Q: 80-20 usually focuses on Presidential races. Why focus on Paul Fong, running for a city district 1 seat in San Jose?
A: 80-20's goal is find the most effective way to increase the political voice of Asian Ams, whether through presidential election or local elections.
Q: Why Paul Fong?
A: After the "STOP SCA-5" experience in California, 80-20 sadly realized that the AsAm community in CA, where 35 % of Asian Ams reside, was NOT holding its elected AsAm officials accountable to defend its rightful interest. It wasn't just Paul Fong. Former CA Sen. Leland Yee was another. Leland Yee has already been driven out of politics, when his arms trade deal was exposed. Paul Fong is unfortunately still in politics. Fong didn't speak for us as an elected official. Indeed, he seems bent on using us or even doing us in for his own benefit.
Q: That is a very strong accusation. Can you give concrete evidences?
A: Yes. 2 well-known public records.
(1) In 2011, Paul Fong proposed banning shark fin in CA, without giving the AsAms in CA adequate time to adjust to such a ban. For what? Save sharks? Compare him against the US senators from tobacco-producing states, who gave their constituents decades to adjust, even when smoking cost human lives.
(2) In 2014, Fong was the head of the AsAm Caucus in CA Assembly when SCA-5 passed the Senate & required a 2/3 majority to pass the Assembly. Fong sat on the fence in spite of appeals from thousand of AsAms for him tostate his opposition to SCA-5. However, on the day SCA-5 was dead, Fong jumped out to claim credit and tried to raise campaign contributions. 80-20
understands and sympathizes with the unique needs of elected officials. Still, in this case, we found Fong's Machiavellian behavior disgusting!
Now, Fong runs for a City Council seat in San Jose, because he'll be term limited out of the 29th Assembly district. The mainstream media seems to see him as a slick unprincipled politician just like we do. The Mercury News (MN), which has ample time to observe Fong, endorsed his opponent, Chappie Jones, with a cutting comment on Fong. MN has this to say about Fong.
"In District 1, Assemblyman Paul Fong, D-Cupertino, bought a condo in San Jose last year to be labor's candidate for council. His Assembly district included only part of District 1 until two years ago, when redistricting added the rest. We can't resist repeating our favorite Fong quote: 'I know the San Jose area very well because I've driven by it every day, too.' Fortunately, his opponent, Chappie Jones, is the real deal . . . " (Emphasis added)
Click here for the complete Mercury News editorial endorsement.
Q: Powerful evidences! But he is only a local politician. So what if 80-20 succeeds in getting him out of politics?
A: A good question! Getting him out of politics will be a message heard by ALL AsAm elected officials NATIONWIDE!
As soon as SCA-5 was dead, 80-20 declared to defeat 2 AsAm politicians, Leland Yee and Paul Fong, to set examples. They were particularly unfaithful to our community's rightful interests during the SCA-5 episode. If both are no longer around after the November election, this message will be registered and welcomed by all good AsAm elected officials.
That message together with the bloc vote which 80-20 leads in presidential elections give Asian Ams the political voice that we need to be EQUAL CITIZENS of this great nation.
HELP! FORWARD this to your friends in San Jose.
S. B. Woo, a volunteer
President, 80-20 National AsAm PAC, Inc. (http://www.80-20initiative.net)
PS: On the strong recommendation of SVCA of CA, 80-20 endorses Catharine Baker for CA Assembly district 16.
