Obama exhorts AAPI to be more involved and turn their concern into action

White House

President Barack Obama spoke at the APAICS annual gala in Washington D.C. on April 4.

IT WAS A LOVEFEST.

When President Barack Obama began his speech Wednesday at the Asian Pacific American Institute of Congressional Studies (APAICS) gala with: "Being with the Asian American Pacific Islander community is like being with family," he had the audience in the palm of his hand.

And if there was any doubt about the special relationship the President has with Asian/ Americans and Pacific Islanders, he followed with:

"As many of you know, I grew up in Hawaii. (Applause.) I spent time in Indonesia as a young boy. The food, the culture, the spirit of the Asia Pacific region -- that's who I am."

But as he went deeper into his speech and his tone grew more serious  he warned the community he grew up with, that it is time to step up to the plate and become more vocal, more active, more participatory and demonstrate to the rest of the country that the AAPI community is part and parcel of this country's past, present and - most critically - its future. 

"You're part of the lifeblood of this nation. You are our teachers and our faith leaders, our doctors, our caretakers, our artists, our shopkeepers, our police officers and firefighters. 

"You are our soldiers and our sailors, airmen, marines, coast guardsmen, defending our freedom every day. And, increasingly, you are a powerful, visible force in American political life."

After citing a pretty impressive list of accomplishments of his administration for AAPI, he reminded everyone - as if this particular audience needed any reminding - that we are a country immigrants. "We don't simply welcome immigrants, ... we are born of immigrants. It is our oldest tradition; part of what makes us not only exceptional, but what makes us secure and prosperous and free."

Then he pointed out Filipina/American Regina Ledesma, who was in the audience:

"So I want to tell Regina's story, because it's an example of what's at stake here. Regina came to the United States from the Philippines when she was five years old. But when her father, who was an engineer, fell ill, he had to give up his job -- which meant he could no longer secure documentation for his family. So Regina’s mom supported the family by working at a hair salon. Regina grew up as American as anybody else -- she didn’t even know until she was in middle school that she was undocumented. And she didn’t understand until then that she’d be perpetually in danger of being deported from the only country she had ever called home. As a junior in high school, Regina requested relief under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals -- or DACA -- policy that we put in place. And today, she’s a sophomore studying economics at the University of Maryland. Her future is bright, and America is better off because she is here. (Applause.) That's the story of immigrants in this country."

During his speech Obama cited the need for a better representation of AAPI in the political process. "The AAPI community is the fastest-growing minority in America, but it’s still ..." and here he was interrupted with applause ... "well, that's good to cheer about, but it's still significantly underrepresented at the ballot box.  In 2012, just 56 percent of eligible AAPI voters were registered to vote. And fewer than half of those registered actually voted. So if you’re upset with America’s immigration policy, but you’re not voting -- that has to change."

He praised the AAPI community for coming to the support of the spate of hate against Muslims, Sikhs and Arabs.

"Ultimately, our job is not just to fight for our own rights," said Obama, "but to fight for the rights of all people, everywhere," Obama said to applause. 

Rep. Judy Chu handed the microphone to Democratic
presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at the APAICS event.

"To exercise our most precious inheritance -- citizenship. And that means we have to be well-informed, we have to engage with our government, and we have to vote -- not just when it’s time to elect a president, every single election," he exhorted the audience. "School boards matter. County offices matter. State attorneys races matter. State legislative races matter."

Though the night clearly belonged to President Obama, his former Sec. of State, Hillary Clinton, also spoke briefly to the audience at the Washington Hilton after being introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA). Clinton was the only candidate running for President to accept the APAICS invitation.

You can read President Obama's entire speech here, or watch the video, below.

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