Governor Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) wrote S. B. Woo, President of 80-20 today. He said he saw our Washington Post ad and heard from Senator Tom Carper. As a result, he wrote:
1) "I look forward to working with you and other interested members of Congress to encourage the US Labor Department to enforce Executive Order 11246 for Asian Americans in the same way that the Clinton Administration did in the 1990s."
2) "I will work with you and other AAPI community leaders to encourage Congress to hold public hearings on the statistical evidence showing that a glass ceiling exists in the workplace for Asian Americans," and
3) "... Democratic Platform for 2008. I therefore welcome input from you and other leaders of the AAPI community, such as DNC Vice Chair Mike Honda and DNC APIA Caucus Chair Bel Leong-Hong, as we develop the Platform."
The above is a historic breakthrough. Never before has a major political party made such specific commitment to Asian Americans.
To create a win-win situation, 80-20, a non-partisan organization, is urging Asian Americans to donate and vote for Democratic Congressional candidates ONLY in the 2006 election. Two Republican candidates who have been friendly to Asian Americans are exceptions. See http://www.80-20initiative.net/gopcandidates.html . The above decision was unanimously approved by 80-20's Board.
Help Democrats in order to help OURSELVES!
The party that has a majority controls the Congress. The Democratic Party has promised to help Asian Americans win equal opportunity by holding public hearings on and enforcing Exec. Order 11246. We can help the Democratic Party gain control of Congress by helping to win tight races where Asian American votes and money can make a difference.
With your help, 80-20 plans to focus on 3 tight House races and 1 tight Senate race in which our population is relatively large. They are:
Illinois Congressional District 6 (Chicago area) : Tammy Duckworth,
TX 22 (Houston area): Nicholas Lampson,
WA 8 (Seattle Area): Darcy Burner, and the
NJ Senatorial race: Robert Menendez.
The race of Tammy Duckworth, an Asian American female pilot who lost both legs in the Iraq war, will receive particular attention. 80-20 will be writing big checks. More important, YOU must help. Send check to
Friends of Tammy Duckworth, 416 West 22nd Street, Lombard, Illinois 60148. (Specify in your check "At the suggestion of 80-20.")
Do you have you friends & relatives living in those areas? FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO THEM. WE MUST DELIVER, IF WE EXPECT THE MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES TO PAY ATTENTION TO US IN THE FUTURE. TOGETHER, WE CAN ACHIEVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. COUNTING ON YOU.