Why Asian Americans Voted for the President

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Republicans are frustrated and confused over the November election results, because their polling had indicated that Governor Romney would win an overwhelming victory. Romney blamed his loss on President Obama’s doling out financial “gifts” to many groups that in turn voted for him. Assessing how various groups voted, they were not surprised that 98% of African Americans went for the President. Because it was expected, they have no qualms about 70% of Latinos voting for Obama. Since the Jews traditionally vote Democratic, their 70% was no surprise either. However, Republicans have scratched their heads over two other groups that emphatically supported Obama.
Although white voters with high school and lesser educational attainment went Republican, those with college degrees favored the President, especially those with post-graduate degrees. The second group has drawn even more comments, that is, the 73% of Asian Americans who voted for Obama. Why was that surprising? The reason is that according to the Census Bureau, Asian Americans (AAs) comprise the country’s most prosperous ethnic group, a number of whom are millionaires. Their economic well-being and capitalist bent seemed to assure that a large number were Republicans who would vote accordingly. It shows that one factor or a couple cannot be predictive of people. Those who know AAs and their history wouldn’t have predicted that most AAs would go for Romney and Ryan. Let’s explain.
AAs, many of whom are 4th-generation Americans and a number who are 5th-generation, like my children, know how it was in the past, when Asians were discriminated against by reason of their race. In the 19th century, when the first AAs, the Chinese, came to the U.S., they were severely abused and treated as subhuman as were Native Americans and Blacks. Declared unconstitutional in the end, the numerous Chinese exclusion laws remained since the Civil War America’s worst racial laws. The Japanese, who came next, were similarly treated with prejudice for being workers, like the Chinese, that were hard to compete with. The Japanese were forced into isolated internment camps during WWII, and yet their troops won more medals and awards than any other American units. Although overt racism has declined in the U.S., it lingers in subtle ways. AAs then remain sensitive and opposed to racism and prejudice, whether directed at them or at others. When right-wing birthers accuse Obama, who is half black, of being foreign-born and thereby unqualified to be president, AAs not only see through such nonsense they are repelled by the obvious bigotry. On national TV, Romney warmly welcomed the support of Donald Trump, who vociferously and repeatedly accused Obama of being a false American. What was Romney thinking? Why did his campaign promote contradictions that alienated key groups of voters, such as AAs and the university-educated?
AAs succeed in many professional and business pursuits, not solely for themselves as individuals but for their families and sense of achievement. Highly committed to education, they want their children to study hard and attend the best schools. They are the most highly educated ethnic group in America, both males and females. Seeking out the best schools for their kids, many AAs will change jobs and move, even to other neighborhoods and cities, in order to put their kids in good schools. Correlative to what was said above about the support of the college-educated for the President, typical AAs are pragmatists instead of being ideologues. Therefore, opposed to conservatives, they believe in the science of climate change. They also see through conservatives’ double-talk about individual freedom and their “attack on women.” Dedicated to their families and relatives, they care dearly for elders and are very supportive of social programs, such as social security, Medicare, and Obamacare.
AAs are America’s fastest growing group that includes in order of numbers: Chinese, Filipinos, Asian Indians, Koreans, Vietnamese, Cambodians, Japanese, Hmong, Laotians, Cambodians, Pakistanis, and Thais. The first four comprise the bulk of their 14.7 million population, about 15% are mixed, mostly half white. AAs are diverse, but their various cultural backgrounds induce many similar values.