Why "Asians" Aren't Republicans: Response to Rob Long & Charles Murray
(This picture has little to do with the subject, but... hey, why not?)
Rob Long sets us up a bomb on the main feed by asking why Asians aren't already Republicans. Then he quotes Charles Murray, he of the Bell Curve and Coming Apart fame, who thinks the reason is because the Republican brand is dominated by social conservatives:
This time I will explicitly offer a broader argument and then give the numbers. My thesis is that the GOP is in trouble across the electoral board because it has become identified in the public mind with social conservatism. Large numbers of Independents and Democrats who are naturally attracted to arguments of fiscal discipline, less government interference in daily life, greater personal responsibility, and free enterprise refuse to vote for Republicans because they are so put off by the positions and rhetoric of social conservatives, whom they take to represent the spirit of the “real” GOP.
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.
And in the comments following Rob Long's post, various theories are floated by distinctly non-"Asian" folks, ranging from the idea that we're Confucianists, that we're all about illegal immigration, and so on.
Look, I can't speak for all "Asian-Americans" (a term fraught with peril, as we will shortly discuss), but having been a raging Marxist, and then a stereotypical Left-Progressive, and then a sorta-confused-squish-center-right and finally (so far) a "radical" Tea Party conservative ... I'll offer some thoughts here as to why "Asian-Americans" are not Republicans.
1. There Ain't No Such Thing as an Asian-American
The first point that must be made is that there is no such creature as an "Asian-American", at least not yet. I am a Korean-American. My wife is Chinese-American. My kids are Chorean-Americans. Neither of us know jack diddly squat about Vietnamese culture or language.
Confucianism is an important cultural element ... for Northeast Asians, such as Chinese, Koreans, and to some extent, Japanese. I have no idea whether Indians, Pakistanis, Thai, Cambodians and Bangladeshis are influenced at all by Confucius -- but I'm going to lean towards No.
Barkha Herman asked in the comments whether Nikki Haley and Bobby Jindal are not Asians.
As the term is used here in the U.S., as opposed to in the UK, the answer is no. Sorry, you can try to be PC about it, but that's just the truth. No Indian walks into a Korean restaurant and feels at home; no Japanese guy goes to a Pakistani grocery to buy his miso.
So that's #1. There's no such thing as an "Asian-American", although the political forces of both Left and Right would dearly love to create such a thing. (I had raging fights with my school back in my university days, protesting the idea of "Dean of Asian-American Students".)
To the extent, then, that Murray or Rob Long or most folks think about "Asian-Americans", they really mean the dominant Northeast Triad of China, Japan, and Korea. (In Houston and SoCal, Vietnamese would be the 4th, but don't forget the large numbers of Viet-ching, i.e., Vietnamese of Chinese descent).
For example, all of the stats about success in education did not apply all that well to Southeast Asians (Vietnamese, Cambodians, Filipinos, Hmong, etc.) which caused all sorts of issues for "Asian-Americans" talking about stereotypes.
2. So Let's Talk about the Northeast Triad
Confining myself then to the Northeast Triad, which I know best, I do think Charles Murray makes an excellent point. But I think he misses the larger operating principle. (I think I'll call the NE Triad - Chinese, Japanese, and Korean -- by the term "Asian-American" since that's what most of y'all would think anyhow.)
It isn't that the Republican brand stands for Bible-thumping, anti-abortion, gay-bashers ... as much as it is that the Republican brand stands for stupidity. Again, this is a stereotype that is ludicrously inaccurate, but there's a reason why George W. Bush and Sarah Palin were attacked so viciously as being unintelligent. Why Richard Mourdock (whom I've met, and is a very thoughtful, very intelligent man) and Todd Akin were attacked not just as sexist, but as stupid and ignorant.
Now, speaking from personal experience, the distinguishing feature of Asian-American culture is the degree of importance we attach to academic achievement (which, by the way, is distinct from intelligence or common sense). There is literally no profession that is more revered than that of college professor. My entire childhood and teenage years were devoted to getting into the right college, and after that, the pressure was to become a professor of some sort or another. My parents were distinctly disappointed when I chose to go to law school instead of pursuing a Ph.D.
