Asian is the New Republican
You remember the old fashioned saying, Brown is the new Black? In politics, I've heard variations of this: Gay is the new Black, and Hispanic is the new Black, and even Black is still the new Black.
(And some of us have even clung to the phrase 40 is the new 30, though a few years ago a friend of mine saw a young person walking by wearing a t-shirt that said 40 is not the new 30. It took a lot of self-discipline, my friend told me, not to punch the little brat in the teeth ...)
So as the Republican party tries to figure out how to make Hispanic the new Republican, it may be more useful to concentrate on winning the fastest growing ethnic group in America: Asians.
But that raises the question: why aren't they Republicans already? Charles Murray has a few thoughts on that, from the AEI blog -- with a big hat tip to the indispensable Daily Caller:
Asians are only half as likely to identify themselves as “conservative” or “very conservative” as whites, and less than half as likely to identify themselves as Republicans. Asians are not only a lot more liberal than whites; a higher percentage of Asians identify themselves as “liberal” or “extremely liberal” (22%) than do blacks (19%) or Latinos (17%). And depending on which poll you believe, somewhere in the vicinity of 70% of Asians voted for Barack Obama in the last presidential election.
Something’s wrong with this picture. It’s not just that the income, occupations, and marital status of Asians should push them toward the right. Everyday observation of Asians around the world reveal them to be conspicuously entrepreneurial, industrious, family-oriented, and self-reliant. If you’re looking for a natural Republican constituency, Asians should define “natural.”
To which the argument has often been: Asians are the new Jews. But as Murray points out, that's not quite right:
Many of the Jews who immigrated to America had been socialists, trade-union activists, or otherwise committed to the Left in their native lands, and those family traditions have sometimes perpetuated themselves. The great majority of non-political Jewish immigrants came from places where they had been systematically persecuted for being Jews, and it is easy to see how Jews might have an enduring propensity to side with the underdog.
In contrast, virtually no Asian Americans came here because they were fleeing persecution for being Asian. They sometimes fled political persecution by the Communists, especially from Vietnam, but that experience tends to produce conservative immigrants, not liberal ones.
So what's the problem?
...there are reasons for Asian Americans not to like Democrats. Asians who became successful because everyone in the family worked two or three jobs (a common strategy behind Asian success) are likely to be offended by the liberal “You didn’t build that” mentality. Unlike every other minority group, Asians owe nothing to the Democrats for affirmative action. On the contrary, Asians are penalized by affirmative action, especially in the universities, where discrimination against Asian applicants (relative to their superb academic qualifications) has been documented in the technical literature.
And yet something has happened to define conservatism in the minds of Asians as deeply unattractive, despite all the reasons that should naturally lead them to vote for a party that is identified with liberty, opportunity to get ahead, and economic growth. I propose that the explanation is simple. Those are not the themes that define the Republican Party in the public mind. Republicans are seen by Asians—as they are by Latinos, blacks, and some large proportion of whites—as the party of Bible-thumping, anti-gay, anti-abortion creationists. Factually, that’s ludicrously inaccurate. In the public mind, except among Republicans, that image is taken for reality.
That's an interesting theory but of course it's impossible to prove, as Murray agrees:
I use Asian-Americans as an example of how powerfully this antipathy can alienate a naturally conservative voting bloc. Let it be clear: The causal link with social conservatism is asserted here, not proved. But the GOP had better take the hypothesis seriously.
But if he's right, then maybe it really is a matter of better branding and marketing. Because we've lost 5 out of the past 6 elections in the popular vote, and we can't really let any group slip entirely away. We don't need to win Hispanics, or Asians, or Jews, or any ethnic minority. But we do need to win our fair share.
Otherwise, they'll be saying Republican is the new Green Party -- a focused, principled, minority party.
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Comments:
Apr '11
Re: Asian is the New Republican
Social Cons will never relent, and in the matter of internal party politics they are a strong force. I am rather sympathetic to their causes and concerns, but they have only one game plan which is to always launch a frontal assault on the enemy positions. Very valiant, but not necessarily very effective. Even if we defeat the Democrats politically it will do nothing to alter the state of abortion and gay marriage. These things if they are to be fought have to be fought gorilla style from the bottom up, rather than Light Brigade style from the top down.
I think every strategist will tell you that trying to hold your ground at all costs is not the way to fight defensively. You have to organize a strategic retreat to stronger positions and then wait for your opportunity to begin the push back. We have to give ground now if we ever hope to be able to retake anything later.
