A Personal Plea

Fellow Asian Americans,

I have less than 2 weeks left to serve you as 80-20's President. Please hear my last request.

First, let us recount what YOU have achieved with 80-20 this year:

Asian American elected officials uniting in urging Presidential candidates (first urging Sen. Clinton & then Sen. Obama) to address our community's concerns.

Iron-clad commitments from President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden to help Asian Americans achieve equal opportunity and equal justice.

Asian Americans voters, especially in the battleground states, uniting in helping to elect Obama and Biden, who share our community's concerns.

The appointment of 2 Asian American cabinet secretaries who share our community's concerns.

More Asian Americans who share our community's concerns volunteering to serve our community and our country. e.g. 80-20's judicial talent bank.

All of the above are unprecedented changes made possible because people like you responded to our calls to action. Congratulations to YOU for advancing our community's concerns.

But what was hard to gain can be easy to lose. How can we ensure our community's advancements are built on rock and not on sand?

When YOU buttress 80-20's grassroots foundations by joining as members.

Will you PLEASE spare $35, $50 or more, whatever you can afford, to help us reach our membership goal of 1600 by the end of 2008? Your membership will last through the end of 2009. We only need 30 more NEW members to reach our goal. To Join, visit http://www.80-20initiative.net.

Thank you, and Happy Holidays.

With less than 2 weeks left to serve YOU,

Kathleen To
President, 80-20 PAC

Why so few AsAm College Presidents?

The following is from 80-20's newest Board Member, Roy Saigo, who has just retired as the President of St. Cloud Univ., the largest of the Minnesota state colleges. On 9/28/08, he published an article in "The Chronicle Of Higher Education" entitled:

Why There Still Aren't Enough Asian-American College Presidents

Roy's first paragraphs was:
"At age 5, my grandson understood fair play. If he didn't get his turn, he'd cry, "No fair!" As caring s, we intercede when we see children ignore or gang up on another child -- we tell them, "No fair!"

In between Roy's gave us these facts:

In 2005, the proportion of Asian Pacific Islander professors in the United States who held full-time positions was 7.6 percent. In comparison, a 2006 survey by the American Council on Education showed that only 0.9% of the president's job is held by Asian Americans.

In the fall of 2007, 18.3 percent of California State's undergraduate students identified themselves as being of Asian/Filipino/Pacific Island ethnicity. In the California State University system in the fall of 2006, 13.8 percent of the faculty was identified as Asians. So where are the
provosts and academic vice presidents?

Roy's last paragraphs was:
"The issue I have raised needs more than task forces, surveys, and recommendations -- there have been plenty of those over the years. There must be actions that can be monitored for quantifiable results. I hope someone won't have to write this commentary again in 10 years. Fair?"

Now, 80-20 asks, "Who or which organization do you think will be taking action on this matter?" As usual, 80-20 will be there!

Aren't you glad that some one like Roy Saigo is on 80-20's Board? The good news is that other NEW Board members are just as good & exiciting!

On a related front, if YOU want to see results in the real world, then search your heart and answer this question:

Did 80-20 do a good job in using the 2008 election to advance the interest of our community? If you are NOT a dues-paying member yet, please help back.

We need 40 more NEW members to make the goal of 1,600 members in 2008. If you join today, your membership counts toward 2008 AND 2009. To join, visit www.80-20initiative.net. Fair?

Respectfully yours,

S.B. Woo
Acting (volunteer) Exec. Director for 80-20 PAC, Inc.

2 Asian Am Cabinet Secretaries

Under 80-20's leadership, our community's effort in the 2008 election has resulted in

a) 2 Asian Am. Cabinet Secretaries:
General Shinseki as the Veteran Affairs Secretary,
Noble Laureate Steve Chu as the Energy Secretary.

b) 2 top leaders in the Transition Team & 2 key staff in the White House:
Pete Rouse (Japanese Am. mother) as the Co-Chair of the Transition Team (TT) and Senior Advisor to the President, and
Chris Lu as the Executive Director of the TT and Cabinet Secretary for the President.

