【本報記者徐敏子東灣 - 新墨西哥州電話採訪】 80-20促進會前不久選出一員女將出任促進會主席職務，她就是來自香港的德州退休商人杜潔靈（Kathleen To）。成立於 1998 年的促進會於四年前開始在繳費會員中選舉產生領導成員，杜潔靈是促進會的第二位、第三任主席，前任吳仙標連任兩屆。
杜潔靈於 2002 年加盟促進會，隔年當選促進會秘書，任期至今年年底屆滿；她也是促進會教育基金會的秘書和財務，當選促進會主席後，她將卸去基金會的職務，將精力集中在促進會整體工作上。
1964 年從香港移民來美的杜潔靈持有奧克拉荷馬大學的細胞遺傳學碩士學位，曾經是達拉斯德州大學皮膚癌研究團隊的成員；離開科研領域後她曾經營私人投資公司，從事零售業及地產業，目前已退休的她在新墨西哥州定居。
杜傑靈來美後就十分投入亞裔參政事務，曾為多位亞裔候選人助選；在達拉斯經商時，她也是當地美華協會的活躍成員；1990 年，杜潔靈曾獲德州州長任命擔任德州「商務大使」，負責德州與亞洲國家發展貿易關係。
被問及「新官上任」的工作計畫時杜潔靈表示，促進會將作更多的教育工作，「教育全美亞裔提升對80-20 促進會理念的認知」，告訴大家「團結起來集團投票營造亞裔政治影響力」的意義。
杜潔靈說，亞裔在過去一直有作政治捐款，但「對共和黨、民主黨一半一半，到後來誰也不聽我們，亞裔的利益還是沒人來代為爭取」，她說那種捐錢後僅滿足於與政客合影的時代應該結束了。杜潔靈期望通促進會的努力，使亞裔選票真正能發揮左右選情關鍵票的角色，進而令主流社會對亞裔刮目相看，這一教育工作還要通過教育家長作到下一代身上，杜潔靈說，不少亞裔家長常津津樂道於自己孩子的 SAT 成績有多高，但對孩子的政治成長卻不關心，因此加強實習生計畫也是杜潔靈任上的工作重點之一。
80-20 促進會號稱目前有 75 萬網上支持者，由 18 位各界精英組成的董事會中包括前不久新當選的六位新鮮人，董事會的七位董事組成執行委員會。明年 3-4 月間，董事會將在灣區舉行新董事會的第一次全體會議。
English Version (translated by Helen Wang)
Interview by Minzi Xu, World Journal correspondent, via telephone.
Recently, the 80-20 Initiative elected Kathleen To, a Hong Kong native and a retired Texas businesswoman, as their new chairwoman. Established in 1998, the Initiative began four years ago to elect leadership candidates from dues-paid members. Ms. To is the second chairperson of the Initiative, the first being two-term former chairman, Dr. S.B. Woo.
Kathleen To joined the 80-20 Initiative in 2002. The following year, she was elected as the Initiative’s Secretary, a position in which she served until the end of 2006. Until this past chairperson election, she also served as the Secretary and Treasurer of the Initiative’s Educational Foundation. She will relinquish these Educational Foundation positions in order to more fully concentrate her energies on the overall work of the Initiative itself.
Ms. To emigrated from Hong Kong to the US in 1964. Afterward, she earned a Master of Science in Molecular Genetics at the University of Oklahoma. She is a former member of the skin cancer research team at the University of Texas at Dallas. After leaving academia, Ms. To started a private investment firm, and engaged in retail and real estate transactions. At present, she has retired and resides in New Mexico.
After arriving in the US, Ms. To has actively participated in Asian American politics. When in Dallas, she was a dynamic member of several Asian-American Associations. In 1990, she was appointed by the Governor of Texas to be the Honorary Commercial Attache of the State of Texas to Asia. Her main duties included encouraging the development of trade relationships between Texas and Asian countries.
Upon being asked about any new plans she will bring to the table as the new chairwoman, Ms. To replied that the Initiative will engage in more educational work in the future. Hopefully, this educational aspect will elevate the primary goals of the Initiative into the consciousness of Asian Americans. One primary goal is that Asian Americans recognize that, if they unite to create a single voting bloc, they will influence politics in a powerful way.
