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Indian-Americans throw money behind Kerry
By Poornima Apte
Published: Saturday, May 1, 2004
Kerry
When all is said and done, playing politics is all about access to the inner circles of policy-making. Samir Desai, one of the principal forces behind the organization Indo-Americans for Kerry, certainly thinks so.
A resident of Lincoln, Mass., and chief executive officer of Aditi Inc., Desai is convinced that the Massachusetts senator should be the next president of the United States - so convinced that he has helped lead New England Indian-Americans to raise more than $100,000 for Kerry's campaign.
According to the organization, a John Kerry administration would better reflect the diversity of the American people, and that means more Indian-Americans in key policy-making roles.
"We have a second generation that is coming up," Desai says, "and they should have a major say and they should have an impact - social, political and on international policy."
Dr. Dinesh Patel, the chief of arthroscopic surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, is another key member of the organization supporting Kerry. Patel believes that a lack of access to decision-makers is a big problem in the political process.
He says that it doesn't matter much whether he and Kerry are in agreement on issues. Instead he says, "If you are closer to people, you may be able to influence people, may be able to work on the policy-making." His political philosophy is to "participate in the policy-making."
A Massachusetts resident, Patel says he is supporting Kerry because he is from Massachusetts, and because of Kerry's close links with his friends, Desai and Ramesh Kapur, another stalwart of Indo-Americans for Kerry.
While access to policy-making is important, members of the organization are aware that some of the hot-button political issues on the table this election year have no easy answers; outsourcing is one such.
Desai explains that governments in capitalistic countries cannot affect outsourcing much, mainly because it is dictated by economics.
"I really believe outsourcing is not driven by government policy or lack thereof," he says. "Economic benefits usually run it. Economic benefits always outweigh tax policy."
Kapur, the president of Med-Tech Inc., agrees. "Outsourcing is such a buzz word," he says. "Some people have differences in outsourcing. One of the ways in which we can offset outsourcing is to increase the cap on H-1 visas; maybe then people can come here."
Kapur, also points out that outsourcing is not as rosy a phenomenon as it is made out to be. "There are a lot of social problems sometimes," he says. "Depression, long hours, it is tough."
Desai makes it clear that Kerry is not completely against outsourcing.
"If you look at his speech that he gave in Michigan on outsourcing, he is not against it but wants it done in a fair way," he says.
"Kerry will support small business and help with workmen's compensation," Desai adds.
Also in the picture is the organization South Asians for Kerry in 2004. Maya Nambisan, an epidemiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, is one of the primary members of the Massachusetts chapter.
Nambisan believes Kerry's longstanding record of supporting minorities and his work with South Asians will help the South Asian community. A second-generation American herself, Nambisan believes that the issues in this election are spread out across the board.
"It's not about first or second generation," she says. "There are a lot of South Asians living in the United States and they all pay taxes. They really need to participate and it would be great if they became a part of the community."
Participation in the campaign can come in many ways, according to Gail Ahluwalia, another participant in Indo-Americans for Kerry. Ahluwalia, who recently moved to Massachusetts from Maryland, played a critical role in a fund-raiser for Kerry held at Boston's Sheraton Hotel on April 13. Indian-Americans gave around $118,000.
Alan Solomont, the New England finance chairman of the Kerry campaign, is delighted with the efforts of Indian-Americans.
"I would say that John has some really strong support here," he says. "Indian-Americans have been instrumental in harnessing support for Kerry."
Says Ahluwalia, "Indians can get more involved by participating in political fundraisers and the political process in the big picture. In order to be a political force we need to raise much more funds. Unfortunately, in our society, money talks louder than words."
Indo-Americans for Kerry is planning more fundraisers throughout the country.
Ahluwalia's comments came on a day when Kerry made his pro-abortion rights views clearly known.
"Women's rights are just that - rights, not political weapons," he said, at a women's rally in Washington, D.C., on April 23.
Ahluwalia couldn't be happier with his stance. "It is a blessing to every woman to have a president who is pro-choice," she says. "Pro-choice Supreme Court judges are very important and we are depending on Kerry to make such appointments for the benefits of all women."
Converting "swing" states is really critical to the campaign, according to Nishith Acharya, chief executive officer of Youth Tech Entrepreneurs.
"We really need to go door to door and get out the votes," he says, "especially in New Hampshire and Maine."
Acharya encourages participation by volunteering one's time to the campaign.
"I think has got a more appropriate world view than George Bush," Acharya adds. "This administration has shown a lack of planning, ideological focus on tax cuts, and a lone-ranger mentality in foreign policy."
"Four terms as a U.S. senator is an advantage to a person seeking the ultimate political job in the country," adds Ahluwalia.
Desai sums it simply: "He is the best overall for the Indian community."
Kapur believes this is going to be a tough race.
"You know, it is like watching a movie. You go to see it because your friend tells you about it," he says. "This campaign is going to be won by word-of-mouth."
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