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Rep. Mike Honda delivers diversity message -- prime time
Rep. Mike Honda delivers diversity message -- prime time
Rep. Honda delivers diversity message -- prime time
By Jim Puzzanghera
Mercury News Washington Bureau
BOSTON - At the Democratic National Convention four years ago, Rep. Mike Honda of Campbell spoke midafternon to a largely empty Staples Center in Los Angeles.
This year, he went prime-time.
Honda, the second-term Silicon Valley congressman, landed a coveted spot at about 7:30 p.m. EDT Tuesday, speaking to a packed crowd at the Fleet Center.
"The longest four minutes of my life," Honda joked shortly after his speech.
Honda, who admitted he's always nervous before he speaks publicly, strode out onto the convention stage wearing a dark suit with a red, white and blue tie adorned with small donkeys and stars.
"Hello, California!" he said enthusiastically. `Hello, America! I love you."
He went on to describe how U.S. soldiers came to his parents' doorstep in the Sacramento Valley 62 years ago and took his family to a Japanese internment camp in Colorado.
"Our government did this to us and to 120,000 other loyal Japanese Americans during a time of war hysteria," he said. "Our government told us that we could not be trusted solely because of the color of our skin and the shape of our eyes."
It happened, he said, because nobody in a leadership position had the courage to stand up and condemn the bigotry. Despite that experience, Honda declared himself a proud American who was supporting Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry for president because he has shown courage throughout his career and "because he understands the lessons from the dark chapters of our nation's history."
Honda chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and has helped organize the community's support for Kerry.
"John Kerry has listened to our community's priorities and has made them a part of his campaign," Honda told the convention delegates, citing the elimination of health care disparities, reform of immigration, job creation and educational opportunities for all Americans.
Honda lauded Kerry's service in Vietnam and said that as president, he would improve the United States' reputation around the world.
"I learned about service as a Peace Corps volunteer in El Salvador and I know that for John Kerry service is not about self-benefit, it's about self-sacrifice," Honda said. "John Kerry understands the value of international cooperation. He knows that the diversity and inclusion we preach here at home must be practiced in policies abroad."
Honda learned of his speaking role about five weeks ago. A convention official said it was largely because of Honda's job as deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee, but also in part to highlight the party's diversity.
Contact Jim Puzzanghera at jpuzzanghera@krwashington.com or (202) 383-6043.