So reverence for teachers and professors is something that was/is very much stressed in Asian cultures. Imagine, then, what the influence of one's college professors at a place like, say, Princeton would be on an Asian-American young person.
Even if, however, one doesn't end up an academic, that whole attitude towards academic success, towards intelligence, towards credentials infuses our culture. It bleeds through outside of academic/intellectual circles. Two examples.
One of the few successful post-Boomer Asian-American authors is Chang-Rae Lee, who wrote, among others, Native Speaker and Aloft. My parents, uncles, and aunts told me about him. Dude is Exeter - Yale, and teaches at Princeton. They don't know Amy Tan, don't know Michiko Kikutani, but they do know the Yalie.
Why exactly do you suppose that Asian-American fans went nuts for Jeremy Lin? It wasn't just because he was ethnically Chinese. Hines Ward is ethnically Korean; Tiger Woods is ethnically Thai. No Asian-American went nuts over them. Hint: it has to do with where Linsanity got his BA.
3. It's Not the Social Conservatism; It's the Perception of Anti-Intellectualism
So I disagree with the esteemed Professor Murray. I don't think that evangelicals and social conservatives hurt the Republican brand with Asian-Americans. After all, have you ever stepped foot in a campus ministry meeting on our elite college campuses? Huge chunks of IVCF, CCC, and other evangelical student movements are Asian-Americans.
No, I think the problem is that very significant elements of the Republican "brand" have an anti-intellectual bias to them. For example, the "brand identity" of Catholic priests (especially Jesuits) is that of rigorous classical scholarship; the "brand identity" of evangelical ministers is televangelists with mega-churches and rock bands. I love me some Joel Osteen, but I don't think anyone confuses him for an intellectual.
Elements of the Republican Party, and the conservative movement in general, embrace American culture. Things like the NFL, NASCAR, bowling, hunting, fishing. All are wonderful, and there are brilliant men and women who love all of those things. But the patina of perception around such American culture is one of physical vs. intellectual, of body vs. brain.
And ... let's be honest here. There are some elements of the conservative movement that look down on the pinhead credentialed intelligentsia that come up with some of the most ridiculous stuff ever seen.
Personal anecdote time. A good friend of mine is a doctor, living in a deep red state. He's a second-generation Korean-American who graduated from Yale. He's an evangelical Christian, married to an evangelical Christian (who happens to be white, from Texas, and a doctor). His parents came here with $50 in their pockets, worked their butts off, and passed on the immigrant work ethic to him. He's fiscally conservative. He's socially conservative. He voted for Romney. That Bible-thumping, anti-gay, anti-abortion creationist that Murray rails against? That's him.
He's not a Republican. He voted for Obama in '08.
If you can't get that guy to be a Republican, then kicking out every social conservative won't make a whit of difference.
4. So, How To Appeal to Asian-Americans
That's all fine and dandy, but ... what do we Republicans do about this?
My answer, as the "target market", is to stop trying the divide and conquer ethnic tribal game of the Left. The Right is no good at it. And it goes against the very principles of liberty.
The Right is supposed to, at least, stand for the proposition that the only unit of society that truly matters and deserves special protection is the individual. It's the Left that stands for ethnic, gender, sexual, linguistic, whatever collectivism of one kind or another. Don't try to out-Walmart Walmart.
Instead, if we want to have our arguments taken seriously by Asian-Americans, send out our most credentialed, most intellectual spokespeople. Send out Paul Rahe. Send out John Yoo. Send out Richard Epstein. Have them defend the principles of liberty, principles of conservatism (well, at least libertarianism in the case of Epstein), while festooned with all the sheepskin from all the right institutions.