In Ms. To’s view, Asian Americans in the past have always made financial contributions to both political parties, but “…these contributions were split evenly between the Republicans and Democrats. In the end, neither party competes to cater to Asian American interests.” Ms. To states that the days of Asian Americans donating funds in order to get a picture with a political candidate should end now.
Ms. To hopes that, through the Initiative’s diligent efforts, the Asian vote may develop and play the critical “swing vote” role between the Left and the Right. This will cause mainstream society to do a “double-take” and recognize Asian Americans on a deeper level. Ms. To also hopes that the Initiative’s educational work may continue through heads of families in the Asian American community. Too many heads of families only focus on a child’s SAT score, and do not focus at all on a child’s political cultivation. Therefore, an important agenda Ms. To plans to pursue is to increase the number of interns at the Initiative.
At the present, 80-20 Initiative has 750,000 online supporters, with eighteen Board Members who are industry elites in various fields. Six of these Board Members are newly elected. Within the Board, there are seven members who comprise the Executive Committee. Between March or April of 2007, the new Board will confer for its first Board meeting in the Bay Area.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
<<世界日报>> 采访文章1 (from the World Journal)
【本報記者徐敏子柏克萊 - 德拉瓦電話採訪】本月 31日吳仙標就要卸下他 80-20 促進會主席的職務、交棒給新主席杜潔靈了，他於 28 日接受本報訪問時表示，十分感謝擔任兩屆主席為大家服務的機會，並強調「還是董事會成員，還可以繼續服務」。
吳仙標是成立於 1998 年的 80-20 促進會的六位創會人之一，也是這一號稱有 75 萬網上支持者的全美最大的亞裔參政團體的靈魂人物，這位退休後以每周 50-70 小時的熱忱獻身改變亞裔政治地位的亞裔參政先行者，原本卻是一位大學物理教授。
上海出生的吳仙標來美前曾先後在香港、台灣生活，在華盛頓大學獲得物理博士後，於 1966 年進入德拉瓦大學教授物理直到 2001 年時「因為促進會的工作太多需要更多時間」而退休，前後 35 年。
吳仙標於 1983 年以一位物理教授身分競選德拉瓦州副州長一舉成功而成為當時全美職位最高的華裔民選官員，但其後接連競選聯邦參議員和聯邦眾議員失利令他下決心遠離政壇，並在其後以促進會草根性參政教育的形式，為自己找到施展政治抱負的另類途徑。
吳仙標說，他為有機會幫助亞裔社區「感到榮幸」，但同時因為作得不夠「感到慚愧」；他同時表示，羅馬不是一天建成的，要徹底改變亞裔在美國二等公民的地位，需要大家的繼續努力。
在過去八年中，吳仙標身體力行，為了達成改變亞裔政治地位的目標，他除了付出大量時間外，還捐獻了近七萬美元，除了自己的積蓄，他把每次外出演說的酬勞全部捐入促進會的基金會中。
吳仙標說，人生的意義在於能夠作「別人不敢作或不願作但值得作而自己想作的事情」，從事促進會的工作雖然有形的付出不少，但無形的收穫更多，那收穫就是來自「作值得作的事情」而換來的心理滿足感。
吳仙標亦指出，亞裔在爭取平等權益的同時，也要改變自己，這包括亞裔要團結以凝聚政治力量、亞裔要認同自己的美國人身分而不是仍然將自己視為中國人、亞裔要了解美國政治遊戲規則而不要墨守華人傳統成規。
吳仙標曾是德拉瓦大學教授談判團創會主席及首席發言人暨首席談判代表、由州長任命的德拉瓦大學校董、哈佛大學甘迺迪政府學院學者，也曾擔任過美華協會全國主席。華府史密斯松尼博物館的美國歷史館內陳列有吳仙標的真人大小的相片。
English Version (translated by Helen Wang)
Interview by Minzi Xu, World Journal correspondent, via telephone
On the 31st of December 2006, S.B. Woo will be retiring as the chairman of 80-20 Initiative, as a new chairperson succeeds him. During a December 28th interview, Dr. Woo expressed his whole-hearted gratitude at having had the opportunity to serve as chairman for two terms. He also emphasized that, despite his retirement, “. . . I’m still an acting Board member, who can still help out.”
S.B. Woo is one of six major founders who established 80-20 Initiative in 1998. Since then, 80-20 Initiative now has 750,000 supporters online and is the largest Asian American political organization in the US. Dr. Woo has long been recognized as the driving force behind 80-20. Although originally a physics professor, Dr. Woo, after retiring from teaching, worked fifty to seventy hours a week as a pioneer of Asian American politics.
