2008.08.20: August 20, 2008: Headlines: Election2008: Asian American Issues: Figures: COS - El Salvador: Politics: Congress: Mercury News: Mike Honda, a low-key unifier, to address Democratic convention
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2008.08.20: August 20, 2008: Headlines: Election2008: Asian American Issues: Figures: COS - El Salvador: Politics: Congress: Mercury News: Mike Honda, a low-key unifier, to address Democratic convention
Mike Honda, a low-key unifier, to address Democratic convention
A soft-spoken man first elected to the House in 2000, Honda is not counted on for his charisma or speech-making but more often for his non-threatening ability to convince others to unite. Honda won the DNC vice chair slot in 2005, which helps steer party policy, by creating an alliance of Latino and African-American contestants, several of whom dropped out to back him. The party also was looking for a Westerner, and party rules aimed at gender balance called for the position to go to a man. The fact that he speaks Spanish, learned while he was a Peace Corps volunteer in El Salvador in the mid-1960s, also has helped his rise. At the behest of party Chairman Howard Dean, Honda now travels throughout the country recruiting more Asian-Americans to run for office. He also helped elect the first Muslim to Congress, a man from Minnesota. Honda occasionally has criticized his own party. At a Democratic primary debate in January to tackle issues of importance to Latinos and African-Americans, Honda questioned why the debate did not specifically also include Asian-Americans. "You want a party that is open to everybody, but one face has been missing," Honda said of the lack of Asian-American leaders in high party posts. More recently Asian-Americans have been voting Democratic, but among some groups, notably Vietnamese-Americans, Sen. John McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee, is expected to do well, in part because of his experience as a prisoner-of-war in Vietnam and the older generation's loyalty to Republicans for their hard stance against communism.
Mike Honda, a low-key unifier, to address Democratic convention
Rep. Honda, a low-key unifier, to address Democratic convention
By Mary Anne Ostrom
Mercury News
Article Launched: 08/20/2008 01:32:03 AM PDT
If ever there was an election cycle that was ready for a Spanish-speaking, Japanese-American politician who likes singing karaoke and counts Silicon Valley among his key constituents, this is it.
With such a résumé when the Democratic theme is dump the status quo, U.S. Rep. Mike Honda has the eye of many Democrats. He speaks at Barack Obama fundraisers, sits as an influential Democratic Party vice chair and on Tuesday will speak to the Democratic convention.
As of now he is just one of four California House members who a have speaking slot. The other three are two Southern California Latinos and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
He has yet to write his Tuesday night speech, to be delivered before the much anticipated address by Hillary Clinton, but Honda, 67, gave a preview Tuesday, saying he will urge Americans to vote for hope.
A man who loves his metaphors, Honda added, "I can't use 'audacity of hope,' that might be plagiarizing." So he tried out some other lines: "One more seven on the dice. One more gold in the ring when the (carousel) horse comes around. One more Bingo number to win."
It's hard for the Campbell Democrat to find a group he doesn't mesh with. During convention week his schedule has been packed full, slated for meetings with the delegations of California, New York, Oklahoma, Minnesota and groups representing Muslims, veterans, young Democrats and Native Americans.
"You are never going to see him take a leadership role on very many policy issues. What you will see him do is garner crucial support for a cause that might not otherwise be there because of his ability to connect with so many groups," said San Jose State University political science Professor Larry Gerston.
"He really puts the K in kumbaya," Gerston said.
A soft-spoken man first elected to the House in 2000, Honda is not counted on for his charisma or speech-making but more often for his non-threatening ability to convince others to unite.
Honda won the DNC vice chair slot in 2005, which helps steer party policy, by creating an alliance of Latino and African-American contestants, several of whom dropped out to back him. The party also was looking for a Westerner, and party rules aimed at gender balance called for the position to go to a man. The fact that he speaks Spanish, learned while he was a Peace Corps volunteer in El Salvador in the mid-1960s, also has helped his rise.
At the behest of party Chairman Howard Dean, Honda now travels throughout the country recruiting more Asian-Americans to run for office. He also helped elect the first Muslim to Congress, a man from Minnesota.
In Congress, he chairs the Asian Pacific American Caucus and often is the spokesman for Asian-American and immigrant issues ranging from veteran benefits to civil rights. Last year, he made international headlines when he badgered Japanese leaders to come clean about their country's past of forcing "comfort women" into sex slavery for Japanese military brothels during World War II.
Honda occasionally has criticized his own party. At a Democratic primary debate in January to tackle issues of importance to Latinos and African-Americans, Honda questioned why the debate did not specifically also include Asian-Americans.
"You want a party that is open to everybody, but one face has been missing," Honda said of the lack of Asian-American leaders in high party posts. More recently Asian-Americans have been voting Democratic, but among some groups, notably Vietnamese-Americans, Sen. John McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee, is expected to do well, in part because of his experience as a prisoner-of-war in Vietnam and the older generation's loyalty to Republicans for their hard stance against communism.
After the convention, Honda will spend the next two months traveling to battleground states with growing Asian-American populations on behalf of Obama.
Sometimes those travels are bittersweet. Honda decided to take on a more active role in party affairs after his wife, Jeanne, died from ovarian cancer in early 2004. They had been married 37 years.
The traveling "did take my mind off things," he said, but adding, "Sitting in a plane or a motel room, memories start to come back."
Contact Mary Anne Ostrom at mostrom@mercurynews.com or (415) 477-3794.
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