Illinois Senator Barack Obama was born on August 4, 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Being born and educated in Hawaii, a state with a very large Asian American population, allowed Obama to be exposed to Asian Americans very early on. Obama is a graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School. He also spent part of his childhood in Indonesia when Ann Dunham, his mother, married Lolo Soetoro, his step-father. Obama’s Asian American step-sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, her husband Konrad Ng, and their daughter Suhaila, also contribute greatly to his overall identity. If Obama becomes President of the United States this will be the first time the first family will consist of Asian Americans.

Arizona Senator John McCain was born on August 29, 1936 in Coco Solo Naval Air Station in the Panama Canal Zone. Being born in the Panama Canal Zone has prompted questions as to whether or not John McCain should be allowed to hold an office our founders reserved for natural-born citizens. John McCain was educated at the US Naval Academy and National War College. Unlike Barack Obama, John McCain has not had much experience with Asian Americans, but rather Asians. When he graduated from the US Naval Academy he flew ground attack aircraft on bombing missions over North Vietnam. He was later shot down and was taken as a prisoner of war.  

Many Asian Americans have rallied behind Democratic candidate Barack Obama including many Asian American celebrities like Yul Kwon, a lawyer, advocate of Asian American issues and winner of Survivor: Cook Islands. When a strong advocate of Asian American issues adamantly throws his support towards an individual other Asian Americans should take notice. Other notable Asian American supporters of Barack Obama include rap sensation Jin, actor Daniel Dae Kim who plays Jin on Lost, actor Ken Leung, and actress Kelly Hu. One easily recognizable Asian American Congressman is Mike Honda of California who was seen supporting Obama at the Democratic National Convention. John McCain, however, has not received as much support from Asian Americans due to a racially insensitive comment he made. On his campaign bus John McCain told reporters “I hated the gooks. I will hate them as long as I live”.

Asian Americans must choose carefully when they vote and decide if they want a candidate who clearly has loving Asian Americans as part of his family or a candidate who blatantly uses a racial epithet that not only demeans Asians, but supports a brand of racism prevalent during his generation. 

First and foremost Asian Americans not registered to vote should do so quickly. It is a quick and simple process. It is time to be heard. It doesn’t matter if you decide to vote for Barack Obama or John McCain or even another candidate. The most important thing is simply to get out and vote and let America know Asian Americans are out there, standing by America and participating in its democratic institutions.

Asian American voters are growing in importance. Quite simply your vote matters. “The Asian-American population grew 3 percent between 2004 and 2005 — more than another other group. And the Census projects the population will grow 213 percent by 2050, to 33.4 million."

"In some key states, their weight is already considerable. Besides Hawaii, where Asian Americans are 57.5 percent of the population, and California, where they're 13.5 percent, Asians are 7.7 percent of New Jersey and Washington, and 7.2 percent of New York."

"In some races, even a comparatively small group can cast the key votes. In Virginia's 2006 Senate contest, Republican George Allen referred to an Indian-American as a "macaca" and the resulting outrage among Asians helped propel Democrat Jim Webb's come-from-behind victory. Webb won by 7,231 votes.” (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25472104/).