[I hunt and peck, so don’t expect too much articulation 😉 ]
We’re a few mins away from it starting.
Lot of people walking in. At least eleven buses from around California all the way from Redding to L.A., from Fresno to San Jose.
All the state politicians have been invited from Arnold to John Garamendi to your local legislator
Here’s APAPA’s website
I’m going to make mistakes, so bear with me
More below …
It’s starting …
Amy Tong, Vice Chair 2007 Forum Chair introducing sponsoring organizations
C.C. Yin, Founder and Chair introducing APAPA board members. CC Yin explains why it’s important to get involved … to vote … to take ownership of goverment
Pamela Wu, Master of Ceremonies from KCRA Channel Three thanking corporate sponsors
Corporate sponsors giving short speeches and receiving ceremonial chinese swords and leis
Pamela Wu introducing candidates I won’t get everyone so don’t hold it against me … Jimmy Yee, Bill Durston, Charlie Brown, Allen Nakanishi …
Pamela Wu reading a letter from President Bush
Opening remarks by Secretary of State Debra Bowen … giving thanks to the first female SoS Marge Fong Eu … You are on the front lines of democracy … looking forward to working with you …
Remarks by Allen Nakanishi … We live in a great state and great nation …
Chuck (something?) former mayor of Fairield … vote … make sure you vote
Next speaker was supposed to be Lt. Governor John Garamendi but he can’t make it because of the fires in SoCal
Judy Chu State Board of Equalization Vice Chair praising APAPA and those who get involved
Alberto Torrico, API joint legislative caucus co-chair … thanks for getting involved
Jack O’Connell State Superintendent of Schools … the future of California is bright … the children are the future … schools need to prepare us to be lifelong learners … the best is yet to come for California
Steve Westly … giving a special welcome to the Hmong as his father grew up in Vietnam … and all the Asian Americans … California is a business leader in the world … education is important … invest in teachers and local control … invest in colleges …
Recorded message from Congressman Jerry McNerney … thanking his colleagues and constituents … adressing transportation and power needs … renewable energy … military has sacrificed …
Conservative columnist Raoul Lowery Contreras … proud to be with all Asian groups as a former US Marine … we are in a war which we have been in since the 80’s … people want to kill us … we’re not fighting for oil … but we need to be there for the oil … we are the policemen of the world … is it worth our being in Iraq? Purple fingers
Congressional candidate forum
Charlie Brown Democratic candidate for the 4th district opening statement … tough probs to solve … need change in DC to solve them
Mike Holmes Republican candidate for 4th district …
Bill Durston candidate for the 3rd CD, opening statement … former US Marine … served in combat … emergency physician … thanks APAPA
Healthcare question
Mike Holmes … don’t need socialist medicine
Charlie talks too fast 🙂 … We need healthcare now
Durston good points … access to healthcare for all … as a US Congressman will work for timely affordable Healthcare
Iraq
Mike Holmes … info cherry picked … support our troops … exit strategy …
Durston … people dieing in Iraq is too much … no military solution
Brown … served in VN … saw what poor pullout did to VN … has seen failure … Future funding needs firm timelines
Immigration
Brown … country of immigrants … not a closed society
Durston … long standing complex issue … reject politics of fear … have had many bad immigration laws …
Holmes … need to strengthen borders … need new bracero program
Thirty second q and a
Iran
Holmes … talk diplomatically to Iranians
Brown … need more diplomacy … getting allies back behind us
Closing candidate statements
Recorded message from Congresswoman Doris Matsui from the 5th CD … thanking APAPA … last year Americans demanded change … haven’t done enough … Bush’s veto of SCHIP is wrong … need civil liberties … responsible exit from Iraq … need fiscal control
Keynote speaker Congressman Eni Faleomavaega … greeting in several Asian languages … appreciation to CC Yin … get involved … you can make a difference if you’re involved
Time for the good stuff! 1st thousand dolaar give away 😉 …. (drumroll) missed the name of the winner
Healthcare forum with Reps from the Governor’s office and the Legisalture
Representative from Sheila Kuells office … we are not receiving healthcare we deserve … singlepayer healthcare … every resident needs comprehensive healthcare
Governors rep … system is broken … people subject to debts, bankruptcy … encourage people … prevention … wellness
Legislature rep … polls say number two issue is healthcare … President vetoed SCHIP … President wants billions for Iraq … extend coverage to people without insurance … everyone pitches in
Legislative candidate forum
Lois Wolk … solutions for probs. … protecting native areas … worked and supported API
Greg Agazarian (sp?) … from an immigrant family … California dream … California better place
Jim Neilson (sp?) … opportunity
Jim Cook … 30 years serving the country … here to serve you …
Alyson Huber … came from nothing … not a politician … living the American dream … need affordable edu., healthcare
[Taking a break from transcribing]
I’m looking out at the audience and I think every seat is filled, which really is great because you have to get involved to make change no matter what change you want. Kids all over the place.
OK, Cindy Sheehan is up now … talking about the value of human life … zero soldiers should have been killed … over a million Iraqi’s are dead … we’re all immigrants … immigrants have only made our country better … her son’s life was expensive … mothers are fierce when their children are in harms way … we can’t allow our leaders to kill our children … most homeless are Veterans … Iraq is making homeless vets … 30 k people a day die from starvation … we all deserve human rights … right to self determination … government is taking away our freedoms … fight for our voting rights … make sure our leaders keep their promises … make them accountable … we all have a part
2nd thousand dollar prize giveaway … (drumroll) the name is, Yang Lee Her (sp?)
That’s the end.
(Sorry for any spelling mistakes)
Great program APAPA!