I came across an interesting article on Google News today about President Obama having done the most most for Asian Americans compared to any other administration.
Obama the first Asian-American president?
WASHINGTON (AFP) — Barack Obama made history as the first African-American president but in his first 100 days he has also shown himself to be America’s most Asian leader yet, community members say.
Obama appointed a record three Asian-Americans cabinet members and quickly focused his attention across the Pacific. He invited Japan’s prime minister as his first guest and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton went to Asia on her maiden trip.
At home, Asian-American leaders have welcomed signs Obama will take political risks to revamp the immigration system, whose rigid rules and creaky pace are blamed by many in the community for tearing apart families.
“In a nutshell, he has done more in 100 days than the last administration has done in eight years,” said Representative Mike Honda, who heads the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
Honda, a member of Obama’s Democratic Party, told AFP he expected the president to take up immigration reforms after May.
He also applauded Obama for signing a measure giving nearly 200 million dollars in back pay to aging World War II veterans from the Philippines, who fought alongside US forces but were stripped of benefits in 1946.
Obama through his background “understands what it means to be inclusive and to be on the other side,” Honda said.
“It just makes me smile and makes me proud that we have someone like him as the American face,” said Honda, who was interned as a child in a World War II camp for Japanese-Americans.
Obama has a deep personal connection with Asia, having spent part of his childhood in Jakarta. His sister is partly of Indonesian descent; her husband in turn is of Chinese heritage…
Read the rest of the article: Obama First Asian President?
In just over 100 days into President Obama’s administration, Obama has shown that he has an interest in reaching out to all sectors of society.
My only hope is the various older groups of Asian-Americans whom either dislike Obama for his creed, economic stimulus policies, or other irrelevant qualities will take a look and see the changes the President is implementing.
With the tragic demise of Dr. Lawrence Kutner on House last week (sorry for the spoiler!), arises actor Kal Penn’s new role in politics and the Asian American community as Obama’s liason to Asian American groups.