A native of Shanghai, Dr. Woo lived in Hong Kong and Taiwan before coming to the States. Here, he studied at the University of Washington and earned a doctorate in physics before joining the faculty of the University of Delaware in 1966. In 2001, he retired from his teaching post after thirty-five years, because “. . . the time-consuming activities of a political movement needed more of my attention.”
In 1983, Dr. Woo was elected as Lieutenant Governor of the State of Delaware. At that time, he held the highest elected position an Asian American had ever attained in the US. However, after Dr. Woo’s attempts in the House of Representatives and the Senate were defeated, he resolved to steer clear of the political theatre, and to concentrate on a grassroots political movement of a more educational nature. In this manner, S.B. Woo has continued to pursue his political ambition through a different route.
Dr. Woo expressed that he felt honored to have the opportunity to support the Asian American community, yet felt “some regret” that he had not done enough. He also stated that “Rome was not built overnight,” and that to change the “second-class citizenship” of Asian Americans would require a united effort by all.
For the past eight years, S.B. Woo has actively taken steps out of his own effort to improve the political stature of Asian Americans. Aside from giving much of his personal time, Dr. Woo has donated nearly $70,000 dollars to 80-20 from his own savings and speaking honorariums.
Dr. Woo stated that meaningful purpose in life “consists in doing that which is valuable and which one desires to do, which others might not dare or desire to pursue.” He reflected that although the visible costs of starting a political movement have been substantial, the “invisible” benefits have been greater. Part of those benefits have come from the satisfaction of having done something meaningful and worth doing.
He also pointed out that Asian Americans, when struggling for political equality in the US, must change themselves. This includes cooperating and uniting as a team for political power, and also viewing themselves as Americans, not only as Chinese. Dr. Woo stressed that Asian Americans must understand the workings of the American political game, and not only adhere to traditional Chinese rules and customs.
Dr. Woo’s past experiences include being the Founding President of the Faculty Bargaining Unit at the University of Delaware, its Chief Spokesman and Chief Negotiator; a Trustee of the University of Delaware; an Institute Fellow at the Institute of Politics, the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University; and serving as the National President of the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA). A life-sized picture of him is displayed in Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington D C.
吳仙標是成立於 1998 年的 80-20 促進會的六位創會人之一，也是這一號稱有 75 萬網上支持者的全美最大的亞裔參政團體的靈魂人物，這位退休後以每周 50-70 小時的熱忱獻身改變亞裔政治地位的亞裔參政先行者，原本卻是一位大學物理教授。
上海出生的吳仙標來美前曾先後在香港、台灣生活，在華盛頓大學獲得物理博士後，於 1966 年進入德拉瓦大學教授物理直到 2001 年時「因為促進會的工作太多需要更多時間」而退休，前後 35 年。
吳仙標於 1983 年以一位物理教授身分競選德拉瓦州副州長一舉成功而成為當時全美職位最高的華裔民選官員，但其後接連競選聯邦參議員和聯邦眾議員失利令他下決心遠離政壇，並在其後以促進會草根性參政教育的形式，為自己找到施展政治抱負的另類途徑。
吳仙標說，他為有機會幫助亞裔社區「感到榮幸」，但同時因為作得不夠「感到慚愧」；他同時表示，羅馬不是一天建成的，要徹底改變亞裔在美國二等公民的地位，需要大家的繼續努力。
在過去八年中，吳仙標身體力行，為了達成改變亞裔政治地位的目標，他除了付出大量時間外，還捐獻了近七萬美元，除了自己的積蓄，他把每次外出演說的酬勞全部捐入促進會的基金會中。
吳仙標說，人生的意義在於能夠作「別人不敢作或不願作但值得作而自己想作的事情」，從事促進會的工作雖然有形的付出不少，但無形的收穫更多，那收穫就是來自「作值得作的事情」而換來的心理滿足感。
吳仙標亦指出，亞裔在爭取平等權益的同時，也要改變自己，這包括亞裔要團結以凝聚政治力量、亞裔要認同自己的美國人身分而不是仍然將自己視為中國人、亞裔要了解美國政治遊戲規則而不要墨守華人傳統成規。
吳仙標曾是德拉瓦大學教授談判團創會主席及首席發言人暨首席談判代表、由州長任命的德拉瓦大學校董、哈佛大學甘迺迪政府學院學者，也曾擔任過美華協會全國主席。華府史密斯松尼博物館的美國歷史館內陳列有吳仙標的真人大小的相片。
English Version (translated by Helen Wang)
Interview by Minzi Xu, World Journal correspondent, via telephone
On the 31st of December 2006, S.B. Woo will be retiring as the chairman of 80-20 Initiative, as a new chairperson succeeds him. During a December 28th interview, Dr. Woo expressed his whole-hearted gratitude at having had the opportunity to serve as chairman for two terms. He also emphasized that, despite his retirement, “. . . I’m still an acting Board member, who can still help out.”