Edited on November 27, 2012 at 7:09pmRe: Asian is the New Republican
Valiuth: Social Cons will never relent, and in the matter of internal party politics they are a strong force. I am rather sympathetic to their causes and concerns, but they have only one game plan which is to always launch a frontal assault on the enemy positions. Very valiant, but not necessarily very effective. Even if we defeat the Democrats politically it will do nothing to alter the state of abortion and gay marriage. These things if they are to be fought have to be fought gorilla style from the bottom up, rather than Light Brigade style from the top down.
I think every strategist will tell you that trying to hold your ground at all costs is not the way to fight defensively. You have to organize a strategic retreat to stronger positions and then wait for your opportunity to begin the push back. We have to give ground now if we ever hope to be able to retake anything later. · 1 minute ago
Edited 0 minutes ago
I agree 100%.
Dec '10
Re: Asian is the New Republican
I don't think many people would consider the Republicans to be either focused or principled haha. Well said, Vailuth.
May '12
Re: Asian is the New Republican
We like to use words such as "conservative" or "liberal" to describe positions which are far more complex than two dimensional space allows. That being said, Asian immigrants, or any other kind of immigrant, also doesn't appreciate the "they come here to take our jobs" (or welfare, paradoxically usually both positions are proclaimed at the same time) mentality that is so prevalent among some conservatives. As long as that face of the "conservative" movement continues to be the public face, we will never win any immigrant group over.
PS: Asians are not the new Jews. Jews were mostly socialist before they came to the US. Other groups that come to the US typically become lest left than the home country.
Aug '10
Re: Asian is the New Republican
"Otherwise, they'll be saying Republican is the new Green Party -- a focused, principled, minority party".
Squish to Squish, you are dead on. California and New York are a lock. Texas is the only firewall and the demographics there are majority Hispanic by 2030. Not a plurality, were talking 51% of human beings.
Texas flipped after LBJ and the Civil Rights Act, given her demographics and the virulent recalcitrance against re-branding I am picking up on, I see no reason why it could not flip again.
Never mind no Bushes, no amnesty, or no dudes marrying dudes. No new Republican Presidents is the issue at hand.
Jan '11
Re: Asian is the New Republican
Aiken & Mourdock (I'd throw Santorum in as well) did a lot of damage to our brand this year.
We handed the Dem's the club to beat us over the head with. I too am very sympathetic to the SoCon's issues but am willing to jettison that leg of the 'stool' first, before any others.
Jul '11
Re: Asian is the New Republican
Britanicus
I don't think many people would consider the Republicans to be either focused or principled haha. Well said, Vailuth. · 10 minutes ago
Neither the green party (focused and principled).
Dec '10
Re: Asian is the New Republican
WI Con: Aiken & Mourdock (I'd throw Santorum in as well) did a lot of damage to our brand this year.
We handed the Dem's the club to beat us over the head with. I too am very sympathetic to the SoCon's issues but am willing to jettison that leg of the 'stool' first, before any others. · 2 minutes ago
If we jettison that leg of the stool, then what are we? Certainly not conservative. Social issues matter, and they directly relate to economic issues. We can't jettison them, but we must instead re-brand them.
Maybe we need better spokesmen, but it's going to take someone really special to convince the rest of the country that just because I believe in traditional marriage, it doesn't mean that I hate gays. Or, if I am pro-life, that doesn't mean that I want to bomb abortion clinics.
Apr '11
Re: Asian is the New Republican
WI Con: Aiken & Mourdock (I'd throw Santorum in as well) did a lot of damage to our brand this year.
We handed the Dem's the club to beat us over the head with. I too am very sympathetic to the SoCon's issues but am willing to jettison that leg of the 'stool' first, before any others. · 6 minutes ago
You can't have a two legged stool.
SoCon's need to be convinced to take a different tact. If they are thrown out they will form a third party and then that will be game over. SoCon's need to focus on non-political evangelizing. I think it will serve them much better. What they need political cover for is to prevent things like government mandates that they spit on their bibles, and hand out contraception with communion.I think all legs can agree that is not good.
It is also a strong position to defend. How can you demand that some one violate their conscience? If we can't defend that ground then we are really screwed.
Aug '10
Re: Asian is the New Republican
WI Con: Aiken & Mourdock (I'd throw Santorum in as well) did a lot of damage to our brand this year.
We handed the Dem's the club to beat us over the head with. I too am very sympathetic to the SoCon's issues but am willing to jettison that leg of the 'stool' first, before any others. · 0 minutes ago
While I agree that our recent "which rape guy?" problem is on the SoCons, as a recovering SoCon and an ardent "Just Win Baby" RINO I disagree about jettisoning them.
Two reasons why- first you can't win without them, period, full stop.
Second, the fact that they are now routinely referred to as Social Conservatives and not the Moral Majority or the Religious Right indicates that they at least understand the imperatives and benefits of better branding.
They just need to take it down a notch on rape, slavery, and vaccinations.
