As recent data from the National Asian American Survey indicated, roughly 51% of Vietnamese Americans nationwide support McCain—overwhelmingly more than any other Asian ethnic group. Here's a Los Angeles Times story on the strong support for McCain in Vietnamese American communities: John McCain enjoys wide support in Vietnamese communities.
My personal disdain for John McCain is no secret. I cannot, in good conscience, vote for someone who would deem it appropriate to refer to someone as a "gook," in any context —especially as a candidate running for President of the United States. But the article does illuminate some of reasons why the Senator is such a compelling choice for so many Vietnamese voters.
For one thing, many Vietnamese Americans are drawn to McCain's support of Vietnamese refugees. As a senator, McCain led efforts to pass legislation in 1996 that would allow the children of Vietnamese political prisoners to reunite with parents who'd already been allowed to immigrate to the U.S. That's a big one.
And of course, there's McCain's harrowing experience as a P.O.W. and the torture he endured as a captive Navy pilot during the Vietnam War. Many of his supporters served in the South Vietnamese military and went through similar suffering at the hands of the North Vietnamese. A staunch anti-communist sentiment still runs deep in the Vietnamese community, and McCain's war record is a stamp of credibility.
Like I said, I can't agree with this, but then again, I'm coming from a completely different perspective. There are obviously Asian Americans who are extremely passionate about John McCain for President, and this is where we'll have to agree to disagree. At this point, we have to show that the Asian American community will come out in full force to vote on November 4. Vote!
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