ASIA PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICANS

Record Number of Asian and Pacific Islander American Delegates Attended the 2004 Democratic National Convention!
 

2004 Democratic Platform a Victory for Asian and Pacific Islander Americans :

Democratic Party outlines positive recommendations on the issues relevant to the Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) Community.
DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe said , "John Kerry and the Democratic Party are the clear choice for APIA Americans. Democrats have always fought for the issues that matter to the APIA Community, and this year's Platform proves that we remain committed to that fight because when Asian and Pacific Islander Americans win, the whole country wins."
Below are select issues covered in this year's platform:
Combating Racial Profiling: "Racial and religious profiling is wrong and we will work to stamp it out."

Eliminating Barriers to Quality Health Care: "We will fight racial and ethnic health care disparities by increasing research and training in the medical profession, breaking down language barriers, and ensuring good health care for all Americans."

Helping Small Businesses Succeed: "We will help small businesses with rising health care costs by reforming our health care system and cutting taxes to help small businesses pay for health insurance…We support tax credits and energy investments that cut overall operating costs for small businesses and encourage them to grow here in America."

Establishing a Process to Citizenship: "Undocumented immigrants within our borders who work hard and pay taxes should have a path to earn full participation in America."

Making College Affordable: "We will offer generous tax credits to reduce the price of four years of college for all students, including those who pay their way and can least afford it now."

The party includes recommendations on issues important to the APIA Community such as increasing access to healthcare by breaking down language barriers, encouraging small business growth, combating racial profiling, and making college affordable for middle-class families. "Getting out our message to these minority groups will be an essential part of electing John Kerry in November," Administration including loan programs for minority-owned businesses, tax incentives to help small manufacturers, and steps to help smaller firms get government contracts. "The Democratic Party has been and will continue to be the party for small businesses, including those that are minority owned," McAuliffe continued. "We understand that owning your own business is part of the American dream for so many, and we will work to ensure that dream becomes a reality." Democratic Leadership came together to craft major health care legislation which we described as an investment that the country must make to bring wellness within the reach of everyone of its residents. "We need a president that will work with us and put forth a health care plan that will provide coverage to millions of Americans, reduce health care costs by up to $1,000 for American families, invest in public health and support research to address disparities." Democrats want to stop the Muslim bashing –it's un-American, about the American Muslim and Arab American communities.


Statement from John Kerry on Asian Pacific American Heritage Month:

“Today marks a month-long celebration to honor the enormous contributions made by Asian Pacific Islander Americans throughout our history. I am proud to join my fellow Americans in recognizing the tremendous strides made by Asian Pacific Islander Americans and am committed to working closely with this diverse community to build a stronger America.” Kerry meets with Asian Pacific Islander American leaders Highlights his agenda for educational opportunity to build a stronger America For Immediate Release Washington, DC - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry met with members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) and other Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) leaders to discuss educational opportunity and other issues of importance to the community. Kerry outlined his strategy to mobilize APIA voters and criticized George Bush for ignoring the concerns of the APIA community. He also praised the many contributions of the APIA community in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Kerry stated his support to reinstate the mandate laid out in the original Executive Order and indicated the need for data collection and cross-agency collaboration on numerous Asian Pacific Islander American issues. Kerry also praised the efforts of the many APIA organizations that worked together to produce the report, Call to Action: Platform for Asian Pacific Americans National Policy Priorities, and expressed his agreement with many of the principles and policies outlined in the report.
 

VISION: BUILDING A STRONGER AMERICA:

PLANS FOR AMERICA FOR NEW WORLD

STRENGTH & SECURITY FOR NEW WORLD:

Throughout our history, we have forged powerful alliances to defend, encourage, and promote that idea around the world. We respected the world - and the world respected us.

Now a days American leadership in the world is dangerously ineffective - American disregard for the world.

Today, we face three great challenges above all others –

First, to win the global war against terror; Second, to stop the spread of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons; Third, to promote democracy, freedom, and opportunity around the world, starting by winning the peace in Iraq. To meet these challenges, John Kerry's national security policy will be guided by four imperatives:

Launch And Lead A New Era Of Alliances
The threat of terrorism demands alliances on a global scale - to utilize every available resource to get the terrorists before they can strike at us. As president, John Kerry will lead a coalition of the able - because no force on earth is more able than the United States and its allies.