Ditching the Iowa Caucus would help a ton.
Edited on November 28, 2012 at 3:25amJan '11
Re: Asian is the New Republican
Gee, if only we had a Republican candidate who would say nothing about social issues, and instead focus entirely on the economy!
I know. We'll nominate ... Mitt Romney!
Jun '12
Re: Asian is the New Republican
Rob Long:
But if he's right, then maybe it reallyis a matter of better branding and marketing. Because we've lost 5 out of the past 6 elections in the popular vote, and we can't really let any group slip entirely away. We don't need to win Hispanics, or Asians, or Jews, or any ethnic minority. But we do need to win our fair share.
Otherwise, they'll be saying Republican is the new Green Party -- a focused, principled, minority party. · · 1 hour ago
I think the best rebranding would be as the party of the entrepreneur and small businessman. There are a large number of people of Asian descent in those areas of business, and they can convince their extended families.
Jan '11
Re: Asian is the New Republican
You know what happens when you don't explain your positions? You let your opponent explain them for you.
The way to convince and persuade people is not to be quiet. It's to be reasonable. Active, engaged, and reasonable.
The reason Mourdock's and Akin's stupidities were portrayed to represent all pro-lifers is because (a) the democrats unashamedly demagogued it, and (b) there was no counter voice. We can't do anything about (a), but we could at least do something about (b).
Dec '11
Re: Asian is the New Republican
Why are conservatives successfully identified with the Westboro-Baptist Church but liberals are never identified with Marxist community organizers?
Apr '11
Re: Asian is the New Republican
I am Jewish and grew up in a community that has Asian-Americans as the largest ethnic minority. I think that Asian-Americans tend to vote similarly to their white neighbors, and most live in liberal areas. That's probably the biggest explanation.
I read that George W. Bush in 2004 received over 40% of the Asian vote. That would suggest social issues are not the dominant factor, compared to, say, immigration. I would also suggest that while conservatives may view it as silly, Obama has positioned himself as the "Asian" president.
What bothers me is that when discussing social issues, immigration, minorities, Republicans who advocate changes in position engage in creating the same straw men that liberals do. I'm all for making argument both within the conservative movement and to the public at large. But when some Republicans advocate getting rid of social conservatives as a matter of expediency rather than after carefully constructed and won arguments over specific areas of policy, then I think that will just fuel liberal distaste for the GOP ("see, half of them hate the SoCons, too!") and push some conservatives away, rather than net us any new voters.
Apr '11
Re: Asian is the New Republican
KC Mulville: Gee, if only we had a Republican candidate who would say nothing about social issues, and instead focus entirely on the economy!
I know. We'll nominate ... Mitt Romney! · 5 minutes ago
Touche, sir.
But, who else did we have? Rick Santorum? He would have picked up Akin's fumble and returned it for a safety.
Jul '11
Re: Asian is the New Republican
A very good question to which there are nice answers and sinister ones. Was McCarthy correct?
May '12
Re: Asian is the New Republican
Then you are like most Americas. And you're not a stool anymore. You can be a swiveling chair. Much more useful.
Mitt didn't have to talk about social issues. Everyone else talked more than enough; enough to make social issues a primary tool for the Dems to win this election. Don't look at Mitt for any fault.
You think Asian immigrants appreciate the charade at the Republican debates about who was going to deport more of this and more of that? We can't pretend to care about the immigrant vote now, or pretend to be surprised that we were pummeled, when every GOP candidate on that stage did nothing but pander to the "they took our jobs" crowd.
Edited on November 27, 2012 at 8:09pmJan '11
Re: Asian is the New Republican
Britanicus
Maybe we need better spokesmen, but it's going to take someone really special to convince the rest of the country that just because I believe in traditional marriage, it doesn't mean that I hate gays. Or, if I am pro-life, that doesn't mean that I want to bomb abortion clinics.
Some free advice:
- Discourage use of the word "evil" to describe homosexual marriage and/or homosexual sex. Even if you think it's an accurate description -- I don't -- it's not helping your cause. Dennis Prager's as strong a critic as there is of SSM, and he never uses that kind of language.
- For similar reasons, discourage use the word of "murder" to describe (most) abortions. Even if you think it's an accurate description -- again, I don't -- it begs the questions of why you don't favor severe criminal penalties for women who solicit contract killings...err, abortions.
- If the rape & incest issue comes up in abortion A) Don't say anything abjectly stupid like Aiken, B) Consider ceding the point, or B) Ask why the Left is more concerned about ensuring access to abortion than giving the woman justice.
Edited on November 27, 2012 at 10:49pmMay '10
Re: Asian is the New Republican
Wait, I thought the Westboro guy was a Democrat. Oh yeah...facts don't matter in the left's propaganda campaign.