S.B. Woo is one of six major founders who established 80-20 Initiative in 1998. Since then, 80-20 Initiative now has 750,000 supporters online and is the largest Asian American political organization in the US. Dr. Woo has long been recognized as the driving force behind 80-20. Although originally a physics professor, Dr. Woo, after retiring from teaching, worked fifty to seventy hours a week as a pioneer of Asian American politics.
A native of Shanghai, Dr. Woo lived in Hong Kong and Taiwan before coming to the States. Here, he studied at the University of Washington and earned a doctorate in physics before joining the faculty of the University of Delaware in 1966. In 2001, he retired from his teaching post after thirty-five years, because “. . . the time-consuming activities of a political movement needed more of my attention.”
In 1983, Dr. Woo was elected as Lieutenant Governor of the State of Delaware. At that time, he held the highest elected position an Asian American had ever attained in the US. However, after Dr. Woo’s attempts in the House of Representatives and the Senate were defeated, he resolved to steer clear of the political theatre, and to concentrate on a grassroots political movement of a more educational nature. In this manner, S.B. Woo has continued to pursue his political ambition through a different route.
Dr. Woo expressed that he felt honored to have the opportunity to support the Asian American community, yet felt “some regret” that he had not done enough. He also stated that “Rome was not built overnight,” and that to change the “second-class citizenship” of Asian Americans would require a united effort by all.
For the past eight years, S.B. Woo has actively taken steps out of his own effort to improve the political stature of Asian Americans. Aside from giving much of his personal time, Dr. Woo has donated nearly $70,000 dollars to 80-20 from his own savings and speaking honorariums.
Dr. Woo stated that meaningful purpose in life “consists in doing that which is valuable and which one desires to do, which others might not dare or desire to pursue.” He reflected that although the visible costs of starting a political movement have been substantial, the “invisible” benefits have been greater. Part of those benefits have come from the satisfaction of having done something meaningful and worth doing.
He also pointed out that Asian Americans, when struggling for political equality in the US, must change themselves. This includes cooperating and uniting as a team for political power, and also viewing themselves as Americans, not only as Chinese. Dr. Woo stressed that Asian Americans must understand the workings of the American political game, and not only adhere to traditional Chinese rules and customs.
Dr. Woo’s past experiences include being the Founding President of the Faculty Bargaining Unit at the University of Delaware, its Chief Spokesman and Chief Negotiator; a Trustee of the University of Delaware; an Institute Fellow at the Institute of Politics, the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University; and serving as the National President of the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA). A life-sized picture of him is displayed in Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington D C.
