Indians play major role in US polls
Staff reporter, The Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Sept 11 – There are about two million Indian Americans. Moreover,
about 44 per cent of the registered voters in the United States (US) are people
of Asian origin. These people may play an important role in the 2008 US
elections, scheduled for November 4 next. The results of the US elections,
which will culminate in the election of the President and the Vice-President in
December, will also be influenced mostly by the respective stands of the
candidates on the domestic issues.
The debates on the issues concerning the common Americans will determine the
fates of the candidates for the posts of Senators, House Representatives,
President and Vice-Presidents, said Ms Tara M Rigler, Deputy Spokesperson and
Assistant Information Officer of the US Embassy, New Delhi. She was speaking to
the city-based media persons at the Guwahati Press Club today on the US
elections.
On the issues that are dominating the election debates in her country, she said
that though terrorism is an issue, domestic issues are more important for the
electorate. Of course, the war on Iraq is also very important for them.
Similarly, they also view the women-related issues as important, she said.
On the domestic issues that bother the electorate more, she said that economy,
immigration etc are the issues that are found more bothersome by the electorate.
The issues that have come in for debate in the elections of her country this
time, she said that such issues include the ones connected with education,
economy, healthcare, climate change, trade, energy policy, immigration,
policies towards Iraq, China and India.
While Barak Obama, the Democratic Party nominee for the post of President has
good supporters in the Indian Community, John McCain, the Republican Party
nominee for the post, sees India as one of the ‘natural allies’ of the United
States. McCain lays stress on securing greater market access to India’s economy
and to include India in G8. Both of them voted for the civil nuclear deal.
Obama is interested in cooperative relationship with China and views it as
America’s competitor. He has expressed concern over the revaluation of the Yuan
and condemned the crackdown on the Tibetan monks. McCain supports a policy to
‘hedge’ against China’s growing global influence. He also condemned the Chinese
human rights record.
Obama says that the US is responsible for leaving the planet in better shape
for future generations. He has proposed a plan that would invest US $ 150
billion over ten years to advance bio-fuels and promote renewable energy. He
has also proposed a global energy forum to bring together the largest energy
consuming nations to discuss environmental issues.
McCain says that ensuring clean air, safe and healthy water, sustainable land
use, ample green space etc is a patriotic responsibility and proposed steps for
limiting carbon dioxide emissions by harnessing market forces to bring advanced
technologies like nuclear energy to market faster and reduce dependence on
foreign energy supplies, said Rigler.
‘Terrorism a global issue’
By our Staff Reporter, The Sentinel
GUWAHATI, Sept 11: The United States considers terrorism as a global issue and
a serious emerging threat to every peace-loving country in the world. This view
was sounded by Tara M Rigler, Assistant Information Officer of the New
Delhi-based US Embassy, today. Today the US held mourned the victims of 9/11
incident.
Rigler was in the city to attend an interaction session with the local media
persons at the Guwahati Press Club on the coming US President election and
electoral system of that country. However, she said domestic issues including
economy, trade, health care, education, climate change and immigration are in
the front seat of the hectic election campaign under way in the US.
She said, US policy towards India and China has also come into the ongoing
debate between presidential candidate of the Republican party John McCain and
Democratic candidate Barak Obama. There are about 44 per cent American voters
of Asian origin who are going to take part in the about three-month long
election process to chose the 43rd American President, who is scheduled to be
sworn in on January 20, last year.
Rigler said there also about two million American of Indian origin, constitutes
about seven per cent of total voters, also play very vital role in the US
election. It may be mentioned here that, Bobby Jindal, an Indian origin and
Governor of Lusiana, was in the race for Vice-Presidentship in Republican
ticket before he left behind by Arkansas senator Sara Palin.
According to the US official, the people of Indian origin had been lobbying
hard in favour of Indo-US Nuclear deal, which is expected to push the relation
between the two countries in a new height. On the passing question to whom
between the two Presidential candidates she prefer, Rigler quipped, "I am
watching the ongoing debate between them before make up my mind."