Do you believe in giving credit when credit is due? We know you do.

So please help us achieve our goal of 1600 members in 2008? We need 60 more NEW members to achieve the goal. If you join today, your membership counts toward 2008 AND 2009.

Join 80-20 by clicking on http://www.80-20initiative.net. 80-20 doesn't claim all the credit. However, have we earned your support as a dues-paying member? It's only $35 per year. Thank you.

With 19 more days to serve you,

Kathleen T

A Personal Appeal

Dear Friends:

This is my swan song as 80-20's President. I beg for your indulgence.

I am honored to have had the privilege to serve you as a volunteer for these past six years, four as Secretary of 80-20, and the past two as the President. When I felt discouraged or overwhelmed, your support sustained me. Regretfully, pressing personal affairs will keep me from serving as President after this year. Since becoming involved with 80-20, I have devoted several hours each day and donated almost $5,000 to the organization. But this is not enough. Only, TOGETHER, can we build a better tomorrow. No one can do it alone.

Would you please accept my last request? Please join 80-20. We have come such a long way together, but to guarantee that our gains will last, we need YOUR support. Please go to: http://www.80-20initiative.net to join TODAY.

If you join now, your membership lasts till the end of 2009. We aim for 1600 members by the end of this year. Won't you be one of the 80 pioneers who will help us reach that goal? THANK YOU.

I became involved with the Asian American community when I realized that if I wanted equal rights as an Asian American, I needed to personally fight for them. After about 15 years of involvement in the Texas Asian American community*, I became increasingly aware of the need for a national Asian American organization that can fight for ALL Asian Americans, because local or state organizations cannot carry the fight alone. That's when I became involved with 80-20.

As 80-20's President, I have aimed to help build a better tomorrow together. Under my tenure, more Board members have become involved in 80-20's day-to-day operations, and we have worked more closely with other national Asian American organizations and with Asian American elected officials. Asian American officials, especially, came together splendidly during the election season by urging Senators Clinton and Obama to make iron-clad commitments to our community by responding to our questionnaire. We secured both Senators' commitments by early 2008.

Thanks to these collaborative efforts, and thanks especially to the hard work and leadership of Immediate Past President, S.B. Woo, we are now a GIANT step closer to equal opportunity and justice. We fought for Senator Obama's election, especially in the battleground states. With his election, 80-20 has input at the highest stages in appointing federal judges and officials who care for our community.

However, much remains to be done. My major disappointment as President has been the drop in membership, especially during my first year. Since then, Amy Wong Mok, our vice president, has increased recruitment of life members through her 1000 x 1000 initiative, and we are recovering from 2007's drop in annual members. However, we are not doing well enough. Without a large base of members, 80-20 cannot ensure that the gains we have all fought for - that YOU have fought for - will last. More members - both Life and annual - ensure a deeper base of grassroots support.

Just imagine. Would our community be this close to attaining equal rights without an 80-20? Can we afford to lose this golden opportunity?

Please then consider my last request as President. Can you spare $35, $50, or more? Help yourself and your children solidify our community's gains by helping 80-20 achieve a membership of 1600 by the end of this year. We only need 80 more members to achieve this goal.

Go to: http://www.80-20initiative.net to join TODAY.

PLEASE, PLEASE pitch in.

TOGETHER, we build a better tomorrow.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

Kathleen To,
President
80-20 PAC, Inc.

* I founded the first Asian American organizations in the Dallas area in 1985: OCA's Dallas chapter and the Asian American Women Business Owners' Association in 1985. I subsequently established and chaired the Asian American Advisory Council to the Governor from 1990-1994, which helped to secure a significant number of Asian American appointments to key state government positions.

A Distinguished New Board for 80-20‏

A distinguished new Board will lead 80-20 in 2009. Six of the 18 Board members are new, adding new and diversity. Three of the 6 are from outside the Chinese Am community. They all have splendid career achievements. See their achievements for yourself.

