This Week with AAPIs for Obama
The Asian American Finance Committee, Democratic National Committee AAPI Leadership Council, South Asian Leadership Council and Indo American Leadership Council hosted on July 29 a soldout lunchtime reception with Sen. Obama for Asian American, South Asian and Pacific Islander supporters in Washington, D.C., at the Mayflower Hotel.
“Being here is especially meaningful to me because I consider myself to be an honorary AAPI member, and I think I’ve got some pretty good credentials,” said Obama at the event, referring to his youth spent in Hawai‘i and having Asian American extended family that includes his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, and her husband, Konrad Ng.
Reps. Mike Honda of San Jose and Mazie Hirono of Hawai‘i, Virginia Secretary of Technology Aneesh Paul Chopra and Kansas State Rep. Raj Goyle introduced Sen. Obama, who discussed issues of concern to AAPI voters that included immigration, health care initiatives and federal support for minority-owned businesses.
Rep. Hirono was also among the members of the campaign’s recently announced Hawai‘i Congressional Leadership Team, which will serve as an informal advisory council to Sen. Obama on issues of importance to the residents of the Aloha State. The leadership team includes the entire Congressional delegation from Hawai‘i: Rep. Neil Abercrombie, Rep. Hirono and Sens. Dan Inouye and Daniel Akaka.
“We consider Obama to be our native son, and his message of change in Washington, D.C., has clearly resonated with the people of Hawai‘i,” the team said in a statement. “In the coming weeks, we will be building our grassroots movement for change in Hawai‘i because we believe the voters of Hawai‘i deserve to hear what is at stake in this election.”
For the latest from the AAPI for Obama grassroots, visit asianamericansforobama.com.
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