Andrew Yang on CNN: 'An Asian man who loves math'

SCREEEN CAPTURE / CNN

Andrew Yang was the subject of a CNN Town Hall.

By Ann Thuy Nguyen
ASAM NEWS
Democratic 2020 candidate Andrew Yang took the stage for CNN’s town hall Sunday Night to answer voter questions and elaborate on parts of his comprehensive plan comprised of nearly 100 policy proposals. 

Yang, who is a businessman and former ambassador of global entrepreneurship during the Obama administration, began the town hall by explaining his freedom dividend — giving $1,000 dollars per month to every citizen starting at the age of 18 — to address the rise of artificial intelligence and, consequently, job automation.

According to Yang, the automation of four million jobs in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Iowa, led to Trump’s win in 2016.

“When you trace the steps, Amazon is sucking up $20 billion in commerce and that’s what’s causing the malls and stores to close. You see, it’s wall-to-wall robots and they are investing billions of dollars in AI. It’s difficult (to) stop this process,” Yang said.

He brought up the dividend again as a solution for promoting affordable housing in a country with growing gentrification and increasingly high rent in certain regions.

CNN’s Ana Cabrera, who moderated the town hall, asked how Yang intends to pay for the dividend. Yang says “to go where the money is”— naming corporate tech giants which not only benefit from artificial intelligence and job automation but have garnered major profits while escaping revenue tax payments.

Despite his lack of experience in political office and low name recognition in a crowded 2020 Democratic field, Yang believes he is prepared to go against the president because he knows why Trump won and views himself as a complete foil to the GOP-nominee.

“When I was in Iowa, someone said he cannot wait to see me debate Donald Trump because I’m laser focused on the problems that got him elected, but I’m his polar opposite,” Yang said. “What I’ve been saying is the opposite of Donald Trump is an Asian man who likes math.”

The town hall audience laughed following Yang’s answer, which plays off the stereotypical joke of Asians and Asian Americans as the racial group most proficient in mathematics. Yang also joked that he and his campaign team think Trump will call him “Comrade Yang” — alluding to ties of Asians with communism.

Cabrera also brought up the circumspect support he has received from White nationalists on the internet. While Yang denounced their support, he initially appeared on Tucker Carlson’s Fox News show criticized for its use of White nationalist rhetoric.

He joked during the town hall about why White nationalists would see him as their candidate.

“I don’t look much like a White nationalist. It’s been a point of confusion,” said Yang.

ANDREW YANG

Entrepreneur and presidential candidaate Andrew Yang met with President Barack Obama.

Yang also expressed during this live event that he is in favor of promoting gun safety, “significantly” increasing teachers’ wages, decriminalizing opiates and heroin, and establishing statehood for both the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

He made a comment that seemingly suggested Puerto Rico’s lack of statehood is due to the less-homogeneously White representation of its citizens.

“If Puerto Ricans looked like Swedes, they would’ve received statehood long ago,” said Yang.

Kisha Puttan of Washington, DC asked Yang at the end of the CNN discussion how he would encourage Asian American and Pacific Islanders to get involved in public affairs and seek leadership roles In politics. Yang did not cite policy stances but said that his representation in the campaign demonstrates that encouragement.

“We have to do more to show Asian Americans that we need to step up, we need to give back to this country, and I’m optimistic that my run for the presidency will make that case for people around the country.”

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