Modernize The World's Most Powerful Military To Meet New Threats
John Kerry and John Edwards have a plan to transform the world's most powerful military to better address the modern threats of terrorism and proliferation, while ensuring that we have enough properly trained and equipped troops to meet our enduring strategic and regional missions.

Deploy All That Is In America's Arsenal
The war on terror cannot be won by military might alone. As president, John Kerry will deploy all the forces in America's arsenal - our diplomacy, our intelligence system, our economic power, and the appeal of our values and ideas - to make America more secure and prevent a new generation of terrorists from emerging.

Free America From Its Dangerous Dependence On Mideast Oil
To secure our full independence and freedom, we must free America from its dangerous dependence on Mideast oil. By tapping American ingenuity, we can achieve that goal while growing our economy and protecting our environment.

Promoting Democracy, Human Rights, Development & Rule Of Law :

Support for democracy, human rights and the rule of law are among the most fundamental principles on which America was founded, and John Kerry and John Edwards will fight to restore America's longstanding, bipartisan commitment to supporting the spread of democracy, with the understanding that America will be safer in a world of democracies.

As president, John Kerry will uphold the international human rights standards that America helped establish and will return the United States to full membership in the international community. By working with those who share our values, we will isolate our enemies rather than ourselves. And under John Kerry, America will again practice at home what it preaches abroad, respecting the rule of law and the fundamental rights of all citizens.

John Kerry and John Edwards will restore America's ability and commitment to act as a credible force for democracy and human rights, starting in Iraq.

IMPROVE GLOBAL HEALTH:

. A Kerry-Edwards administration will be committed to leading a coordinated effort to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic in America and around the world. This will certainly bring benefit to the world poor countries/nation like us.

PROTECTING GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FOR A HEALTHY & CLEAN ENVIRONMENT:

When John Kerry is president, the U.S. will:

• Reengage In The Development Of International Climate Change Strategy

Meet The Increasing Challenges Of Protecting Our Oceans

Provide Leadership In Protecting Fragile Ecosystems

Work With The International Community To Address The Global Crisis Of Access To Fresh Water Supplies.

. This will certainly bring benefit to the world poor countries/nation like us.

EDUCATION PLAN:

·                          K-12: Resources and Reform for Our Schools

·                          Expanding College Opportunity

·                          Expanding After-School and Child Care

This plan will certainly bring good result to the Bangladeshi Children/student living in USA.

A National Security Comparison

Kerry-Edwards vs. Bush-Cheney

April 30, 2004

This Moment in Iraq is a Moment of Truth

Remarks of John Kerry

…………………………

This moment in Iraq is a moment of truth.  Not just for this administration, the country, the Iraqi people, but for the world.  This may be our last chance to get this right.  We need to put pride aside to build a stable Iraq. 

Mistakes have complicated our mission and jeopardized our objective of a stable free Iraq with a representative government, secure in its borders.  We may have differences about how we went into Iraq, but we do not have the choice just to pick up and leave—and leave behind a failed state and a new haven for terrorists.

I believe that failure is not an option in Iraq.  But it is also true that failure is not an excuse for more of the same.

Here is how we must proceed.

First, we must create a stable and secure environment in Iraq.

………………………………………………………….

Second:

The second key element is the High Commissioner.  Backed by a newly broadened security coalition, he should be charged with overseeing elections, the drafting of a constitution and coordinating reconstruction. 

……………………………………………………

Third:

We need a massive training effort to build Iraqi security forces that can actually provide security for the Iraqi people.

………………………………………………………..

A STRONGER ECONOMY:

Kerry highlight Economic Plan to create jobs,  cut taxes and strengthen the middle class. After 9/11 incidents most of the  APIAs particularly Bangladshi –Americans either lost their jobs or salary drastically reduced or working harder &  earning less and /or have returned to Bangladesh. If John Kerry’s economic policy is implemented then every Bangladesh - American will have a  chance to work and an opportunity to succeed.

John Kerry and John Edwards' plan to build a stronger economy will:

Create Good-Paying Jobs

Stand up for workers right.

