Editor's corner/ Over a cup of tea
Heidi M. Pascual*
Publisher & Editor
* 2006 Journalist of the
Year for the State of
Wisconsin (U.S.-SBA)
Publisher & Editor
* 2006 Journalist of the
Year for the State of
Wisconsin (U.S.-SBA)
| Let's Vote |
There are two most important issues that rule this year’s presidential election: the economy and
foreign policy. With Wall Street’s collapse, the housing meltdown, job losses, rising gas prices and
everything else (except incomes) going up, we can hear the bad word “Depression.” And with billions of
dollars being spent and thousands of lives being sacrificed in Iraq and Afghanistan, we Americans are
wondering, ‘What if we pull out of Iraq now and use those dollars to bail our economy out? We went to
war in Iraq for the wrong reason, anyway.’ As we all know, however, this is easier said than done.
Unfortunately for GOP’s McCain, so much blame has been placed squarely on the Bush
administration for ALL our problems nowadays, that all polls show Obama, the Democratic Party
candidate, ahead by several points. People want change, and Obama’s campaign has been doing an
excellent job — with lots of liberal-media support — at convincing voters, especially the youth, that
Obama is ready to provide that needed change. He is a fresh face, a young leader, a highly educated
person of color, and a history-maker (also “clean and articulate” according to Obama’s running mate,
Senator Joe Biden). Obama’s campaign, according to CNN, has raised about $150 million in
September alone, and is spending more than $4 million a day in nationwide campaign and
advertising. If elected, Obama will go down in history as the first African American President of the
United States.
I supported Hillary Clinton in the primaries because I strongly believed that she would be the best
choice for president. But that’s water under the bridge, and I have to move on, just like everybody else
who liked her. The truth is, I am ambivalent as to who would be the best choice for President. I like
Obama’s image — a biracial intellectual with multicultural experience; but I have reservations
because my own research found very little about “the one.” We are bombarded by media’s daily praises
and projections of Obama’s victory despite the ACORN connection and other past alliances that are
brushed aside. Compare that with how McCain’s demeanor during the debates sparked media attention
and outright fun-poking. I am a registered Democrat and a journalist myself, but I must confess I don’t
enjoy watching bias in the media, especially considering how media influence people’s thinking
nowadays — from buying stuff they don’t really need to voting for or against candidates.
As a former U.S. Congressional Fellow (I worked in the Office of Democrat Congressman David
Bonior), I respect McCain’s long legislative career and his service to this country. He is well-known for
crossing party lines on important issues such as, campaign finance reform and immigration. But as the
GOP’s candidate and therefore on the shadow of “W,” McCain’s own record seems to have been
relegated to oblivion. I actually feel sorry for him. He has lost the election just by watching major TV
networks.
I also like Cynthia McKinney, the other Black presidential contender running under the Green Party
banner. She is a real challenger, someone who wears no mask (like Al Sharpton), a Black woman not
afraid to challenge prevailing powers to advance issues that are important to her and to people of
color. Unfortunately for McKinney, America hungers for someone who represents both Black and White
interests (and others in between), and Obama, seems to embody the perfect fit. Obama is making
history, and that matters most. America loves firsts, and to White America, Obama is proof that America
has transcended race.
Or, has it?
Be an intelligent voter. Do your research and carefully scrutinize the candidates’ record,
background, and alliances. Promises are good, especially if they’re delivered excellently and very
convincingly. But fulfilling them is another story. With this depressing economy and wars that continue
to drain our resources and sacrifice tens of thousands lives of both our soldiers and civilians in Iraq and
Afghanistan, whoever wins the presidency will certainly have the toughest job in the world. With that in
mind, be sure you elect the one most prepared for this job.
****************
I’d like to thank Atsuko and Paul Kusuda from the bottom of my heart for their very strong support for
Asian Wisconzine that really keeps this magazine alive. I am truly indebted to both of them, and so
should our readership.
If you enjoy reading Asian Wisconzine, send your feedback to www.asianwisconzine.com, and click
“Contact Us.”
Thank you!
foreign policy. With Wall Street’s collapse, the housing meltdown, job losses, rising gas prices and
everything else (except incomes) going up, we can hear the bad word “Depression.” And with billions of
dollars being spent and thousands of lives being sacrificed in Iraq and Afghanistan, we Americans are
wondering, ‘What if we pull out of Iraq now and use those dollars to bail our economy out? We went to
war in Iraq for the wrong reason, anyway.’ As we all know, however, this is easier said than done.
Unfortunately for GOP’s McCain, so much blame has been placed squarely on the Bush
administration for ALL our problems nowadays, that all polls show Obama, the Democratic Party
candidate, ahead by several points. People want change, and Obama’s campaign has been doing an
excellent job — with lots of liberal-media support — at convincing voters, especially the youth, that
Obama is ready to provide that needed change. He is a fresh face, a young leader, a highly educated
person of color, and a history-maker (also “clean and articulate” according to Obama’s running mate,
Senator Joe Biden). Obama’s campaign, according to CNN, has raised about $150 million in
September alone, and is spending more than $4 million a day in nationwide campaign and
advertising. If elected, Obama will go down in history as the first African American President of the
United States.
I supported Hillary Clinton in the primaries because I strongly believed that she would be the best
choice for president. But that’s water under the bridge, and I have to move on, just like everybody else
who liked her. The truth is, I am ambivalent as to who would be the best choice for President. I like
Obama’s image — a biracial intellectual with multicultural experience; but I have reservations
because my own research found very little about “the one.” We are bombarded by media’s daily praises
and projections of Obama’s victory despite the ACORN connection and other past alliances that are
brushed aside. Compare that with how McCain’s demeanor during the debates sparked media attention
and outright fun-poking. I am a registered Democrat and a journalist myself, but I must confess I don’t
enjoy watching bias in the media, especially considering how media influence people’s thinking
nowadays — from buying stuff they don’t really need to voting for or against candidates.
As a former U.S. Congressional Fellow (I worked in the Office of Democrat Congressman David
Bonior), I respect McCain’s long legislative career and his service to this country. He is well-known for
crossing party lines on important issues such as, campaign finance reform and immigration. But as the
GOP’s candidate and therefore on the shadow of “W,” McCain’s own record seems to have been
relegated to oblivion. I actually feel sorry for him. He has lost the election just by watching major TV
networks.
I also like Cynthia McKinney, the other Black presidential contender running under the Green Party
banner. She is a real challenger, someone who wears no mask (like Al Sharpton), a Black woman not
afraid to challenge prevailing powers to advance issues that are important to her and to people of
color. Unfortunately for McKinney, America hungers for someone who represents both Black and White
interests (and others in between), and Obama, seems to embody the perfect fit. Obama is making
history, and that matters most. America loves firsts, and to White America, Obama is proof that America
has transcended race.
Or, has it?
Be an intelligent voter. Do your research and carefully scrutinize the candidates’ record,
background, and alliances. Promises are good, especially if they’re delivered excellently and very
convincingly. But fulfilling them is another story. With this depressing economy and wars that continue
to drain our resources and sacrifice tens of thousands lives of both our soldiers and civilians in Iraq and
Afghanistan, whoever wins the presidency will certainly have the toughest job in the world. With that in
mind, be sure you elect the one most prepared for this job.
****************
I’d like to thank Atsuko and Paul Kusuda from the bottom of my heart for their very strong support for
Asian Wisconzine that really keeps this magazine alive. I am truly indebted to both of them, and so
should our readership.
If you enjoy reading Asian Wisconzine, send your feedback to www.asianwisconzine.com, and click
“Contact Us.”
Thank you!