Stop thinking of "Asian-Americans" as some group that you need to send "one of our own" to speak to. Bobby Jindal is a fantastic guy, but he ain't "one of mine." Nikki Haley is awesome, but she doesn't "look like me." John Yoo does look like me, but don't expect him to be the spokesperson to the Filipino-American community, just because of his "Asianess" (since there's no such thing.) No, send us the white-as-the-driven-snow Peter Robinson of Stanford University.
Socially conservative views, policies, and philosophies may need to be promoted and defended on intellectual battlegrounds, rather than on "Well, the Good Book says so". It isn't as if there aren't intellectual giants in the SoCon world; it's just that the Republican brand doesn't incorporate them as much.
Recruit some new leaders out of the campus Christian movements. I guarantee that you'll find some "Asian-Americans" at our elite universities who can be groomed into real positions of influence.
And take back our campuses. Do whatever that takes.
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Comments:
Nov '10
Re: Why "Asians" Aren't Republicans: Response to Rob Long & Charles Murray
TheSophist
Look, I've been a community organizer in the Asian-American community, for far-left causes and Democrats (but I repeat myself). I'm just telling you that the identity politics of the Left, given towards tribalism and collectivism, lend themselves perfectly to this sort of "outreach". The Constitutional conservative ideology is far less comfortable with it.
And if you try to out-Dem the Dems, you can only lose. That's my main point.
But if you insist on doing ethno-politics, then focus on Mexicans in the Southwest, with people like Ted Cruz and Susanna Martinez. At least they have the demographics on their side; post-immigrant Asian-Americans, not so much.
I'd love to hear more about your story at some point. Material for another post? Did you get radicalized in the campus Christian community? I had a good friend of Japanese descent who did. And can you imagine any potential strategy for conservatives that could be modeled on the Left's "community organizer" approach?
Edited on November 29, 2012 at 12:06pmOct '10
Re: Why "Asians" Aren't Republicans: Response to Rob Long & Charles Murray
Great post Sophist. I live in Japan, and support Sophist’s comment about not thinking of them as “Asians”. For historical and other reasons, there is antipathy between Japanese, Koreans, and Chinese. Putting them into an ethnic “Asian” box like the left does is a mistake.
Here in Japan, there are two major cultural influences that play strongly to the left’s ideology. Japan is strongly influenced by Confucianism. This is diametrically different from our belief that you are born with unalienable rights. Here, rights come from the top down, and are what the government has agreed to give you. The government is not restricted by the powers that you have given to them.
Japan has a highly regimented society, and has many rules for correct behavior. Most people believe these rules result in a more harmonious society, and even though they may not agree with them, they go along with them unquestionably. Do what’s best for the community, not what’s best for you individually.
I have often thought it would help new arrivals to America a lot if a couple of rich conservatives would fund an online course in Civics 101 taught by Hillsdale College.
Sep '10
Re: Why "Asians" Aren't Republicans: Response to Rob Long & Charles Murray
From your lips to God's ears.
Sep '10
Re: Why "Asians" Aren't Republicans: Response to Rob Long & Charles Murray
If someone could expound at length on the antipathy toward the Phillipines, I'd be immensely grateful.
Oct '10
Re: Why "Asians" Aren't Republicans: Response to Rob Long & Charles Murray
Pseudodionysius
Chris Deleon
Can you explain this? I am young enough that it doesn't mean anything to me.
Rob Long posted on this topic awhile back. · 16 hours ago
Chris, Jack Kemp was an all-star professional football player who became a congressman from Buffalo, New York. He was converted to supply side economics by Jude Wanniski who authored The Way The World Works. He had a significan influence on Ronald Reagan's domestic agenda and was the architect of Reagan's 1981 Roth-Kemp tax cut bill. As George H. W. Bush's Secretary of Housing and Urban Development he tierelessly championed enterprise zones for the inner cities, encouraging Republicans to take their message to the inner cities. He was always upbeat and positive and could defeat you in an argument in a way that made you happy he did.
You can read more about him here. Personally, I think he was one of the heroes of the conservative movement. Paul Ryan worked for him and was strongly influenced by him.