<<世界日报>> 采访文章2 (from the World Journal)
【本報記者徐敏子柏克萊 - 德拉瓦電話採訪】 80-20 促進會主席吳仙標 28 日表示，2008 年總統選舉中，促進會將像 2000、2004 年總統選舉時一樣，根據兩黨候選人向促進會作出為亞裔謀利益的承諾，然後再決定向亞裔選民推薦的總統候選人名單。
吳仙標並說，2008 年時，促進會將提出更多的要求，除了要求兩黨候選人承諾當選後推動舉辦有關亞裔在職場受到歧視的國會聽證會、並責成勞工部執行職場平等的11246 總統行政命令外，還會要求他們作出增加聯邦法院亞裔法官的承諾。
儘管離 2008 年總統選舉還有兩年，但正式宣布或非正式表達有意競選的兩黨總統候選人已經露出檯面，其中包括共和黨的馬侃、朱利安尼；民主黨的喜來莉、愛德華茲、歐巴瑪、白登等。
吳仙標為兩黨「把脈」的結果是：共和黨可能是馬侃出線，民主黨可能是喜來莉出線；他說馬侃已經累積了競選總統的經驗，加上他不作應聲蟲的個性、良好的背景以及善於團結兩黨人士的處世之道都是他的「利多」；而喜來莉則有錢、有能力，人氣很旺，除非犯錯，否則很有希望；如果說民主黨會出黑馬的話，吳仙標看好聯邦參議院外交委員會主席白登而不是民主黨新星奧巴瑪，他說儘管白登名氣還不那麼響亮，但當時卡特、柯林頓不也是那樣？
被問及前兩次總統選舉共和黨候選人陣營未能如促進會所願作出承諾、若 2008 年發生同樣情況將如何應對時，吳仙標很有把握地表示，2008 年的情況會很不同，因為今年 11 月選舉情況表明，共和黨已經失去了南方及中西部的票倉，共和黨已經沒有本錢向促進會展示同一付面孔。
吳仙標並稱參院變天，促進會在其中扮演了一個重要角色，選前促進會預期民主黨候選人委柏將勝出，因此呼籲網上支持者將選票投給委柏，而 CNN 選舉出口調查顯示，委柏的選票中有三個百分點來自亞裔，而正是該三個百分點使委柏以多出對手七千多票的結果勝出。
吳仙標因此十分確定，2008 年時共和黨會與促進會聯繫，而屆時促進會的「價碼」會高一點，除了 11246 總統行政命令，還要聯邦法官，他說亞裔目前佔全美總人口的4.4%，但亞裔聯邦法官僅六人，只佔 0.7%，相差太大。
吳仙標同時表示，促進會的要求需要亞裔一起來推動，亞裔國會員、特別是亞裔人口眾多的加州、亞裔傳媒，都有責任群起推動，向聯邦施加壓力，儘早改變這一不公平的現狀，為亞裔討回一等公民的權利。
English Version (translated by Helen Wang)
Interview by Minzi Xu, World Journal correspondent, via telephone
On December 28th, S.B. Woo, the President of 80-20 Initiative, stated that for the 2008 Presidential election, the Initiative would ask the candidates of both political parties to promise to keep in mind the interests of Asian Americans, before recommending any particular candidate to 80-20 members. This practice is in keeping with what 80-20 has done in the 2000 and 2004 elections.
S.B. Woo further stated that, for the 2008 election, the Initiative would make more demands upon each presidential candidate. In addition to a promise for an evidentiary hearing on workplace discrimination against Asian Americans, 80-20 will demand that a potential candidate, after being elected, will push the Department of Labor to bring into reality Executive Order No. 11246, regarding equal workplace opportunity. 80-20 Initiative also demands that the newly elected President appoint more Asian American federal judges.
Even though the next Presidential election will not take place for another two years, formal and informal declarations for presidential candidacy have already started to take place. Some candidates have included, on the Republican side, John McCain and Rudolph Giuliani. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Barack Obama, and Joseph Biden are also potential contenders.
Dr. Woo has also put forth some predictions regarding the Republican and Democratic primaries. On the Republican side, the Presidential candidate will probably be John McCain. For the Democrats, Hillary Clinton will probably win the primary. In Dr. Woo’s opinion, McCain has accumulated much experience from his previous bids for the Presidency. Furthermore, McCain is not a “yes-man;” he has a great background and a great ability to work with both parties effectively. These are McCain’s advantages. On the other hand, Hillary Clinton has finances, ability, and popularity. As long as she doesn’t make a mistake, it seems very promising that she will win. However, if another unexpected contender wins the Democratic primary, Dr. Woo predicts that person would be the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Joseph Biden, not Senator Obama. Although Biden is not well-known, Dr. Woo believes that he would win, just like lesser-known primary winners Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.
When asked about the Republican Party’s refusal to comply with the Initiative’s demands in the last two Presidential elections, Dr. Woo responded confidently that this time, the situation is different. This past November election showed that the Republicans have lost the support of Southern and Mid-Western notes. The Republicans no longer have any leverage to refuse the Initiative’s demands.
Dr. Woo also noted that the Initiative played a major role in Congress’ shift of power. Before the congressional vote, the Initiative predicted that a Democratic candidate, Jim Webb would win. As a result, the Initiative contacted its online supporters to vote for Webb. After the vote, CNN conducted an investigation and determined that 3% of Webb’s votes had been from Asian Americans, and it was exactly by this 3%, a margin of over seven thousand votes, that Webb defeated his opponent.