Cut Middle-Class Taxes To Raise Middle-Class Incomes

Make Washington Live Within A Budget

Invest In The Jobs Of Tomorrow

Restoring Fiscal Responsibility

Opportunity for small business

Balance work for family.

Job Creation vs. Job Loss

Kerry-Edwards vs. Bush-Cheney

These steps will certainly beneficial to APIAs particularly Bangladeshi living there who are middle class people and small business-men or job seekers.

AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL:

John Kerry’s Health policy will :

Cut Your Premiums by $1000

Cover All Americans With Quality Care

Provide Affordable Prescriptions

Cut Waste And Inefficiency

If Jon Kerry’s Health plan is implemented then it will really be an affordable health care a right - not a privilege - for every American including Bangladesh American.

AN ENERGY INDEPENDENT AMERICA:

Kerry Outlines Plan to Help Communities Struggling to Keep Up With the Rising Cost of Gas which will be directly beneficial to Bangladeshi-American to live there.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL:

THIS IS MOST FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE FOR APIAS  particularly Bangladeshi citizens living in America.

Democrats believe that Forty years ago, with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the nation took a great step toward realizing its founding ideal: that all of us should have the opportunity to realize all of our God-given potential.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. told us, the Civil Rights Act was "only the beginning of a new day...not the end of a journey."

John Kerry and John Edwards have a plan to help all Americans continue on our journey to remove the barriers that keep us from drinking at the same fountain of opportunity.

John Kerry and John Edwards will fight to:

Expand Opportunity In Jobs, Education, And Health Care

Rigorously Enforce Our Civil Rights Laws.

Ensure Equality For Americans With Disabilities

Make Immigration More Fair And More Secure:
John Kerry strongly supports responsible reform of our immigration laws that honors our tradition as a nation of immigrants and makes America stronger. He will offer a reform bill in his first 100 days that allows immigrants to earn legalization, encourages family reunification, and strengthens our border protections. By reforming our immigration laws, John Kerry will honor America's promise and strengthen America's economy and security.

Extending The APIA, AFRICAN American Dream

Reforming America’s Immigration Laws

John Kerry and John Edwards strongly support responsible reform of our immigration laws that honors our tradition as a nation of immigrants and makes America stronger. Today, our immigration system is broken. Each year, hundreds seeking a better life in our country die in the desert, often at the hands of cruel smugglers. Millions within our borders live and work in hiding, in fear and often abused. President Bush came to office promising a new approach to immigration, but his failure to take real action illustrates his indifference to this issue. His immigration outline, which he still has not formally introduced, would lock immigrant workers into a second-class status, driving down wages and safety standards for all working people in America.

John Kerry and John Edwards have a different approach, and they think we can do better. As president, John Kerry will offer a reform bill in his first 100 days that allows immigrants to earn legalization, encourages family reunification, and strengthens our border protections. By reforming our immigration laws, John Kerry and John Edwards will honor America's promise and strengthen America's economy and security as we strive together for a nation that is safer and more free.

Immediately Sign Two Bipartisan Reform Bills

Reward Students Who Study Hard and Play by the Rules. John Kerry strongly supports the DREAM Act, sponsored by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), which will give young people who consider the United States their home, who have worked hard in school, and have stayed out of trouble the chance to go to college and pursue their dreams. The DREAM Act has broad bipartisan support and would be law today if George Bush supported it. As president, John Kerry will make it a priority to make the DREAM Act the law of the land.

Offer a Fair Deal for Farmworkers. John Kerry supports the AgJobs bill, which is sponsored by Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) and has 62 Senate cosponsors. This bill will secure the rights and futures for hard-working, honorable agricultural workers and will secure a legal labor force for America's farmers. Once again, this bill would be law today but for George Bush's failure to support it. As president, John Kerry will make this law a reality.

Offer an Immigration Reform Bill Within First 100 Days

In their first hundred days, John Kerry and John Edwards will offer a comprehensive immigration reform bill with four basic components. And they will work tirelessly until their reform becomes law.

