Loss of face? White House Summit on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Hatchet photo

Al Jazeera America anchor Joie Chen, left, led a panel on the rights of Asian American Pacific Islanders and women during the White House summit on the Asian American Pacific Islanders. 

OOPS! President Obama blundered. His absence at the first-ever White House Summit on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders was noticed by almost all of the 2000 delegates in attendance last May 12 at Georgetown University.

To be certain, there were plenty of his appointees in the house representing Obama and the fact that the event had the "White House's" stamp of approval was important and a historic first unto itself; but all that was missing was The Man, himself.  

Whether or not it was an oversight by White House staff or merely an indication of how far the Asian Pacific community still has to go to stop being invisible, it was a large loss of face, considering how this particular demographic has supported his presidency and even claimed the fact that Obama grew up in Hawaii makes him America's first Pacific Islander president.

The president should have known how important "face" is among the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Someone dropped the ball.

I mean, how would you react if you attended a party at someone's house and the host wasn't there and had to leave for another party?

Nevertheless, if I was doing this blogging business for a living, I would have gone just to rub shoulders with those major policymakers. If you were unable to attend, here's what you missed.

Here are some links to news stories about the event:

• Obama's absence a disappointment; loss of face
• Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders seek unity, stronger voice
• White House celebrates Asian American/Pacific Islander heritage
• Historic panel on trans women of color
• White House hosts first-ever summit on Asian Americans
• What the White House done for AAPI community