Bay Area Iranian-Americans and Asian Americans gathered Tuesday night to show their support for Democratic Congressman Mike Honda. While some were upset by the questionable circumstances that led to the recent endorsement of Honda’s opponent Ro Khanna by the Bay Area Iranian-American Democratic Club (BAIAD,) most wanted to celebrate someone they considered a friend to their communities.
John Comiskey, founding member of the Berryessa North San Jose Democratic Club was asked to share his story of the Khanna Campaign’s tactics that led to Khanna first being endorsed by the club for the primary election, but later led to the club rescinding their endorsement and giving it to Rep. Honda. As a new club they had set aside the 25-day eligibility requirement to vote on an endorsement. Similarly, the BAIAD club allowed people to join and vote the same night. This meant many joined the Berryessa club and the BAIAD club only to participate in the endorsement vote. As Comiskey pointed out, these clubs are the “life's blood of grass roots politics” as they are often a community’s most direct access and best chance to effect a candidate. He felt Khanna’s cynical actions and his “flippant attitude toward the Clubs reflects his contempt for the grass roots.”
In what could almost be seen as a rebuttal to the BAIAD club’s endorsement, some of the most respected Iranian-American community leaders in the Bay Area joined to give Rep. Honda their full endorsement and support. While Khanna had flouted his support from Iranian-Americans in the Tech industry, Tuesday night’s supporters have used their resources to serve and improve their communities. The event was held at the Daryabari Community Center, named for Bita Daryabari, who was in attendance and is the founder of the PARS Equality Center. PARS is an organization focused on the social, cultural and economic integration of Iranian-Americans and other Persian speaking communities into mainstream American society.
Before the event began I spoke with Matt Kamkar who told me he was inspired by Rep. Honda to serve on the planning commission as a way to better understand as well as serve the community in which he lives. He felt it an important duty as a citizen to be involved when possible. Speakers at the event described Honda’s early years imprisoned at the Amache internment camp in Colorado during World War II, as shaping his unique understanding of the issues facing minorities in our country today.
They spoke of Honda being one of only 66 members of Congress to vote against the Patriot Act, and his opposition to both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. He was also one of only 19 to vote against a bill preventing certain dual nationals, including Iranian-Americans, from traveling or visiting family. Barbara Page asked attendees to join her in canvassing for Rep. Honda and then challenged them to speak to their neighbors, knocking on at least 17 doors an hour.
The evening’s main event was a statement written by Dr. Abbas Milani (Director of Iranian Studies at Stanford University) and co-signed by those in attendance.
There are three reasons why we, the undersigned, individually or as organizations, readily and eagerly support the urgently needed reelection of Congressman Honda:
First we live in particularly perilous times. Not only the specter of terrorist haunts us, but legitimate as well as exaggerated fears of this terror, of the millions of refugees heading towards the west, as well anxiety about structural problems in Western economies—from increasing inequality to loss of jobs—have combined in begetting a kind of populism and xenophobia that can easily frays the foundations of democracy. Our presidential campaign has never been more sinister in tone, more juvenile in style, more simple-minded in the slogans that masquerade as policy. In these troubled times, more than ever, we need a voice like Mike Honda. His own experience with past periods of fear-mongering in America have left not scars of rancor but a nobility of the soul, a compassion for the marginalized, and a willingness to speak truth to power that is simply delightful to watch, and precious to support.
Our second reason for supporting Congressman Honda is his humanity, humility, political valor and prudence in action. The litany of legislations he has supported showing this prudence—his rejection of a disastrous bill that could end up virtually affording Iranian-American’s second-class citizenship, his vote on the Patriot Act or on different recent Wars—are all well known. But those are records you can get on his website. Instead I would like to offer three anecdotes. Most of us know someone personally who has either worked with Congressman Hondo, or benefited from his support. They all talk of his genuine humanity and compassion. In other words when politicians are increasingly robotic in their responses, or tools of special interests, he is himself, driven by passions and principles, not polls and pundits.
The recent testimony of Professor Steven Chu on behalf of Congressman Honda is a confirmation of these personal stories. Professor Chu was the sole Nobel laureate to serve in the Obama cabinet. He said he had never spoken at a campaign event for anyone but had decided to speak for Congressman Honda because he had seen first hand how deliberate and determined the congressman was to solicit the help and advice of the scientific community in facilitating innovation and entrepreneurship in his constituency.
Our third reason for our support is about the increasingly tense of politics of identity in America. Whether we are an Iranian-American, or a Japanese-American, a Muslim or a Jew, we should register our appreciation and support for his attentiveness to the needs and anxieties that define this election. Because of these reasons, and because of the perils we face as a society, we need steady, reliable, seasoned and principled men and women in Congress and Mike Honda, even if we don’t agree with all his policies and decisions, has clearly exhibited these qualities and has acquired the experience and seniority in the congress to deliver on these values and policies. We should, as a community, show that we appreciate the support of principled politicians like him, and will reward them the best way we know: A vote on November eight
Prominent signees representing diverse ethnic communities (Chinese, Filipino, Iranian, Afghan, Indian, and more):
Bita Daryabari: Founder at Pars Equality Center and Unique Zan foundation
Azadeh Hariri: Founder of ISF Iranian Scholarship Foundation
Kamran Elahain: Chairman and Co-founder Global Catalyst Partners, Board Member iBridges
Zohreh Elahain: Managing Director Global Catalyst Foundation, Board Member iBridges
Maryam Khosravani: Founder of IAWF Iranian American Women Foundation
Henry Manayan: Former Mayor of the City of Milpitas
Mehdi Safipour: Co-Founder BAIAD Club
Susan Akbarpour: Founder and CEO Mavatar
Nahal Iravani: Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney, Board of Directors/President/Board of Advisors of Iranian American Bar Association
Matt Kamkar: Former Sr. Policy & Legislative Advisor of City of San Jose — District 1
Faraj Aalaei — Nima Oberoi — Amir Abolfathi — Nahid Siddiqui — Barbara and Carl Page
The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans, PAAIA
The Iranian American Political Action Committee, IAPAC