Senator, We Would Like to Know

New America Media, Ethnic Media Roundup, Staff, Posted: Sep 26, 2008

Editor’s Note: The first presidential debate scheduled for Friday Sept. 26 is supposed to focus on foreign policy. New America Media asked editors and publishers in the ethnic media what they would ask the candidates.

The World and Our Place in It

Do you think we treat other countries with respect and fairness? Do you think we must be the leader of the whole world? If a new world power rises, like China or Russia, do you think we should share the leadership role with them?
- Joseph Leung, Executive Editor, Sing Tao Daily

What would you do as president of the United States to breathe new life into the United Nations, so that it could be the most inclusive and effective global forum?
- Ragini Tharoor Srinivasan, Managing Editor, India Currents

What kind of initiatives should the U.S. government pursue to ensure that the United Nations remains relevant, specifically in resolving disputes between member states?
- Regina Reyes, News Bureau Chief, ABS-CBN Global - The Filipino Channel, Supervising Producer, "Balitang America”

Other nations and their governments have different attitudes and mentalities on many issues such as women’s rights. How will that be reflected in your relations with other countries?
- Alex Zevelyov, Host, Russian Voice Radio

What would your stance be on torture and would your administration continue to defend the current administration's aggressive use of torture abroad?
- Emil Guillermo, Columnist, AsianWeek

How satisfied are you with the image of the United States in other parts of the world?
- Alex Zevelyov, Host, Russian Voice Radio

The United States has a military presence in more than 130 foreign countries. Do we really need to do that and why? If elected president, would you start withdrawing troops from some of these countries?
- Joseph Leung, Executive Editor, Sing Tao Daily

What is your position on the Bush doctrine that the United States has the right to launch action in a 'preemptive strike' against potential foes of this country?
- Cristina DC Pastor, Managing Editor, Philippine News

Do you support overturning the Global Gag Rule, which prohibits foreign NGOs that accept U.S. funding from using their own funds, or other non-U.S. funds, to provide, promote or even discuss legal abortion as an option for women?
- Ragini Tharoor Srinivasan, Managing Editor, India Currents

California’s Central Valley is home to the most diverse ethnic populations in the country. These people were disproportionately hurt in the subprime loan debacle. The numbers of foreclosures from Sacramento to Stockton to Bakersfield to the Mexican border is proof of that. Given the great need domestically, how much and what parts of the war budget would you be willing to cut in order to help take care of voters who are hurting here at home?
- Emil Guillermo, Columnist, AsianWeek

Do you feel free trade agreements work? How do you see the United States proceeding on multilateral negotiations like the Doha round? Would you want to see refinements in existing deals like NAFTA?
- Cristina DC Pastor, Managing Editor, Philippine News

Although it is a well-accepted notion that free trade has benefited the United States and its trading partners, there is a strong sentiment among American middle-class workers that free trade will end up taking their jobs away from them and sending them overseas. There's concern you may react to the sentiment by subscribing to protectionism. As president, would you work to allow freer movement of goods and services in the world? Specifically, would you support free trade agreements between the United States and South Korea?
- Sungchan Kim, Editor-in-Chief, Korea Daily


Asia

As China becomes increasingly engaged in the international affairs arena, what possible conflict could we have with China and how would that affect our foreign policy?
- Likcon Lam, Editor-in-chief, Ming Pao Daily

How would you deal with the growing power of China, politically, militarily and economically?
- Yuru Chen, Executive Editor, World Journal

How would you deal with possible conflicts between China and Taiwan?
- Likcon Lam, Editor-in-chief, Ming Pao Daily

What is your perspective on the civil war in Sri Lanka?
- Hassina Leelarathna, Editor, Sri Lanka Express

Would you take the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) off the State Department's list of designated terrorists?
- Hassina Leelarathna, Editor, Sri Lanka Express

Do you support immediate passage (before the November elections) of the U.S.-India civilian nuclear deal (HR 7039), currently pending in the House, which is sponsored by the GOP? Or do you favor the rival bill authored by Howard Berman, D-Calf., that includes language against Iran that India would likely find objectionable?
- Richard Springer, Reporter, India West

What steps should the United States take if Pakistan refuses to or is unable to stop terrorist groups harbored there that operate in Afghanistan, India and other South Asian countries? Should we halt all military sales to Pakistan, impose economic sanctions or use diplomacy?
- Richard Springer, Reporter, India West

What would you and your team specifically do to bring about a dramatic advancement in human rights and religious freedom in Vietnam? Please detail three priorities.
- Anh Do, Editor, Nguoi Viet

The Bush government has repeatedly praised the administration of Gloria Arroyo for its successful counter-terrorism campaign in the Southern Philippines, in which U.S. support was a key factor. How would your administration pursue the campaign to eliminate the terror threat in that part of Southeast Asia?
- Regina Reyes, News Bureau Chief, ABS-CBN Global - The Filipino Channel, Supervising Producer, "Balitang America”

North Korea has moved to resume the reprocessing of plutonium. It is believed that the country is on the verge of restarting a nuclear weapon program whose shutdown was hailed by the White House as a significant diplomatic achievement. If you were elected, would you continue trying to prevent North Korea from arming itself with nuclear weapons? How would your strategy differ from that of the Bush administration?
- Sungchan Kim, Editor in chief, Korea Daily


Middle East

How would you propose to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict? And would you put it at the top of your agenda?
- Jamal Dajani, Senior Director for Middle Eastern Programming, Link TV

What plans do you have for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, and how much of a role should the United States play in that process?
- Susan Freudenheim, Managing Editor, The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles

What would be your position as president on the situation of the Palestinians who are still under Israeli occupation after 60 years?
- Joseph Haiek, Publisher, Arab American Affairs

Are you ready to accept responsibility for the injustices caused by the War in Iraq? Will the United States pay reparations to the victims of the War in Iraq?
- Jamal Dajani, Senior Director for Middle Eastern Programming, Link TV

How would you address the war in Iraq so as to restore respect for America in the world?
- Joseph Haiek, Publisher, Arab American Affairs

If Israel were to come under attack by Iran, what steps would you take in response?
- Susan Freudenheim, Managing Editor, The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles

How would you deal with the Muslim world, ease the tension, increase understanding, and decrease the military build-up?
- Yuru Chen, Executive Editor, World Journal


Europe

What is the future of the relationship between Russia and the United States?
- Eugene Levin, Publisher, Panorama Newspaper


Latin America

What would be your strategy to deal with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, who has threatened on many occasions not to sell petroleum to the United States?
- Alejandro Manrique, Executive Editor/News Director, Qué Pasa Media Network

What would be the U.S. political treatment of Venezuela, under Hugo Chávez's government?
- Ketty Rodriguez, Reporter, El Nuevo Herald

The war on drugs has intensified in Mexico since the approval of the Iniciativa Mérida (a blueprint of Colombia's Plan Colombia). This policy promoted terrorist acts from the drug cartels (three in particular: Cartel del Golfo, Cartel de Sinaloa and La Familia) against innocent people in Mexico. Would you consider a non-repressive approach to the War on Drugs?
- Alejandro Manrique, Executive Editor/News Director, Qué Pasa Media Network


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