Dr. Woo whole-heartedly confirmed that, at the next time the Initiative and the Republican Party speak with each other for the 2008 election, the Initiative’s “price” will be higher. In addition to Executive Order No. 11246, the Initiative will demand that there be more Asian American federal judges appointed. At the present, Asian Americans comprise of 4.4% of the entire US population, but comprise only 0.7% of total US federal judges (six judges). The disproportion is too great.
Dr. Woo further added that the Initiative’s requests require the united support of all Asian Americans. This includes the support of Asian American Congress members, and especially the support of areas where Asian Americans and Asian American media are numerous, like California. Every Asian American has a responsibility to collectively push the federal government to remedy the inequality which we face as soon as possible, and to attain the right of first-class citizenship for Asian Americans.
吳仙標並說，2008 年時，促進會將提出更多的要求，除了要求兩黨候選人承諾當選後推動舉辦有關亞裔在職場受到歧視的國會聽證會、並責成勞工部執行職場平等的11246 總統行政命令外，還會要求他們作出增加聯邦法院亞裔法官的承諾。
儘管離 2008 年總統選舉還有兩年，但正式宣布或非正式表達有意競選的兩黨總統候選人已經露出檯面，其中包括共和黨的馬侃、朱利安尼；民主黨的喜來莉、愛德華茲、歐巴瑪、白登等。
吳仙標為兩黨「把脈」的結果是：共和黨可能是馬侃出線，民主黨可能是喜來莉出線；他說馬侃已經累積了競選總統的經驗，加上他不作應聲蟲的個性、良好的背景以及善於團結兩黨人士的處世之道都是他的「利多」；而喜來莉則有錢、有能力，人氣很旺，除非犯錯，否則很有希望；如果說民主黨會出黑馬的話，吳仙標看好聯邦參議院外交委員會主席白登而不是民主黨新星奧巴瑪，他說儘管白登名氣還不那麼響亮，但當時卡特、柯林頓不也是那樣？
被問及前兩次總統選舉共和黨候選人陣營未能如促進會所願作出承諾、若 2008 年發生同樣情況將如何應對時，吳仙標很有把握地表示，2008 年的情況會很不同，因為今年 11 月選舉情況表明，共和黨已經失去了南方及中西部的票倉，共和黨已經沒有本錢向促進會展示同一付面孔。
吳仙標並稱參院變天，促進會在其中扮演了一個重要角色，選前促進會預期民主黨候選人委柏將勝出，因此呼籲網上支持者將選票投給委柏，而 CNN 選舉出口調查顯示，委柏的選票中有三個百分點來自亞裔，而正是該三個百分點使委柏以多出對手七千多票的結果勝出。
吳仙標因此十分確定，2008 年時共和黨會與促進會聯繫，而屆時促進會的「價碼」會高一點，除了 11246 總統行政命令，還要聯邦法官，他說亞裔目前佔全美總人口的4.4%，但亞裔聯邦法官僅六人，只佔 0.7%，相差太大。
吳仙標同時表示，促進會的要求需要亞裔一起來推動，亞裔國會員、特別是亞裔人口眾多的加州、亞裔傳媒，都有責任群起推動，向聯邦施加壓力，儘早改變這一不公平的現狀，為亞裔討回一等公民的權利。
English Version (translated by Helen Wang)
Interview by Minzi Xu, World Journal correspondent, via telephone
On December 28th, S.B. Woo, the President of 80-20 Initiative, stated that for the 2008 Presidential election, the Initiative would ask the candidates of both political parties to promise to keep in mind the interests of Asian Americans, before recommending any particular candidate to 80-20 members. This practice is in keeping with what 80-20 has done in the 2000 and 2004 elections.
S.B. Woo further stated that, for the 2008 election, the Initiative would make more demands upon each presidential candidate. In addition to a promise for an evidentiary hearing on workplace discrimination against Asian Americans, 80-20 will demand that a potential candidate, after being elected, will push the Department of Labor to bring into reality Executive Order No. 11246, regarding equal workplace opportunity. 80-20 Initiative also demands that the newly elected President appoint more Asian American federal judges.
Even though the next Presidential election will not take place for another two years, formal and informal declarations for presidential candidacy have already started to take place. Some candidates have included, on the Republican side, John McCain and Rudolph Giuliani. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Barack Obama, and Joseph Biden are also potential contenders.
