Thursday, October 30, 2008

How Obama & McCain's Differ In Economy?

ECONOMY is on everyone's mind. Hence, we decide to circulate a superb article published on "The Economist." It summarizes the essential differences between Obama & McCain in growing the economy and why a change is a must.

How Obama and McCain Differ In Growing the Economy

"The 2 political parties currently represent 2 distinctly different ways of growing the economy:

1. Cut taxes for the wealthiest individuals and largest corporations and they will do what is best for the economy as a whole - the top-down, or trickle-down approach.

2. Invest in bottom-up productivity-based growth by building the private sector on a solid foundation that includes providing every American with world-class education and infrastructure, affordable healthcare, markets that work dependably, incentives for investments in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Frankly I think we've tried #1 for long enough, and exhausted whatever potential it had to grow the economy. In 2005, for example, Fortune 500 companies showed record cash balances on their balance sheets. What does that mean? It means they had far more money than they needed and could NOT find enough profitable projects to invest in. And this is happening at the very same time that our schools are crumbling and jobs are being shipped offshore and our bridges are falling. If you look at the big picture and see the US as one country, Americans as one people, and that we all work together to compete in the global economy, how does this represent "what is best for the economy"? How much more proof do we need that trickle-down doesn't work?

If you understand the role that increasing productivity plays in economic growth and wealth creation and increasing competitiveness then you have to go with #2. The logic is overwhelming. That's obviously not to say that Obama will succeed at everything he proposes - but at least he is tackling the problem from the right end, instead of the wrong end! That in itself is a huge improvement. "

Go Obama! A change is a must. When he wins, we win -- for us & our children and for growing the economy!

Sincerely yours,

Kathleen To
President, 80-20 PAC, Inc.

PS: To AsAms in Ohio: Tune in on ASIAN RADIO HOUR, WERE 1490 AM RADIO, Cleveland, Ohio on Nov. 2, Sunday 3 to 4 PM. Anthony Yen, host and producer, will read 80-20's recent e-newsletter "How Works," because he liked it so much. The newsletter also got many other good comments.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

How R*cism Works

This was a piece that I found in my inbox. Shocking! However, every fact mentioned below has been independently checked out by 80-20. It helped me see things clearer.

"What if John McCain were a former president of the Harvard Law Review?
What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating class?

What if McCain were still married to the first woman he said 'I do' to?
What if Obama were the candidate who left his first wife after she no longer measured up to his standards?

What if Obama were a member of the Keating-5 (a past scandal)?
What if McCain were a charismatic, eloquent speaker?

If these questions reflected reality, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are?

This is what does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes positive qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities in another when there is a color difference.

You are The Boss... which team would you hire? With America facing historic debt, 2 wars, stumbling health care, a weakened dollar, all-time high prison population, mortgage crises, bank foreclosures, etc.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:

Obama:
Columbia University - B.A. Political Science with a Specialization in International Relations. Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude
Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in History and B.A. in Political Science. Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

versus

McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank: 894 of 899
Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in Journalism

Now, which team are you going to hire? "

All facts have been independently checked out by 80-20. If you like it please forward it to others.

Respectfully yours,
S. B. Woo
Member, Executive Comm., 80-20 PAC, Inc.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

80-20's Pro-Obama Op. in BGS & Nationally

Over that past 10 years, 80-20 created the historic Asian Am. bloc vote. The power of the bloc vote was dramatically demonstrated in the Calif. Democratic Primary on Super Tuesday in 2008.

Now, that power is used to help Obama win.

80-20 at first focused on 6 Battleground states, BGS. We have expanded them to 8! Our huge email list in BGS, besides being used to organized bloc votes, is also furnishing volunteers for the Obama campaign.

In the final days, our AIR FORCE (e-newsletters) is augmented by our GROUND FORCE (media ads) in not only BGS but also nationally. See the extent of our ads. That is how YOUR membership dues and donations are being used.