Beverly Hong-Fincher is a language professor who grew up in Vietnam;

Chenming Calvin Hu is a Distinguished Chair professor of electrical engineering at UC, Berkeley & a member of the US Academy of Engineering;

Alice S. Huang is on the Board of The Rockefeller Foundation, a member of the Committee of 100 and of the Academia Sinica;

Yuko Nakanishi is the Principal of Nakanishi Research & Consulting, NY

Roy Saigo has just retired from the Presidency of St. Cloud Univ. of MN;

Lena Tam is Vice Mayor of the City of Alameda, CA; and

Charles C. Zhang is the Managing Partner of Zhang Financial, Michigan. He is the only advisor in the nation who was selected as a top advisor by both Worth Magazine and Barron's each year from 2004 -2007.

S. B. Woo was appointed by the outgoing Board to be the Acting Executive Director, without pay, effective immediately. His term lasts until such time as the new 2009 Board will elect a President and V. P. in a special election or appoint a new Executive Director.

Details of the election result are shown below:

1) Secretary: Yuko Nakanishi (New York) 55.56% of the total vote; 

2) Treasurer: Jing-Li Yu (Chicago) 52.78 %; 

3) Nominations Chair: Laura Hsu (Texas) 52.98 %;

Other elected Board Directors are:

4) Fel Anthony Amistad (N. California) 69.44 %;
5) Beverly Hong-Fincher (D.C.) 81.55 %;
6) Chenming Calvin Hu (N. California) 77.98 %;
7) Alice S. Huang (S. California) 85.32 %;
8) Linden Nishinaga (S. California) 79.56 %; 

9) Roy Saigo (Minnesota) 80.75 %;
10) Kim Song (Missouri) 83.53 %; 

11) Lena Tam (N. California) 77.98 %; 

12) Joel Wong (N. California) 74.40 %; 

13) S. B. Woo (Delaware) 95.63 %; 

14) David Yang (D.C.) 86.11 %;
15) Charles C. Zhang (Michigan) 81.55 %;

The above is joined on the Board by
16) Kathleen To who is the Immediate Past President, and
17) Frank Lee (California)

18) Edward Lin (Florida)

All of us look forward to serving you. We hope that you deem 80-20 to be deserving of your help as well.

Respectfully yours,

Kathleen To
President, 80-20 PAC, Inc.

Will You Join 80-20's Journey for Equal Opportunity?

Will you consider joining 80-20? If you join now, you will be a member for 2008 AND for all of 2009.

Go to: http://www.80-20initiative.net .

Thanks to your support, we are a HUGE step closer to achieving equal opportunity and equal justice. But the journey has just begun.

Let's take a brief look at the milestones of our journey so far:

1/30/2008: Senator Barack Obama signs his iron clad commitment to help win equal opportunity and equal justice for Asian Americans. See:
http://www.80-20initiative.net/news/preselect2008_obama.asp

8/2/2008: 80-20 endorses Senator Obama for President, and begins working on delivering bloc votes of Asian Americans for Senator Obama, especially in battleground states.

11/4/2008: Senator Obama wins his historic victory. Senator Obama wins in almost every battleground state 80-20 focused in, including: Indiana, North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Colorado. The only state he didn't win that 80-20 focused on wasMissouri.

Recall how razor-thin his margin of victory in some of these states were. Obama won NC by 0.4%, and Indiana by 0.9%. Our bloc votes there made the difference!

With President-elect Obama's victory, we are a giant step closer to achieving equal opportunity and equal justice. His first step in fulfilling his commitment: appointing three Asian Americans to his Transition Team, two of them in leadership positions, to help address our community's concerns.

However, the journey has just begun! Don't let this golden opportunity slip!

To ensure that Asian Americans win equal opportunity and justice, we need YOUR support. Please join us in our journey for equal opportunity. Become a member. It could be the best $15, $35, $50 or $1000 that you have ever spent. Go to http://www.80-20initiative.net .