Dr. Woo has also put forth some predictions regarding the Republican and Democratic primaries. On the Republican side, the Presidential candidate will probably be John McCain. For the Democrats, Hillary Clinton will probably win the primary. In Dr. Woo’s opinion, McCain has accumulated much experience from his previous bids for the Presidency. Furthermore, McCain is not a “yes-man;” he has a great background and a great ability to work with both parties effectively. These are McCain’s advantages. On the other hand, Hillary Clinton has finances, ability, and popularity. As long as she doesn’t make a mistake, it seems very promising that she will win. However, if another unexpected contender wins the Democratic primary, Dr. Woo predicts that person would be the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Joseph Biden, not Senator Obama. Although Biden is not well-known, Dr. Woo believes that he would win, just like lesser-known primary winners Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.
When asked about the Republican Party’s refusal to comply with the Initiative’s demands in the last two Presidential elections, Dr. Woo responded confidently that this time, the situation is different. This past November election showed that the Republicans have lost the support of Southern and Mid-Western notes. The Republicans no longer have any leverage to refuse the Initiative’s demands.
Dr. Woo also noted that the Initiative played a major role in Congress’ shift of power. Before the congressional vote, the Initiative predicted that a Democratic candidate, Jim Webb would win. As a result, the Initiative contacted its online supporters to vote for Webb. After the vote, CNN conducted an investigation and determined that 3% of Webb’s votes had been from Asian Americans, and it was exactly by this 3%, a margin of over seven thousand votes, that Webb defeated his opponent.
Dr. Woo whole-heartedly confirmed that, at the next time the Initiative and the Republican Party speak with each other for the 2008 election, the Initiative’s “price” will be higher. In addition to Executive Order No. 11246, the Initiative will demand that there be more Asian American federal judges appointed. At the present, Asian Americans comprise of 4.4% of the entire US population, but comprise only 0.7% of total US federal judges (six judges). The disproportion is too great.
Dr. Woo further added that the Initiative’s requests require the united support of all Asian Americans. This includes the support of Asian American Congress members, and especially the support of areas where Asian Americans and Asian American media are numerous, like California. Every Asian American has a responsibility to collectively push the federal government to remedy the inequality which we face as soon as possible, and to attain the right of first-class citizenship for Asian Americans.
Monday, December 11, 2006
A Record of Service DESERVING your membership
A Record of Service DESERVING your membership
1. In Feb, 80-20 organized a "Gathering of Asian Am Legal Eagles"
luncheon in LA supported by ALL AsAm Federal judges and attended by
2/3 of them. See the picture below.
Setting grounds for a 6-fold increase of Asian Am judges, including a
Supreme Court Justice through political persuasion during the elections
'06 & '08.
2. In Sept., through the gracious help of Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware,
the following powerful information got into the Congressional Record:
"AsAms have the lowest odds in getting into management. At
the current rate of progress, it'll take 3 more generations before
we enjoy equal opportunity. Such is the sad fate for AsAms in
spite of our having the highest educational attainment."
Visit http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/wpad.jpg
to see a full-page ad in Washington Post and
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgibin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2006_record&page=S9875&position=all
to see the page in Congressional Record.
Getting our foot into the door -- the consciousness of the Congress!
3. On 10/23, Chairman of the Democratic Party wrote S. B. Woo
promising specifics to help AsAms win equal opportunity, while the
Chairman of GOP ignored 80-20's request to meet.
Growing GROUP political clout!
4. The next day, 80-20 called for a bloc vote for ALL Democratic
Congressional candidates except for two.
Effective politics depends on rewarding your friends and punishing your
opponents!
5. On 11/7, the election day, 80-20 delivered a bloc vote! The
CNN exit poll clearly showed that without the AsAm bloc vote, GOP would
not have lost its Senate leadership.
The above is the greatest service ever delivered by 80-20 to YOU!!!
From that day onward, both political parties will respect our rightful
concerns.
No other organization is performing this kind of service for you. Help
80-20 to help yourself. Without your help, 80-20 could die. Who will
fight for you then? If you join this month, you'll be a member for both 06
and 07. Using a credit card,
http://www.80-20initiative.net/membership.html (easy to use) or
http://www.80-20initiative.net/paypal.html
PERSONAL checks are payable to "80-20 PAC", mailed to:
Jing-Li Yu Director of Projects
P.O. Box 527340 Flushing, NY 11352-7340 .