Edited on November 29, 2012 at 2:03pmOct '10
Re: Why "Asians" Aren't Republicans: Response to Rob Long & Charles Murray
Pseudodionysius
From your lips to God's ears. · 13 minutes ago
I think it woul have to also include ensuring they had access. Perhaps renting storefronts in key locations, teaching some basic computer skills, as well as helping them enroll. And be sure to attract the school-aged children as well. How about a game that taught Civics?
Jan '11
Re: Why "Asians" Aren't Republicans: Response to Rob Long & Charles Murray
Thanks, Lucy. Perhaps one day. :)
Lucy Pevensie
TheSophist
Look, I've been a community organizer in the Asian-American community, for far-left causes and Democrats (but I repeat myself). I'm just telling you that the identity politics of the Left, given towards tribalism and collectivism, lend themselves perfectly to this sort of "outreach". The Constitutional conservative ideology is far less comfortable with it.
And if you try to out-Dem the Dems, you can only lose. That's my main point.
But if you insist on doing ethno-politics, then focus on Mexicans in the Southwest, with people like Ted Cruz and Susanna Martinez. At least they have the demographics on their side; post-immigrant Asian-Americans, not so much.
I'd love to hear more about your story at some point. Material for another post? Did you get radicalized in the campus Christian community? I had a good friend of Japanese descent who did. And can you imagine any potential strategy for conservatives that could be modeled on the Left's "community organizer" approach? · 2 hours ago
Edited 2 hours ago
Nov '10
Re: Why "Asians" Aren't Republicans: Response to Rob Long & Charles Murray
You're going to pique my interest like this and leave me hanging?
TheSophist: Thanks, Lucy. Perhaps one day. :)
Lucy Pevensie
TheSophist
Look, I've been a community organizer in the Asian-American community, for far-left causes and Democrats (but I repeat myself). I'm just telling you that the identity politics of the Left, given towards tribalism and collectivism, lend themselves perfectly to this sort of "outreach". The Constitutional conservative ideology is far less comfortable with it.
And if you try to out-Dem the Dems, you can only lose. That's my main point.
But if you insist on doing ethno-politics, then focus on Mexicans in the Southwest, with people like Ted Cruz and Susanna Martinez. At least they have the demographics on their side; post-immigrant Asian-Americans, not so much.
I'd love to hear more about your story at some point. Material for another post? Did you get radicalized in the campus Christian community? I had a good friend of Japanese descent who did. And can you imagine any potential strategy for conservatives that could be modeled on the Left's "community organizer" approach? · 2 hours ago
Edited 2 hours ago
Jan '11
Re: Why "Asians" Aren't Republicans: Response to Rob Long & Charles Murray
It's very, very long story, Lucy. :) And I'm not all that used to using real identities online, especially in political spheres.
Jan '11
Re: Why "Asians" Aren't Republicans: Response to Rob Long & Charles Murray
I can, however, talk about how conservatives might use the Left's "community organizer" approach. I'll work on that.
Sep '10
Re: Why "Asians" Aren't Republicans: Response to Rob Long & Charles Murray
A topic explored in the movie Gran Torino, if you've seen that.
Sep '10
Re: Why "Asians" Aren't Republicans: Response to Rob Long & Charles Murray
Salamandyr: I do agree with you, without reservation, that Republicans need to get better at messaging. But I'm not going to wail and scold our party when the clear words they say are regularly misrepresented. Messaging only goes so far when the moment it leaves our mouths it is twisted into something the opposite of what we said. · November 28, 2012 at 11:20am
Edited on November 28, 2012 at 11:20am
And its not like legal Asian immigrants who have become citizens and vote give a damn about political sensitivity to Mexican illegals.
Nov '10
Re: Why "Asians" Aren't Republicans: Response to Rob Long & Charles Murray
Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry into your personal identity. I was more interested in the intellectual journey you took than in any identifying biographical details, although I can understand that it may be hard to tell one story without revealing the other.