Is Sen. McCain regretting not sharing our concerns earlier? You bet. That is what 80-20 is all about. To let politicians know that there will be repercussions for ignoring our rightful concerns. Carrots and sticks is what the American political estabishment will pay attention to.

The American democracy does NOT normally take an active hand to ensure equity. However, it grants Am. citizens the full power to speak up & organize to reward and punish politicians. 80-20 stepped forth to demonstrate to YOU how American politics works. If YOU appreciate what 80-20 has done, YOU need to support it back.

To join, go http://www.80-20initiative.net/. Click on the red button first, then on the blue "HERE," and then the option to be a member for 3 years on the extreme right. Thank you.

Best and warmest regards,

S. B. Woo
Member, Executive Comm., 80-20 PAC, Inc.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Washington Post on 80-20 & Sen. McCain

A Washington Post article on 80-20 & Sen. McCain

An October 10, 2008, "McCain Losing His Chance To Win Over The Asian American Vote" article stated:

"There are legions of voters in this country who are completely invisible -- at least to the GOP. . . . . . . .

Since the start of this election, an Asian American Advocacy group known as the 80-20 Initiative has been pressing hard for the presidential candidates to commit to issues disproportionately plaguing Asian America. Obama signed a pledge during the primaries. 


And McCain?

No dice. Like I said, McCain can't see us -- something that might cost him big in November.

I get that in the past racial policies have proven divisive and polarizing, but the 80-20 Initiative isn't some radical, left-wing group asking that the presidential candidates commit to extreme racial projects. They're asking for commitments to fight the very real that Asian Americans face in the work force, from racialized glass ceilings to hiring discrimination practices to being consistently overlooked for federal judge appointments. (color added) And given that there's a fairly wide support for equal protection, signing wouldn't exactly cause the non-Asian American electorate to rush the streets and use it as the one issue to block a McCain administration from seeing the light of day.

But has he lost the Asian American swing vote by not signing the pledge? . . . . . . ."

For the full commentary, please visit http://youthvote.washingtonpost.com/2008/10/10/mccain_losing_his_chance_to_win_over_the_asian_american_vote/

It is a wonderful piece by Joseph Bui, a fourth year Legal Studies major at the University of California, Berkeley. The opinion column for the Youth Vote Blog was featured on CBS News and The Washington Post.

Please note that Senator McCain may be regretting todays for not "seeing" Asian Americans as Sen. Obama did*. But it may NOT be too late for the Republican Party to begin seeing Asian Americans after this election. That was the point that the author so adroitly alluded to.

Election is only 21 days away. Be involved. Make a difference.

Respectfully yours,

S.B. Woo
Member, Executive Committee, 80-20 PAC, Inc.

* Sen. Obama gave an unequivocal one words answer "YES" to all six questions asked by 80-20; signed his reply and sent it to 80-20 on January 10. In other words, upon being president, Obama will help us fight in the work force and win equal justice. See Sen. Obama's commitment to us below right. The inequity suffered by Asian Americans in workplaces is documented in the Washington Post ad which has been entered into the Congressional Record. It is seen on the left. The flyer below will appear in Asian Am. media in all battleground states before Nov. 4. 80-20 fights for YOU. Join 80-20. http://www.80-20initiative.net/.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Asian Ams KEY to Obama's victory in BGS

BGS means battleground states where a presidential election is won or lost.

These are the states where 80-20 has focused its effort ever since it has endorsed Sen. Obama 2 months ago. In BGS, where the rest of the voters are voting 50/50, a bloc vote by Asian Ams will be soooooooooo powerful!

Where we have plowed, we reap -- following the 80-20 tradition! Here is the proof.

A 4 universities (Rutgers, UC Berkeley, USC, UC Riverside) poll was released 5 days ago*, Obama is actually getting a stronger bloc vote among AsAms in BGS than in the rest of the nation. That is astounding. One'd think that the rest of the nation which is ted by Asian Ams residing in blue states will deliver a stronger bloc vote for Obama. What an objective verification 80-20's effectiveness. According to that poll, Asian Ams go 43/22 for Obama versus McCain. Elsewhere it is 41/24. See * http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=76663

80-20 didn't do it alone. But 80-20 alone has the ability to reach a lot of Asian Ams in those states with its pro-Obama messages and do polls. 80-20's prediction: at least 3 to 1 in favor of Obama in BGS on Nov. 4.

