Let’s meet the Indian delegates to next week’s Republican National Convention shall we? Who are they? Can we learn anything about their motivations and beliefs from some recent articles?
First, the party line as reported by DesiTalk News India-Times:
“Under the steady and optimistic leadership of President George W. Bush, the Republican Party is celebrating a milestone achievement in our party’s connection with America’s minorities. Since the 2000 convention, there has been an estimated 70 percent increase among minority delegates,” says the GOP, noting that Asian American representation is up nearly 40 percent from what it was in 2000.
That 40 percent includes 10 Indian Americans who are going to New York come September 30 for four days of celebrations to endorse President Bush’s rerun.
“Unlike the Democrat’s quota system, the Republican Party’s open process has garnered a percentage increase four times greater than the percentage increase of minorities at the Democrat Convention since 2000. In comparison, the well documented Democrat Party quota system and slight increase in minority representation at the 2004 Democrat National Convention (compared to 2000) also illustrates that minorities are connecting with the Republican Party,” says the GOP.
So what do the delegates think of this party line and the Republican Party?:
These words are particularly important for elected Republican delegate Dr. Shambu Banik, a practicing psychiatrist in the Greater Washington area and the first ever Indian American White House appointee during President George Bush’s father’s administration, who has worked in the Republican trenches as it were. Being an elected delegate or a delegate-at-large, means the person has a vote. But alternate delegates do not get to sit on the floor level at the convention and can only become “delegates” if one from the state delegation takes ill or has to leave for some reason.
Banik also represents the views of much of the mainstream support for President Bush. “President Bush’s strong point is he has the guts and the vision. Saddam Hussein was a menace to humanity. President Bush went there (Iraq) even if he had to go alone with a few coalition members and based on the intelligence information he was given by experts. It shows he is a decisive leader. Whether he was right or wrong, only time will tell. The whole world knew that Saddam Hussein is manufacturing WMD but unfortunately we did not find any,” he says.
Ahhh. I see the GOPs mis-information campaign about WMDs is enjoying continued success. Banik’s whole assessment took me a bit by surprise. I NEVER hear first generation Indian-American’s bring up foreign policy as a discriminating factor in voting, unless it is in regards to immigration. In my experience their main issues are business and economy related. I was not at all surprised to see the relatively high number of medical doctors among the delegates. My inner cynic say: “Who are they trying to fool?” I’d bet one of my kidney’s that their main issue is medical insurance. That is perfectly fine and acceptable to me, but I was just left with the impression that it was being neglected in their professed motivations.
For other Republican activists like Dr. Zach Zachariah, delegate-at-large, active for more than 20 years, and more recently Dr. Raghavendra Vijayanagar and Dr. Akshay Desai, both alternate-delegates, it has been the fundraising prowess that brings them to New York. Dr. Zachariah, classified as a “Ranger” among Bush supporters and who has over the last two decades raised more than $2 million for the Party, believes Indian Americans are gaining some influence within the GOP but that the community remains unable to unify.
“There are certainly more Indian Americans involved now than before. The Republican Party is very aware of the contributions the Indian community has made and continues to make. We should have been more organized but I have tried over the last 20 years. We cannot join together ideologically but as a community, like the Jewish community that sticks together in the fund-raisers, even if they have divisions within,” he told News India-Times. However, he adds, “I think things have improved. There’s more participation. My main concern is how to unify. Many people want to do their own thing.”
He’s right you know. I want to do my own thing.
Also, what the hell is a “Ranger?” SuperRangers, Rangers, and Pioneers, are among the classifications that the Bush Campaign gives to their top contributers. What do they get except a cool-name? According to Public Citizen:
…nearly one of every five of Bush’s elite fundraisers in the 2004 or 2000 elections has received a presidential appointment. At least 173 Rangers and Pioneers (or their spouses) received appointments ranging from jobs in the executive branch to positions on federal advisory boards to spots on the Bush-Cheney transition team. This tally includes four Cabinet secretaries and 29 ambassadors.
Damn! Being a Ranger just started sounding a lot cooler to me. If I get a mask, that will seal the deal. I WILL raise the money for a mask. So who are the biggest Indian donors on both sides? This time around Bush has four Indian Rangers in his Posse. According to the Wall Street Journal, here are some of the deep pockets on each side:
With that brief introduction to the delegates, let’s wait and see what comes out of the convention next week. Also, lets keep an eye on where those Rangers end up.