Write down your E-MAIL address & PHONE no. on the BACK of the
check. Basic membership is $35; Family (2 voters) is $50, Life
Membership is $1,000. Student membership is $15.
Gratefully and respectfully yours,
S. B. Woo
President & with 20 more days to serve you,
80-20 PAC, Inc.
Friday, December 01, 2006
How THE BEST OF THE EBEST responded
See how THE BEST OF THE BEST have responded to 80-20's appeal for help to increase its membership.
Help poured in. A father recruited his son.; a daughter her parents; a professor his former Ph. D. students, a young lady her boy friend, and an anonymous recruited two Life Members for 80-20. Please see emails below.
What a demonstration of the spirit that the Asian American community desperately needs: "all for one and one for all." We forged unity, lifted mutual spirits, and together will win equal opportunity and justice for all Asian Americans.
Please, if you are not a member yet, consider joining. Anyone joining before 12/31 ecomes a member this year AND the entire year of 20007. The best gets involved.
Using a credit card, visit
http://www.80-20initiative.net/membership.html (easy to use) or
http://www.80-20initiative.net/paypal.html
http://www.80-20initiative.net/membership.html (easy to use) or
http://www.80-20initiative.net/paypal.html
PERSONAL checks are payable to "80-20 PAC", mailed to:
Jing-Li Yu Director of Projects
P.O. Box 527340 Flushing, NY 11352-7340 .
Write down your E-MAIL address & PHONE no. on the BACK of the check. Life membership is $1,000; Family (2 voters) is $50; Basic Membership is $35; Student membership is $15.
Greatly privileged to serve YOU for 32 more days (See names of new officeers at the end of this email),
S.B.
Write down your E-MAIL address & PHONE no. on the BACK of the check. Life membership is $1,000; Family (2 voters) is $50; Basic Membership is $35; Student membership is $15.
Greatly privileged to serve YOU for 32 more days (See names of new officeers at the end of this email),
S.B.
See Emails From THE BEST OF OUR BEST
1) From Kim Song
I have already recruited one, my son, Ben Song, who is a junior majoring International Business Adm. :)
2) From Tina Fong who emailed her father:
Her father replied: "I'll pay $50 for a good cause!. Love , Dad"
3) From John Chi
I influenced one (Victor Yu) to join 80-20. He in turn got his two children to join 80-20.
4) From Tjien Oei
Yes I will recruit one member for you besides myself before December 31, 2006.
5) From Scott Schai
I am committed to recruit one member by year's end.
6) From Linden Nishinaga
I have just recruited a new member John Wong. I'll keep looking for more.
7) From K.L. Wang, a founder of OCA and ECCFC, a member of the Committee of 100, who mentored S.B. when he first entered politics. K.L. sets "paying forward" in motion for all of us.
Dear Larry: Are you a member of 80-20? It is an excellent non-partisan
organization fighting for empowerment of Asian Americans that I am a
great supporter? I do not know how to use my son's computer to forward
this message from S. B. Woo, a very good friend of mine, to our Truth
Council members. Would you kindly do this for me? Thank you.
organization fighting for empowerment of Asian Americans that I am a
great supporter? I do not know how to use my son's computer to forward
this message from S. B. Woo, a very good friend of mine, to our Truth
Council members. Would you kindly do this for me? Thank you.
8) From Xing Wu
I will, and I will put that in my prayers, too.
9) From Yun-Qing
Yes, I will call two former Ph.D. students of mine who graduated in 2006 to join 80-20.
10) From Angela Cheng
… I have recruited 4. I am working on my sister who is a professor at Tuft University.
11) From an Anonymous who recruited 2 Family Life Members for 80-20: Drs. Karl Ching and Karen Taniguichi, both physicians.
- - - - - - - -
PS Kindly please support the newly elected officers & Board Member as GREATLY as you did for other outgoing Board members, Officers & me.
ELECTED OFFICERS:
President: Kathleen To (New Mexico)
Vice President: Amy Wong Mok (Texas)
Secretary: Rajen Anand (Southern California)
Treasurer: Jing-Li Yu (New York)
Chair, Nomination Committee: Linden Nishinaga (Southern California)
ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS:
David Chai (Northern California)
Kelvin Chen (Southern California)
Hong-Yee Chiu (Maryland)
Laura Ling Hsu (Texas)
Kim Hyunsook Song (Missouri)
Joel Wong (Northern California)
David Yang (Pennsylvania)