Thanks to YOU, 80-20 now has 15 times the Asian American e-mail addresses in BGS as it had 2 months ago. Asian Ams in those states send hundreds, sometimes thousands, of email addresses to us each day. The cyberspace campaign will now be complemented with a BIG media campaign to reach folks whom we can't reach via emails.

80-20 will buy a full-page ad in all weekly and monthly ethnic papers in Korean or Vietnamese or Chinese languages, provided that the cost is reasonable. By law, media must offer the lowest rate to political ads. Our ad in BGS is seen below. Be sure to forward it to your friends.

TOGETHER, we shall overcome.

Respectfully yours,

S. B. Woo
Member, Exec. Comm., 80-20 PAC, Inc.


Note:
1. Dr. Jeang Ming sent in $8,000 to enrich our election war chest.
2. Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP), a good AsAm organization, published a report: The State of Asian America: Trajectory of Civic and Political Engagement. for free downloading: http://www.leap.org/inform_main.html.


Monday, October 06, 2008

Register today to vote on Nov. 4th!

Don't throw your power away.

Asian Americans especially those who reside in the battle ground states (BGS) may play a VERY IMPORTANT ROLE and will exert a HUGE INFLUENCE in the upcoming President Primary Election. They will determine the outcome of the Presidential Race. The percentage of Asian Americans voters in those states may be small, but the margins of difference between Obama and McCain in those states are EVEN SMALLER. By voting as a block Asian Americans can determine the outcome, elect Obama and leave a substantial legacy to our children and grandchildren.

80-20 is reminding all Asian Americans to register to vote ASAP (if you have not already done so) - the deadline for registering to vote differs from State to States. Most will expire today or today plus 3.

If you have not already registered to vote, please follow the guideline below and do it ASAP.
REGISTRATION: The Registration Deadline varies from State to State. Follow the instructions at: http://www.vote411.org/bystate.php . Choose your State first and follow the instructions to register. Please don’t forget to vote on November 4, 2008.

For details, see below.

Sincerely,

Joel Wong
Member, Board of 80-20 PAC, Inc.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

COST TO REGISTER
Voter registration is free. No postage is required to mail the voter registration application form to the County Elections Official (more information below).

REQUIREMENTS
You must:
Be a United States citizen
Be 18 years of age on or before the day of the election
Be a resident of the State you are voting
Not be in prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony
Not judicially determined to be incompetent to vote.
You do not need to know how to read or write in English or any other language. No tests are given when you register to vote. Probationers may vote.

HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE
Go on line at: http://www.vote411.org/bystate.php and follow the instructions. The instructions and requirement and the deadline to register are different from State to State.
YOUR RESIDENCE This statute refers to your "domicile" - the place where your family lives, where you physically reside, the place you intend to return to whenever you are gone from it, the address on your driver's license, where you claim your homeowner's property tax exemption or renter's tax credit. You can have only one domicile, even if you have more than one house or residence.

POLITICAL PARTIES
A political party is a group of people who try to determine public policy and operate government by getting their candidates elected to office. For most States, the following are your choices: American Independent Party
Democratic Party
Green Party
Libertarian Party
Natural Law Party
Peace and Freedom
Republican Party
Independent - "Decline to State"

ABSENTEE BALLOT
An absentee ballot is a paper ballot, with the same candidates and measures on it as you would receive at your polling place on Election Day. The ballot is mailed to you with instructions on how to mark it and how to return it.
You must request an absentee ballot for each election unless you have permanent absentee voter status. You may request an absentee ballot in writing on the form provided by your County Elections Official.

Friday, October 03, 2008

Good News. Winning the Battleground States!

