstrate that we have the votes to back our issues up,” Raju said.
The US India Political Action Committee, a bipartisan group helping Indian Americans raise issues with American legislators, feels the community’s political donations should be channelled collectively for greater impact.
“Collectively, we can carry a lot of weight because the more you are in numbers, the more weight your voice carries when you raise issues with legislators,” its spokeswoman Megha Chokshi said.
The two-year-old committee is among groups that act as a ”bridge” between the community and legislators.
Chokshi said the committee donated 270,000 dollars raised from the community to legislators during the 2003-2004 period.
Issues that concern the Indian American community are immigration problems, attempts to curb outsourcing of US jobs to India, greater civil rights and increasing hate crime following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.
Another concern, particularly among 40,000 Indian American medical doctors across the country, is rising medical malpractice insurances rates.
Community leaders say the Indian-American community’s agenda is gaining recognition on Capitol Hill.
A total of 194 of 435 members of the House of Representatives have joined an 11-year-old Congressional Caucus serving as a forum to help resolve issues affecting the Indian-American community and promote US-India ties.
Composed of congressmen who are sympathetic to Indian-Americans, the caucus is the largest country specific group on the Hill.
The Senate established a similar group in April this year.
The highest ranking elected Indian American at present is Democrat Kumar Barve, majority leader in the Maryland state legislature.
But political pundits give Republican Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, a former gubernatorial candidate, a fighting chance of winning a seat in the House of Representatives in upcoming polls.
If he wins, Jindal will be the first Indian American Congressman in almost 40 years.
25 October 2004
WASHINGTON - Indian Americans, the wealthiest and most educated minority group in the United States, are much sought after by both Democratic and Republican parties ahead of upcoming closely contested presidential elections.
The affluent community wants to use its growing clout to highlight issues affecting them and influence national policy, with over a dozen Indian Americans running for Congressional and other political offices.
The 1.9 million Indian Americans are a small voting bloc, being the third largest Asian American group behind Chinese Americans and Filipino Americans, but their median income of 60,093 dollars is nearly double that of all American familes, according to latest government census figures.
A separate study by investment house Merrill Lynch says one in 10 Indian Americans is a millionaire.
This makes the Indian Americans, nearly half of whom are employed as managers and professionals, a reservoir for campaign funds by both parties.
A Florida-based Indian American cardiologist helped raise 20 million dollars as co-chairman of finance for President George W. Bush’s campaign in the battleground state.
Significantly more Indian Americans back Bush’s rival Senator John Kerry’s Democractic party, although there is a definite trend towards change.
Despite their financial might and prominent role in society, however, the voting record of Indian Americans is less than the national average.
And while they make significant contributions to election kitties of political parties, Indian Americans have not learned to use this clout effectively, said the Indian American Center for Political Awareness.
“In the immigrant curve, we are such a new community and if were to compare with the other communities, even in terms of being politically savvy, we have come a very fast and a very long way,” said Veena Merchant, the center’s board member.
“I think it is appropriate during this election, which is so neck-to-neck, that people begin to take their vote seriously because every vote counts,” she said.
The 11-year-old non-profit center said only 57.1 percent of Indian Americans registered as voters in the 2000 presidential elections. Of the figure, only 44.8 percent voted.
“One major reason why the Indian American community lacks political clout is because of the lack of voter turnout,” said Gopal Raju, founding chairman of the center, which recently launched a series of voter registration campaigns and political debates over Indian-American privately owned TV Asia.
“Campaign contributions can only do so much. We need to demonstrate that we have the votes to back our issues up,” Raju said.
The US India Political Action Committee, a bipartisan group helping Indian Americans raise issues with American legislators, feels the community’s political donations should be channelled collectively for greater impact.
“Collectively, we can carry a lot of weight because the more you are in numbers, the more weight your voice carries when you raise issues with legislators,” its spokeswoman Megha Chokshi said.
The two-year-old committee is among groups that act as a ”bridge” between the community and legislators.
Chokshi said the committee donated 270,000 dollars raised from the community to legislators during the 2003-2004 period.
Issues that concern the Indian American community are immigration problems, attempts to curb outsourcing of US jobs to India, greater civil rights and increasing hate crime following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.
Another concern, particularly among 40,000 Indian American medical doctors across the country, is rising medical malpractice insurances rates.
Community leaders say the Indian-American community’s agenda is gaining recognition on Capitol Hill.
A total of 194 of 435 members of the House of Representatives have joined an 11-year-old Congressional Caucus serving as a forum to help resolve issues affecting the Indian-American community and promote US-India ties.
Composed of congressmen who are sympathetic to Indian-Americans, the caucus is the largest country specific group on the Hill.
The Senate established a similar group in April this year.
The highest ranking elected Indian American at present is Democrat Kumar Barve, majority leader in the Maryland state legislature.
But political pundits give Republican Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, a former gubernatorial candidate, a fighting chance of winning a seat in the House of Representatives in upcoming polls.
If he wins, Jindal will be the first Indian American Congressman in almost 40 years.
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]