If you are already a member, THANK YOU. Do you like the feeling of YOUR achievement? Please renew or upgrade. We especially appreciate your continued sacrifice in these tough economic times.

Please go to: http://www.80-20initiative.net.

Please accept our invitation to walk with us. Do it for yourself. Do it for your children. Do it for your country. Do it so that all our efforts, all your efforts, up till now, don't go to waste.

Go to: http://www.80-20initiative.net.

If you can afford it, please also consider supporting 80-20's 1000 X 1000 initiative, where we aim to have 1,000 life members. With a fund equal to the dues of 1,000 life members, we can do more work at the grass-roots because we'll have increased staff support and financial stability. Will you consider becoming a Life Member?

Respectfully yours,

Kathleen To, President and
Jing-Li Yu, Treasurer, 80-20PAC, Inc.

Inaugural Tickets & Input to Transition Team

Inaugural Events

Here are some tips on how to get tickets in official inaugural events and to look out for fraud. We want to thank you for your support to 80-20 throughout the 2008 election.

(1) All official inaugural events (swearing-in/parade/balls) in which the president shall make an appearance will be held on Jan. 20 (Tuesday) in Washington D.C.

a) Swearing-in and Parade Tickets: Tickets are free for the swearing-in. Part of the National Mall will be open to the public to attend without tickets and large screen televisions will be on the Mall. Request such tickets from the Senator's/Representative's office. Do it early.

b) Inaugural Ball tickets: Although the details of the inaugural balls are to be decided by the Presidential Inaugural Comm. which has not yet been appointed, we are fairly certain that it'll be by invitation only. Photo I.D. is required to enter the balls, and tickets are NOT transferable. The cost is about $150.

(2) Look out for fraud. There are many other "Presidential Inaugural Balls or Galas," which are NOT official. They could be organized by a state, a university, or by individuals. Some are very upright in letting you know that they are not official. Others are not.

Want input to the Transition Team (TT)?

Want to nominate other &/or yourself for an appointment? Want to tell the incoming administration your vision of America? If you do, visit
http://www.80-20initiative.net and click on

"Send your view to the Transition Team."

You'll get direct input to President-elect Obama's Transition Team. Don't forget to let the TT know that Asian Americans yearn for equal opportunity in workplaces and justice.

Agreeing with a Supporter's Critique

Lin Fei of Cincinnati, Ohio, a great supporter, said that my last e-newsletter stating "When that law is enforced, . . . , we become equal citizens. ..." was too optimistic. He preferred: "When that law is enforced, . . . , we are one (big) step closer to becoming equal citizens, . . . " I heartily agree and thank him. :-)

Respectfully yours,

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

3 Asian Ams in Obama's transition team

After reading the Press Release below, if you think 80-20 has served YOU well, please consider joining as a member. Go http://www.80-20initiative.net/membership/payment.asp Please consider taking the 3 year discount option. Thank you. :-)

Warmest regards,

S. B. Woo
Member, Exec. Comm., 80-20 PAC, Inc.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
For Immediate Release (Nov. 6th, 2008)
Contact Person: S. B. Woo. President, 80-20 Educational Foundation
(302) 366-0259

Subject: Asian Ams are top leaders in Obama's transition team

80-20 announced that its two goals for the 2008 presidential election have both been achieved.

Its first goal is to help elect a President who shares Asian Americans' rightful concerns in equal opportunity and justice. That was achieved with the election of Sen. Obama who replied to 80-20's questionnaire with all yeses.

The second goal is to have the historic first Asian American appointed to the Presidential Transition Team (TT). The aim is to have qualified Asian Americans serving in cabinet and sub-cabinet positions who are sensitive to the rightful concerns of our community. 80-20 has worked on that goal quietly for months.

Two Asian Americans were appointed to the 16-member transition team. Indeed, they are both in top leadership positions in the TT. In addition, there is another Asian Am. in the 12-member advisory board to the TT.