8 days ago, on 9/25, 80-20 issued a "CALL TO ACTION" kicking off its campaign to focus on the Asian Americans residing in battle ground states (BGS) to go for Obama. Some asked, "Why? The %s of Asian Am. voters in those states are soooo small that it seems foolhardy to engage in such a campaign!"

Friends, our %s of voters in those states may be small, but the marginsof difference between Obama and McCain in those states are EVEN SMALLER.

Your GREAT response in sending me Asian Am. email addresses, coupled with 80-20's political know-how, have again paid off. 80-20 has receivedat least 4 times the number of Asian Am. email addresses in BGS than ithad before the "CALL TO ACTION." Using those new e-addresses, 80-20sent emails to Asian Ams residing in those states. Dramatic changes in BGS have occurred.

According to the CNN poll, Obama, who was once behind in 4 of the 6 states 80-20 is focusing on, is now ahead in Florida, Colorado, Missouriand Nevada!!! In Ohio and Virginia, Obama is so far ahead that they are already counted as "leaning Obama!"

80-20 does NOT claim that it did it alone. However, it is just another proof that 80-20 knows what it is doing – focusing on the right battles, creating the necessary momentum, and turning the tide – all with your trust and help.

80-20 is effectively rewarding Obama for sharing our concerns, and it is effectively punishing, YES PUNISHING, McCain for repeatedlyrejecting our rightful concerns. That is what effective politics in Americais all about – the ability to reward and punish. Our newsletters are so effective that numerous former McCain supporters either joined us (see* for an usual response) or gave up helping McCain.

With each effective "rewarding and punishing," America's political establishment has paid more attention to the RIGHTFUL concernsof Asian Americans.

Help 80-20 so that it can continue to help YOU. Visitwww.80-20initiative.net. Keep sending Asian Am. e-mail addresses in BGS to sbw@udel.edu! These e-addresses will help win the BGS for us! Together we shall overcomeand become equal citizens of America!

Respectfully,

S. B. Woo
Member, Exec. Comm., 80-20 PAC, Inc.

* See a typical response: "So I may still hold my nose and help 80-20 byvoting for the unproven B.O. and hope that somehow he can grow into his role. Tiara"

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Is Sen. McCain of presidential material?

Many people liked John McCain as a Senator. He is a maverick. He plays a useful function in the senate CLUB. However, is he of presidential material? Here is what George Will, the Dean of conservative columnists, and Joe Klein, the liberal columnists for Time Magazine, wrote about his John McCain as a possible president.

George Will wrote in the Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/22/AR2008092202583.html):

"Under the pressure of the financial crisis, one presidential candidateis behaving like a flustered rookie playing in a league too high. It is….John McCain….. For McCain, politics is always operatic, pitting peoplewho agree with him against those who are “corrupt” or “betray the publics interest”…. It is arguable that, because of his inexperience, Obama is notready for the presidency. It is arguable that McCain, because of his boiling moralism and reservoir of certitude, is not suited to thepresidency. Unreadiness can be corrected, although perhaps at great cost, by experience. Can a dismaying temperament be fixed?"

Joe Klein wrote in the Time Magazine: (http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1842030,00.html)

"Every politician stretches the truth. But McCain is running a uniquely dishonest campaign. John McCain has raised serious questions about whether he has the character to lead the nation."

When two noted columnists, coming from opposite ends of the political spectrum, saw character flaws in McCain that is not presidential, it is noteworthy.

Was McCain singing “Bomb, , . , , , ” in answering a question about Iran presidential? Was lying in TV ads about Obama beyond the rules and traditions of American politics presidential? Was picking Sarah Palin as his VP candidate to get votes in spite of his age and bouts with melanoma presidential? Was acting like a rookie playing scapegoat against the Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission presidential?

Personally, I still think McCain is a good senator. His willingness to rock the boat as 1 among 100 in the senate CLUB is praiseworthy. However, John McCain as the president of the most powerful nation of the world is a scary prospect. “President John McCain” could be more dangerous to the nation and the world than President Bush.

Respectfully,

S. B. Woo
Member, Executive Comm., 80-20 PAC, Inc.