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The Notion Blog, January 9, 2007

https://www.thenation.com/article/asian-americans-affirmative-action/

In response to NYT reporter Timothy Egan’s Jan. 7 article, “Little Asia on the Hill,” The Nation’s Richard Kim writes in his blog, The Notion:

“What Egan fails to note here is that, despite the possibility that Asian Americans may be the group most “disadvantaged” by affirmative action, they consistently, vigorously and overwhelmingly support it at the polls. Back in 1996, California governor Pete Wilson, Ward Connerly and a host of other right-wingers ran a vicious, race-wedge campaign for Prop. 209. Asian communities were targeted with a slew of invidious, “me-first” messages designed to appeal to their narrow self-interests. And yet, 61% of Asian American voters rejected Prop. 209. Last year, when Michigan voters approved a similar measure (Prop. 2) by 58%, 75% of Asian American voters voted against it. Joining the NAACP, Rainbow/Push Coalition, the ACLU and the UAW in mobilizing opposition to Prop. 2 was the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund.”