Earned Legalization. Under the Kerry-Edwards approach, undocumented workers who have lived and worked here for 5 years, who pay taxes, and who are successfully screened for security purposes will have a path to citizenship. As president, John Kerry will also expand opportunities to learn English and obtain civic education classes to help immigrants assume all of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

Reuniting Families. As president, John Kerry will eliminate the massive administrative backlog and delay that has left many families unnecessarily divided for a decade or more. Our nation's immigration system must be able to more quickly reunite husbands with wives, parents with children. Legal permanent residents seeking to reunify with spouses and children must be provided a fair and efficient process to do so.

Visa Program with Worker Protections. As president, John Kerry will establish a secure channel for a limited number of temporary workers to come into the United States. To protect all working people in the United States, John Kerry will ensure that these temporary workers have the protections of U.S. employment and labor laws, including fair wage protections. These protections must be rigorously enforced.

Stronger Border Security

As an integral part of his reform, John Kerry will reach an accord with neighboring countries to improve security along our borders and stop illegal smuggling. He will improve our nation's security databases and watchlists and better control the borders to ensure that people who intend to harm us cannot cross our borders.

The above Immigration Policy is highly appreciated by APIA, Africans particularly & largely by Bangladeshi nationals who are facing serious problems to face the present immigration law.  Due this policy of Democratic party, it has become imperative by APIA, Africans particularly & largely by Bangladeshi nationals to support their Presidential Nominee John Kerry.

STRONGER AMERICAN COMMUNITY:

One of the first civil rights is the right to be free from crime or violence.

Americans ought to know that their government is doing everything possible to protect them from violent crime. Recent news of murder to Bangladshi national by violent group has shocked the nation.

John Kerry and John Edwards will:

:End The Cop Crunch

Keep Drugs Out Of Our Communities

Protect Gun Rights And Stop Gun Violence

Use Proven Approaches To Reduce Gang Violence

This policy will certainly reduce gang violence and Bangladeh can live there peacefully with their children and Bangladshu living in Bangladesh need not to think about their relative living in USA.

Kerry Pledges to Strengthen Communities by Extending Opportunity:

Detroit, MI - Speaking at the 2004 National Urban Leaggue Conference, John Kerry Thursday highlighted the Kerry-Edwards plan to strengthen communities and extend opportunity to neighborhoods across America. The plan will make our metropolitan areas stronger by honoring American values like opportunity and responsibility, growing the middle class and helping all families achieve the American Dream.

Part of his plan to strengthen communities, Kerry laid out a two-prong strategy to crack down on gang violence that demands an end to violence yet offers opportunity to young people willing to become productive citizens. The Kerry-Edwards plan will offer a 10-year, $400 million commitment to cutting violence and restoring hope in America’s communities.

“We can do so much better—better for the communities that are living in fear because of gang violence, and better also for these young people who have a real future if we reach out to them,” Kerry said. “We need to send young people a strong, clear message that there is another path, and if they are willing to take that path, we will be there with them—with job training, job opportunities, and drug treatment.”

The plan of plan of democratic party will certainly bring benefit to Bangladeshi, APIA, African all races, nationals, colors living in America.

May 20, 2004

Chinese Americans Support John Kerry!

The New California Media conducted a poll in March which illustrated the APIA community's discontent of the current Adminstration, and its growing support for John Kerry for President.

Over 3 million Americans of Chinese ancestry were represented in the nationwide poll, which was conducted in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin Chinese. Sixty percent of Chinese Americans registered to vote plan to cast their ballot for Kerry.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN:

In America, women should be able to go as far as their talents will take them.

John Kerry and John Edwards will:

Help Balance Work And Family

Close The Pay Gap AND RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE:

Protect Women's Health And Right To Choose

Open College Opportunities

If this policy is implemented then Bangladeshi women mainly the house-wives can avail the opportunity to get better job with honor & dignity.

July, 15, 2004

Speech before the 95th Annual NAACP Convention

Remarks of John Kerry

 Kerry Pledges to Lift Up America’s Families

“I will be a President who talks with everyone – those who agree with me and those who don’t. I will be a President who truly is a uniter, not one who seeks to divide our nation by race, riches or any other label. I will be a President who shares the values of people of all colors who get up and go to work every day, try to raise their families in dignity and want to leave this world a better place for their children. I will be a President who when he is invited into your home, will always say yes.” - John Kerry to the NAACP.