My own take on my Ricochet identity is that I'm comfortable as long as google can't identify me with my pseudonym, event though it's clear that if you knew me in real life you could collate my posts and comments and figure out who I am. But I am entirely respectful of people who have a higher standard of privacy than that.
Nov '12
Re: Why "Asians" Aren't Republicans: Response to Rob Long & Charles Murray
"I have often thought it would help new arrivals to America a lot if a couple of rich conservatives would fund an online course in Civics 101 taught by Hillsdale College."
From my experience with the local immigrant community, nearly all of the immigrant services in my community are quite aggressively liberal, so they learn quickly what the "correct" views are. While the bias of the universities needs to be dealt with, there are other avenues to moderating some of the various communities' political leanings, and some of that can be moderate/conservative involvement in both community outreach through new immigrant services. Teach classes to immigrants, take classes in their communities with them, learn a bit of their culture and language, go where they go. Professional and cultural groups for various communities also often allow non-Asians to join.
However, I have found among my more conservative friends that doing such things can be viewed as somehow not being American enough, some people I know have interpreted it as being pro-illegal immigration, and they don't feel comfortable among other cultures to enter those fields. So those of us with long exposure need to step up.
Nov '12
Re: Why "Asians" Aren't Republicans: Response to Rob Long & Charles Murray
I also want to address the issue of anti-intellectualism and how this does/doesn't appeal to Asian groups. It really isn't just the MSM that is giving the impression of anti-intellectualism. As one of my Chinese ESL students pointed out once, Americans really don't value or like high achievers in academics, we much prefer socializing and sports for our kids in school, which confuses and confounds many Asian immigrants from India, China, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan particularly. The Asian parents can't relate to where American parents are coming from.
Plus, I think we've always had that anti-intellectual streak in our society. Talk to alot of Americans, and you'll hear about how studying makes one a "geek", "nerd" and probably worse. That loaded language speaks volumes, and the impression can be even worse when you click on any post on education at any conservative website where reader after reader comments include screeds against education of any kind, the uselessness of study and degrees, and so forth. It's not the leadership that this is exclusively coming from. The point another reader made about Scott Brown is spot-on, too.
Nov '12
Re: Why "Asians" Aren't Republicans: Response to Rob Long & Charles Murray
Furthermore, my experience with the Asian immigrant communities leaves me rather skeptical that they are all libertarians. Very many from East Asia are Christians or are fascinated by the Bible since some of those countries have been very strict on the churches there, so they feel free to ask questions about Christianity here that they couldn't at home, especially Mainland Chinese. Many Indians are moderate to strict Hindus, but even they have rules for their faith that could be considered traditional; I know the Dalai Lama has complained about how Americans fascinated by his Buddhist faith have totally ignored their moral teachings as well. Some immigrants from these regions can also be outright athiests/Marxists, so it's often one or the other, not libertarian.
Related to this, the second generation really doesn't fit typical stereotypes of immigrants. Many want to be American and mimic the worst of our children's behaviors. Many of the children of my ESL students consider my interest in their ethnic culture something out of their grandparents' era, which they consider a bit musty and uninteresting. So they are ripe for leftist ideas, especially with the cool factor attached to them.
Nov '12
Re: Why "Asians" Aren't Republicans: Response to Rob Long & Charles Murray
I should mention that new immigrant services often have lots of volunteer positions for people in the community to work in, so this is totally a viable opportunity without going to get degrees or whatever. Once the local Indian group of engineers who formally had an organization had me on their mailing list for awhile, and I was invited to join them to watch the big annual soccer match. We also have local international business groups which have monthly networking events around town.
You could probably look into what organizations exist to get involved with by calling university departments devoted to those regions for referrals, look at the international business community, talk to ethnic restaurant owners, ethnic churches/temples may also be receptive to inquiries, watch for ethnic cultural events where the community may gather (such as Chinese New Year). There are very easy ways to gain access if you are willing to step out of your comfort zone, and often they are very warm to outsiders if you are sincere in your interest in them.