Pete Rouse, whose mother is a Japanese American, will be one of the 3 co-chairs of the TT. Chris Lu, a Chinese American, will be the Executive Director of the TT. Sonal Shah, an Indian American is a member of the advisory board.

Chris Lu worked with S. B. Woo, former Lieutenant Governor of Delaware and President of the 80-20 Educational Foundation, to firm up the reply to 80-20's questionnaire from presidential candidate Obama. On Oct. 28, in a debate with McCain campaign volunteers in Annandale VA, Chris was quoted as saying that Obama supports 80-20's goal of increasing the number of Asian American federal judges and executives to a level consistent with America's core value of equal opportunity.

Woo said, "I have known Chris since he was a teenager attending the East Coast Chinese Family Camp. We lost touch until last year. I am very proud of him. The pride is not related to his high achievement. It is rather based on his ability to combine the best of the American and Chinese cultures, and his passion to be a good public servant while keeping in touch with his own community." (The End)

History Was Made! What Should We Do Now?

By Amy Wong Mok
Vice President of the Board

My heart was pounding when the votes of the first "Battle Ground States" Virginia came in for President Elect Barack Obama. With the winning of Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, Indiana...... I could no longer contain myself. I was jumping up and down, together with two African American friends of mine who were witnessing this historical moment. This was a moment for all Americans who have tirelessly struggled for equal opportunity and justice for all. I could feel tears roll down my cheek with joy, with hope and with great pride in being an American.

America has started a new chapter in history by electing the first African American President. President Elect Barack Obama has also made the following promises to the 80-20 Initiative with his signature (please encourage your friends to visit the 80-20 website for details):

1. Break the glass ceiling for Asian Americans.
2. Nominate more Asian American judges.

Now that we have a golden opportunity to secure opportunities fairly for all Asian Americans, we must follow up by making sure that this new chapter of American history will include the participation of Asian Americans as full and equal partners. We have witnessed the power of grass-root organizations. Together we can raise a strong voice that will not be ignored. I have faith in President Elect Obama, but we must be forever watchful to remind him that faith is a two-way street, and that he and us have waited too long to see promises of justice for all
to become reality.

We have taken a successful step in this campaign season. We must sustain our effort by building a solid and long-lasting foundation for our future campaigns. 80-20 needs a strong financial foundation. You can help us and help yourself and your loved ones by joining or renewing your membership today. Better still, upgrade your level of membership or offer a membership to a family member or a friend. Please consider becoming a life member to support our project, "$1K x 1000" to raise $1M for capital fund and seed money that we need for setting up an office and a professional staff in the DC area. It is essential to make our presence felt in our nation's center of political power. This is our best investment to ensure a brighter future for our children and for ourselves.

Please visit our website http://www.80-20initiative.net/ and ACT NOW.

Last Election Note: Why Obama?‏

Why Obama/Biden?

80-20 has endorsed Obama/Biden basically for only one reason -- their commitments to help us rise from second class citizens to equal citizens, while McCain refused.

All other reasons, while sincere, are just arguing from different angles to enlarge the Asian Am. bloc vote for Obama/Biden. Those arguments don't really bear on 80-20's central decision -- reward Obama for sharing our concerns and punish McCain who didn't.

"To Punish" may seem a harsh concept to those who don't know how the real world of politics operates, and for those who have not surmised from history why Asian Ams have been so badly ignored until 80-20 came into existence.

Just watch. Soon, even the Republican Party will share the rightful concerns of Asian Ams., because it will soon have had enough of YOUR punishment.

Watch the election returns in the battleground states, where 80-20 has focused its great effort. Obama will not have won some of them without OUR strong bloc vote in those states. Wouldn't McCain regret then? Will not the Republican Party re-evaluate? That is how the politics of carrots & sticks works!

Assert yourself ! America expects us to fight for our own interests !

Have you seen how eager both major parties are to share the Jewish American concerns, even when their concerns are not their civil rights but Israel? Think about it. Try to explain why so.

