by Ryan Kim, USA
A shortened German version of this article was published in kyoposhinmun, a korean community newspaper in Germany on November 7, 2008.
During my working for Obama campaign for a year and half, I have been realizing more and more firm reasons to continue. I first did not have more than pure personal excitements that I met a very prominent American politician face to face. I had a chance meeting with U.S. Senator Barack Obama in October 2006 when he came to my town Hoboken, New Jersey to speak at a rally for Robert Menendez who was running a tight U.S. Senatorial race. I was doing my first political volunteer work at Menendez’s campaign office in Hoboken. After my brief conversation with him, I read his famous book “The Audacity of Hope” and started researching about what made him a distinguished politician. In February 2007, Barack Obama declared his candidacy for the Presidency. As a former student of international politics with Korean heritage, I just viewed American national politics as something I just needed to follow but not something I really have to get involved. I was more knowledgeable to Korean politics, and I even thought someday I might go back to my country. I was officially American, but I was not American as other Americans were.
Becoming interested did not mean I was an enthusiastic supporter for Obama. I began volunteering for his campaign in late April 2007 mainly because my good friend was doing it. Going to meetings in neighboring cities meant sacrifices of my weekends. Listening to almost unknown local politicians at almost empty auditoriums was almost depressing. Asking voters to donate money, to sign up for volunteering, and canvassing during hot and humid summer weekends were far from fun.
Most of the meetings and grassroots work were done by “NJ for Obama,” which I was a part of. It was established even before Obama’s New Jersey office was open. I only worked in northern part of New Jersey, mainly Hudson County. I hardly met any Korean. Not even Asians. At the most meeting and training session I only met whites and blacks. Maybe it was because Asian population was not huge in the area. Maybe it was because I was not involved in Asian community. I wanted to meet more Asian faces and work together to make the campaign reach out to diverse ethnic backgrounds. But I didn’t take any action besides keeping wishing. I hoped that someone would do things I was thinking.
Working on behalf of comfort women issue in spring and summer of 2007 was an enlightenment moment for me. I realized how politically weak Koreans were in America. Then many Korean organizations including Korean American Voters’ Council, Asian American organizations, and human rights activists had been putting enormous efforts in having the U.S. Congress to pass House Resolution 121, a statement that urges Japanese government to acknowledge its wrong doings to young women before and during the World War II. Facing grave challenges from powerful lobbyists and difficulties of securing supports from members of congress on the issue, I thought it would have been much easier to get the justice stood if we had Korean house representatives, or Asians who were willing to stand up for the victims and the righteousness. But I still thought someone else with greater ability would work for political advancement of Korean people.
The turning point in my political campaign experience was New Hampshire. In early January 2008, I went to NH’s state headquarters in Manchester with other volunteers. New Hampshire was a must-win state for every candidate. My work included visibility, canvassing, phonebanking and making signs. Visibility on the street in very cold days in the very cold state famous for skiing was tough. I often lost my voice as shouting some Obama chants to drivers passing by. Wind in the evening just numbed my legs. Going door-to-door and talking with voters about issues and policies such as healthcare, global warming, and Iraq was fun.
It was New Hampshire where I came to believe Obama would be the next president. The skepticism that Obama’s race would hinder was clearly defeated in a state whose 95% residents were white. Obama came in close second to Hillary Clinton. I believed his presidency would bring down the invisible wall that stood before minorities. I also believed his wining of the White House would be really a message of hope for our children. Korean parents would be able to say to their kids that they also could become the leader of the most powerful country on earth.
Political environment was rapidly changing. Barack Obama was really breaking the grounds in many different ways. I felt the great urgency to mobilize Asian Americans. I visited and gave presentations to Obama’s state headquarters in New York and New Jersey about why we are important and how to approach to Asian community. The campaign didn’t have plans for Asians. It was not only because Clinton campaign dominated tri state area but also because voting rate among Asians were very low in the first place. According to studies, Korean population in greater New York is 400,000 and only 5% of the figure votes. It was one of the lowest comparing with other Asian ethnic groups. Despite some differences, I thought bringing up any issues relevant to Asian community would be the key to Koreans as well.
I gave NY and NJ offices all Asian media contacts in the greater New York I accumulated. To me, Obama was a far superior candidate than Clinton in regards to understanding Asians. I became one of founding members of NY Asian American Outreach Committee and started organizing Asian American volunteers. I had my first Korean event January 29. The next day, with NY staffs and other Asian Americans, I had an Asian American event in New York. Both events were covered by local media. We drew people’s attention to Obama.
Between February and April, I visited Philadelphia several times to run voter registrations and do visibility. Registering more Koreans and Asians were more important than which candidates they supported. I was happy as long as more Koreans registered. Since May 2008, I’ve been working harder to get more Koreans involved in politics. I had a fundraiser where we net profited $2,500 which I pledged to use for Korean volunteers to go to swing states where I hope they could experience what I experienced. The profits would also be used to enhance Koreans’ understanding Obama’s policies via buying media ads so that more Koreans would vote.
As Mr. Norman Mineta, former cabinet member under Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, said America is a tapestry and each person is a yarn. To make a tapestry beautiful, you need to woven yarns. We needed to believe that we are not alien but the same people who love our country and look for opportunity to give back to the society.
Gary Locke, former Governor of the State of Washington, said Asians contributed to the building of this country. Chinese laid rail roads in 1800s. Koreans, Japanese, Phillipinos and South Asians made great accomplishments for America in many areas including medicine, science, culture and arts. We are not outsiders. We are Americans and we still have lots to contribute for America.
Political advancement is not that more Koreans become elected officials to enlarge our advantages. It’s about that we reflect our good values on policies and make this country better. My goal during this presidential election can be concluded in two: first, elect Barack Obama the President because he really understands Asian Americans’ values and hardships. Second, organize Koreans now and use our force in future local elections. I think the first goal can be reached. I am also getting excited calls insisting that we should maintain the networks so that we can take some leadership in local election if not being a bloc votes. Although we are taking small steps, I am certain that we will bring bigger impacts later on.