DNC Hosts Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Reception
Posted by Betsy Kim on May 18, 2007 at 04:52 PM
Governor Howard Dean, along with DNC Vice Chair Congressman Mike Honda, DNC APIA Caucus Chair Bel Leong-Hong, and DNC APIA Caucus Vice Chair Mona Mohib, addressed a group of AAPI community members, including many students, at a reception last night at DNC headquarters. Governor Dean began by commending Congressman Honda for his courage and leadership in introducing a resolution calling for the Japanese government to apologize for the use of sex slaves, or so called "comfort women," during World War II. He went on to talk about the growing influence of the AAPI community in politics, and stressed importance of not just having a seat at the table, but a place on the ticket. Remarking on the number of young people in the audience, Governor Dean encouraged them to run for office.
He concluded his remarks by introducing the special guest speaker for the evening, Congresswoman Mazie Hirono of Hawaii. Congresswoman Hirono is the newest AAPI member of Congress, having been elected this past November. Before speaking, she got out from behind the podium to speak to the crowd more informally. She mentioned that before this class of incoming members, there had been no Buddhist or Muslim members of Congress. Her class has two Buddhist members and a Muslim member. She spoke of her twenty years of public service in Hawaii (as a state legislator and then Lieutenant Governor) prior to being elected to Congress, and the pride she took in being a woman of color in elected office.
Congressman Honda, Bel Leong-Hong and Mona Mohib also had opportunities to speak to the group during the program and the lively Q & A that followed. Congressman Honda asked the first "question," posed to Idaho State Representative Sue Chew, who was in the audience. He commended her for being the first Asian American elected to the Idaho state legislature.
Pictures of the event are below (click to enlarge):
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| APIA Caucus Chair Bel Leong-Hong, Congresswoman Hirono, Sue Chew, DNC Vice Chair Mike Honda, and Frank Wu | Congresswoman Mazie Hirono of Hawaii |
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| Governor Dean and Idaho State Legislator Sue Chew | APIA Caucus Vice Chair Mona Mohib |
This post written by Betsy Kim, Deputy Director, American Majority Partnership.
