VTMBH Article: Body
There has often been talk about Indian Americans not participating enough in the political process in this country and electing members of their own community to high offices. But last weeks instance in Georgia when incumbent Rep. Cynthia McKinney lost the primary, shows that Indian Americans can make a difference.
Like Sen. Robert Torricelli in New Jersey, McKinney has been a keen supporter of anti-Indian issues, and tried to rake up the Khalistan issue on Capitol Hill earlier this year, asking for the release of Sikh political prisoners in India.
Like Toricelli, McKinney was supported by Pakistani Americans and also by the Arab-American community in her propaganda against India. Apart from her espousal of anti-India causes, to the chagrin of the Indian American community, the African American congresswoman often tried to paint a portrait of India that was damaging to its ties with the United States.
An Indian American advocacy group decided that enough was enough and sent out an email to 3,400 Indian-Americans in the area reporting her biased remarks, and proposed the name of McKinneys opponent in the primaries, an African American local judge, Denise Majette. Thereafter followed an effort to get Majette elected in the primaries. Indian Americans held fundraisers for her and collected some $20,000 according to some reports, invited her to important social functions, and local businessmen pooled their resources to ensure her victory.
It was not just Indian Americans who faced the brunt of McKinneys propaganda. According to her, President Bush purposely ignored warnings about last years September 11th terrorist attacks to help the U.S. arms industry.
And when the primary results came in, Majette was a clear winner. She out-voted McKinney 58-42 percent.
In her statements last week in the Georgia House of Representatives, McKinney made it clear what she thought was the reason behind her loss: the Indian American communitys opposition to her.
Saying that there were some alarming things about the campaign to defeat me, she says the reason was the heavy involvement of Indians in the primary.
I am one of the members of congress who has tried to get out the truth about South Asia, and I am proud of that. Earlier this year, I was one of 42 members of congress who wrote to President Bush to urge the release of Sikh and other political prisoners in India, she said. Apparently, this irritated the Indians, she acknowledges.
McKinney says that India has a record of illegal interference in U.S. elections. She cites former Indian Ambassador SS Ray as publicly urging the reelection of former Senator Larry Pressler and in opposition to now Senator Robert Torricelli. She adds that an Indian American immigration lawyer named Lalit Gadhia funneled money from the Indian Embassy to congressional candidates. According to her, it is illegal and wrong for India to funnel embassy money to these members campaigns.
McKinney ends her statement by avowing to stop a foreign power from determining the results of American elections.
Like Sen. Robert Torricelli in New Jersey, McKinney has been a keen supporter of anti-Indian issues, and tried to rake up the Khalistan issue on Capitol Hill earlier this year, asking for the release of Sikh political prisoners in India.
Like Toricelli, McKinney was supported by Pakistani Americans and also by the Arab-American community in her propaganda against India. Apart from her espousal of anti-India causes, to the chagrin of the Indian American community, the African American congresswoman often tried to paint a portrait of India that was damaging to its ties with the United States.
An Indian American advocacy group decided that enough was enough and sent out an email to 3,400 Indian-Americans in the area reporting her biased remarks, and proposed the name of McKinneys opponent in the primaries, an African American local judge, Denise Majette. Thereafter followed an effort to get Majette elected in the primaries. Indian Americans held fundraisers for her and collected some $20,000 according to some reports, invited her to important social functions, and local businessmen pooled their resources to ensure her victory.
It was not just Indian Americans who faced the brunt of McKinneys propaganda. According to her, President Bush purposely ignored warnings about last years September 11th terrorist attacks to help the U.S. arms industry.
And when the primary results came in, Majette was a clear winner. She out-voted McKinney 58-42 percent.
In her statements last week in the Georgia House of Representatives, McKinney made it clear what she thought was the reason behind her loss: the Indian American communitys opposition to her.
Saying that there were some alarming things about the campaign to defeat me, she says the reason was the heavy involvement of Indians in the primary.
I am one of the members of congress who has tried to get out the truth about South Asia, and I am proud of that. Earlier this year, I was one of 42 members of congress who wrote to President Bush to urge the release of Sikh and other political prisoners in India, she said. Apparently, this irritated the Indians, she acknowledges.
McKinney says that India has a record of illegal interference in U.S. elections. She cites former Indian Ambassador SS Ray as publicly urging the reelection of former Senator Larry Pressler and in opposition to now Senator Robert Torricelli. She adds that an Indian American immigration lawyer named Lalit Gadhia funneled money from the Indian Embassy to congressional candidates. According to her, it is illegal and wrong for India to funnel embassy money to these members campaigns.
McKinney ends her statement by avowing to stop a foreign power from determining the results of American elections.