The Indian Democrats

IN terms of sheer numbers, Indian Americans made their presence felt at the August 27-29 Democratic Convention in Chicago. There were 13 delegates compared to six at the Republican Convention in San Diego, held on August 10-16. But, if one counted guests, observers, volunteers, pages, and staffers, there must have been over 100 persons of Indian origin—a heartening sight after the nearly all-white GOP turnout. Another reassuring sight, after San Diego, was the multi-ethnic nature of the Chicago convention, especially the respectable number of Blacks and Hispanics. For all the Republican talk of "diversity" and being "inclusive", there were fewer minorities represented in San Diego.

So, which party do Indians favour? Judging from the fact that they came in droves to Chicago, there are obviously no prizes for guessing. More Indian Americans find Bill Clinton's party a better bet—and they are willing to put the money down as proof—because the party is perceptibly more sensitive about issues that affect the community.바카라 웹사이트

Mansoor Ejaz, a New York businessman and convention guest, says the Democrats have grasped "the essence of big tent politics", an issue which the Republicans "haven't resolved". Ejaz, whose parents came from Lahore, is a Democrat because the party is more "socially conscientious".

Anand 'Chopin' Chopra, a California delegate, is a Democrat because the GOP is "brazenly anti-immigrant" and "anti-minority". He cites California's Proposition 187, which seeks to deny education benefits to children of illegal immigrants, and Proposition 209, the anti-affirmative action measure that's on California's November ballot. Parvinder Kang, also from California, believes the Democrats would prove handier for the host of issues affecting the community.

What are these issues that prompt them to hitch their wagon to the party that's been in power for four years? For one, they point out that the GOP platform calls for denying birthright citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants, thus ending the constitutional guarantee that any child born on US soil is an American citizen.

Immigration, affirmative action, race and welfare—these are themes that came up constantly at the Chicago convention in interviews with Indians. They have reali-sed their American dream will be snatched away unless they become citizens, vote, get involved in grassroots politics, and educate and influence governors, state legislators and congressmen about issues that concern them. For them, the party of choice is none other than the Democrats. Aboobaker Mahomed, a California delegate who was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and fled apartheid, is a Democrat because it is the party that is most likely to preserve individual freedom.

Yogeshwar Kris Persaud of Mitchellville, Maryland, favours the Democrats because they "support immigration, as opposed to the Republicans who want to put a stop to it". Persaud, whose grandparents moved from Punjab to Guyana, was a convention guest. Asha 'Angela' Anand, a grassroots activist from California and a convention guest, has been a Democrat for two decades. She's convinced the party of Jefferson will deal with minorities, women, and the disabled in a fairer way than the GOP.

Anantha S. Babbili, head of the Journalism Department at Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, says he could never be anything but a Democrat. Babbili led a group of students to the convention, three of whom were Indian Americans. The party "attracts minorities", says Ooriapadical Koshy, a delegate from Washington state who moved to the US from Kerala nearly three decades ago. Adds Babbili: "In terms of our income, our presence and our prosperity, we are not doing enough." There is a downside, they agree, to Indians making a lot of money but exercising no influence at the political level.

Indian Americans will see no returns for the millions they pay in taxes if they stay passive and don't participate, warns volunteer Ashok Puri. They have the reach and the means to influence all kinds of legislation, and the party that's most welcoming are the Democrats, he says.

Both Oklahoma delegate Vani Singhal and Ann 'Lata' Kalayit (Illinois) note that the party is attracting many young Indian Americans. Rajen Anand, a guest and a Clinton political appointee, observes: "The level of interest and the number of persons is increasing, but it's difficult to give credit to Bill Clinton over George Bush. The times are different and more people are involved."바카라 웹사이트

Some delegates and guests say there's a danger of Indian Americans putting all their eggs in one basket, that is, concentrating on fund-raising rather than getting into grassroots political activity. Most big Indian fund-raisers are businessmen who lobby to derive benefits (such as contracts) from the politicians they fund. The result, says one guest, is that "Indians who are less rich get disgusted and don't want to participate because they feel they can't compete with the thousands of dollars the other guy is raising". Still, he feels there is a subtle difference. "The Republicans are more likely to take the money and run. The Democrats, on the other hand, will say 'come and get involved'. Be a part of the political life of this country."

Some Indian Americans grant the Republicans one thing: that they tend to be better when it comes to tackling foreign policy issues. But as for community issues, they almost universally prefer the Democrats.

If this is cautious optimism, many Democrat Congressmen 바카라 spoke to were outright bullish about four more years of Clinton-Gore. "With Clinton, there's been a major expansion of economic ties with India. I think this will lead to improved politicalties," says Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, co-chair of the Indian caucus. Agrees Sen. Charles Robb of Virginia: "Clinton deserves credit for foreign policy leadership; he fully understands South Asian politics."

There are enough counterpoints, however. Especially with macro-issues like the test ban treaty. Says Pallone: "India has to make its own nuclear choices. I'm sure one day it will sign (the CTBT). My concern is that Washington is tilted too much towards Pakistan...I think this historic tilt is wrong." Rep. Gary Ackerman of New York, who has chaired the Asia-Pacific subcommittee, and New York's Rep Charles Schumer, both members of the India caucus, are among those who feel India has "a decent argument" on the CTBT. Says Ackerman: "India has tough neighbours. It lives in a tough neighbour-hood. We have to first work at reducing tensions before urging India to sign."바카라 웹사이트

With Indian Americans, there are factors closer home (and that means America) that influences political affiliations. Some stretch the logic of 'participating' to greater lengths, and the road at times leads away from the Democrats. Pitching for either party is fine, they say, as long as "we learn to put America first".

Indians in New Jersey, for instance, are rallying behind Republican Robert Torricelli, wFVho is campaigning for the seat of retiring Senator Bill Bradlee. Asked how it would benefit the Indian community to have Torricelli in the Senate, where he could conceivably do more mischief than he is doing in the House (with the anti-India Burton

Amendment), Upendra Chivukuta, a New Jersey delegate retorted: "We Indians in the US must learn to put America first and India second. If Torricelli is elected...he will probably be there for 18 years and could be an important ally for us. We need to look at the broader picture. He has sponsored legislation on hate crimes with racial bias and has always been a staunch supporter of local Indian issues such as affirmative action."

Prakash Shah, a convention guest and prominent New Jersey fund-raiser, agrees that it is important to support Torricelli. His rationalisation is that local Indian support would, in the ultimate analysis, exercise a moderating influence on even known New Delhi-baiters.

In seeking an honest role in American politics, Indian Americans are loosening bonds with their mother country. Many don't know and don't care about the or the Brown Amendment, or Pakistan acquiring missiles from China, or Robin Raphel hatching plots against New Delhi in the South Asia Bureau. It is not their problem. What concerns them are everyday issues—jobs, education, equal opportunity, racial bias, taxes, having their families join them from India, social security and medicare for aging parents. In other words, as functioning Americans, they seem to be finally coming of age.