IF YOU NEED REMINDING of our rightful concerns, see the two documents below our signatures.

Respectfully yours,

Kathleeen To, President, 80-20 PAC, Inc.,
and S. B. Woo, Founding President, 80-20 PAC, Inc.

The irrefutable statistics shown on 80-20's full page ad in Washington Post have been verified by EEOC & entered into the Congressional Record by US Sen. Tom Carper on Sept. 21, 2006.

ONLY the Obama Commitment is shown here. Sen. Biden's signed commitment can be found on our website http://www.80-20initiative.net/.

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.

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.

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.

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/.

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.

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.

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"

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.

CALL TO ACTION - America respects fighters‏

2008 shall be OUR year.

We got the commitments from Obama/Biden. More importantly, we got the candidates who can win the November election to honor their commitments to us.

However, we can't just sit back & watch. We must HELP Obama/Biden win. They need help in the battleground states (BGS) of
Florida, Missouri, New Hampshire, Ohio, Nevada & Colorado.

Whether you reside in BGS or not, you can help:

1) HELP S. B. WOO reach the Asian Americans who live in BGS.
Send S. B. the email addresses of people living in the BGS including your own if you live in a BGS. Group the email addresses, according to states and email to sbw@udel.edu. Even one e-address shall be appreciated. If S. B. gets one from each of the 700,000 on 80-20's list, he'll get 700,000 BGS Asian Am. email addresses.

2) VOLUNTEER to collect e-mail address in BGS for S. B.
E-mail S. B. your name, so that he'll know who are his great Captains in order to thank you personally & publicly. Send him your collected e-addresses in BGS ASAP. It will be FANTASTIC.
Remember the irrefutable evidence of discrimination against us in the workplaces that is shown in The Washington Post ad, which was entered into the Congressional Record? How could it have happened without arousing our outrage? Have we been too passive and timid? YOU can address that issue starting now. Join the CALL TO ACTION!

History beckons. Be an Equality Marcher who works to induce America to accept Asian American as equals, in words and in DEEDS. Your grandchildren may one day look at you and say "Wow."

Look up your address book NOW! I await your email.

Respectfully,

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

PS If you really can't help with my search for e-addresses in BGS, and yet want to help, then please donate to Obama by visiting https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/standardvidbottom?source=mainnav . Tell us that you have done so. Thanks. :-)

Why Should AsAms Go for Obama/Biden?

People not familiar with the American political system think an election is to choose the better of the two candidates ONLY. It is that and MUCH MORE than that!

American forefathers have designed the election so that ordinary people like YOU and YOUR children may also get YOUR grievances aired and possibly relieved. During elections, American politicians listen and are ready to implement CHANGE.

Take a look at the end of this email to see how YOU and YOUR children have been denied equal opportunity in workplaces in America. The irrefutable evidence is indeed a part of the Congressional Record* of Sept. 21, 2006. Then look at the full page Washington Post ad to see the iron clad commitments that Obama & Biden have made to make YOU an equal citizen of the USA. Through such a political process, America becomes "a more perfect Union," while WE become equal citizens.

Remember that McCain refused to make the same commitments after repeated efforts/pleas by 80-20. McCain does not care about us.

Seize the historic opportunity to become equal citizens by helping Obama/Biden win!

To know more about 80-20 PAC or to join, visit http://www.80-20initiative.net.

Respectfully yours,
S. B. Woo
Member, Executive Comm., 80-20 PAC, Inc.
* http://www.80-20initiative.net/NAA_Political_Survey.pdf

How could such irrefutable evidence of discrimination against Asian Americans in workplace have existed for decades without a strong protest from our community? Could it be because that so many of us are passive and timid? Now see the Obama commitment to us, shown below.
http://www.80-20initiative.net/news/preselect2008_obama.asp

Seize the historic opportunity to become equal citizens of the US by helping Obama/Biden win! Forward this newsletter to your friends. To know more about 80-20 PAC or to join, visit http://www.80-20initiative.net