Chinese Bloggers Hotly Debate Democratic Candidates

New America Media, News Report, Jun Wang, Posted: Feb 01, 2008

Editor’s Note: As Chinese American bloggers debate whom they should vote for in the Democratic primary, Hillary Clinton is emerging as their first choice, while Barack Obama has the support of the American-born Chinese, writes NAM reporter Jun Wang.

Democratic frontrunners Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have stirred a heated debate, as well as generational warfare, in the Chinese-language blogosphere. First generation Chinese Americans have embraced Clinton in huge numbers for her stances on China and other issues, and many youth are backing Obama. Most of the bloggers’ energy, however, is being expended in vitriolic attacks on the candidates they don’t support

One of the most controversial topics discussed on Chinese blogs is the statement by a Chinese American organization, “80-20,” urging Chinese Americans not to vote for Obama because he was the only Democratic candidate who refused to answer a questionnaire they sent. Questions 80-20 asked ranged from how he would deal with labor issues if elected, to whether “to increase the nomination of qualified Asian Americans” for top government posts.

“They are all reasonable questions,” the blogger “LanSe” on cnd.org wrote. “Obama is a leader from the ethnic community, but he’s supposed to lead all Americans (if elected). His response (to the questionnaire) is hard to understand. I’m worried about his future policies toward China and Chinese Americans.”

On MITBBS.com, the most heavily trafficked Chinese-language online forum in the United States, a blogger by the name of “Bod” observed that Obama is handsome, charming and even sexy after watching the YouTube video made by an Obama fan, “Obama girl.”

Others are impressed by Clinton’s political and governing experience as a U.S. senator since 2001, and her eight-year White House term as First Lady.

Obama has raised some serious questions among Chinese bloggers, who are concerned that he lacks political experience. “His message is just empty rhetoric, filled with catchy words, like hope and change,” said a blogger who goes by the moniker “unceasing lobster.” “Unless he convinces me of what kind of change (he) will deliver, who could vote for him?”

That same blogger characterizes Obama’s experience as being in the “kindergarten of politics.”

Many bloggers appear convinced that Clinton has more experience, and has presented a more concrete agenda to the American people. “Leftmind” on MITBBS.com posted: “When it comes to the most important economic and health care issues, Hillary at least speaks about numbers and plans, which people can either agree with or argue about. The point is she has something for people to comment on. Obama seems have nothing, nothing essential.”

“The same is true on Iraq,” writes “leftmind.” “Hillary said she would pull our troops out in one year. It’s a statement that could either be proved true of false, which makes it worthwhile to discuss.”

Obama has proven himself to be a more than competent speaker, but his performance in debates against Clinton and other candidates has drawn criticism among Chinese bloggers. “He can DELIVER a speech written by others with fine eloquence. However, he has a hard time expressing himself in debates, or when questioned by reporters,” writes “unceasing lobster” on the Chinese forum. “He has a great aura of hope but no skills to actually get the job done.”

Meanwhile, Chinese bloggers were quick to note the gender and racial overtones in each other’s perceptions of the candidates. “Hobo-hobo” on wenxuecity.com posted: “I can’t trust someone who doesn’t know how to trust others. Hillary Clinton is that kind of a person. She is always looking for enemies and ready to fight. I think the reason for her aggressiveness is that she didn’t have a happy family life when she was young.”

The message triggered multiple posts from Clinton supporters. “Girl’s mom” wrote, “There is nothing wrong with being ambitious as a woman…Don’t be fooled by one-sided stories. Read both sides and then judge.” Bloggers went on to praise Clinton’s “toughness” and “intelligence” as a female lawyer and politician.

Older Chinese Americans tend to favor Clinton over Obama, says David Lee, executive director of the Chinese American Voter Education Committee based in San Francisco, while younger Chinese Americans tend to support Obama. Most Chinese American voters between the ages of 18 and 24 were born in the United States, don’t speak the Chinese language, and consider themselves to be more American.

But both Clinton and Obama have problematic positions on China, bloggers say. On MITBBS.com, “Googleme,” an Obama supporter, writes, “The Clinton Administration was not friendly to China…Bill Clinton is the only American president in 30 years who allowed top Taiwan governors come to visit the United States. It is an aggressively bold encouragement of Taiwan’s independence from China.” The assumption is that Hillary Clinton would pick up her husband’s China policy.

Other bloggers mock Obama’s “naive inconsistency” – he originally proposed to “stop the import of all toys from China,” which would have been practically impossible. He later called for the United States to ban only toys from China that were made of toxic materials.

“If you’re still somewhat Chinese, and if you hope China’s economy grows, you’d better not vote for Obama,” writes a blogger who goes by the name “wildtiger.”

Being a member of an ethnic community doesn’t automatically translate to voting for Obama, bloggers note. “I see some African American leaders (Oprah, Denzel, etc.) making his candidacy a racial one as they use churches and other forums to push African Americans to vote for him,” writes “unceasing lobster,” who worries that Obama listens more to the concerns of other Americans. “We see 80 percent of African Americans will vote for Obama,” writes “shakuras” on MITBBS.com. “So what do the mainstream and other ethnic communities think? Isn’t it scary?”

Photo by: Alanadair89 at Flickr.com

Page 1 of 1

Printable Version Return to Normal Version Send Page to Friend Subscribe to NAM Newsletters