美国亚裔选民有着共同关切，当然分歧也在所难免

AS IT IS 2016-07-04 Asian-American Voters Share Concerns, But Are Divided 美国亚裔选民有着共同关切，当然分歧也在所难免

Asian Americans will make up more than 10 percent of California voters by the time America elects the next president.

Asian Americans are the fastest-growing minority in the nation. Still, Asian community leaders in Los Angeles say the Democratic and Republican¹ parties are each doing a poor job appealing to Asian voters.

The community leaders were reacting to the release of a new study centered on the concerns and behaviors of Asian voters.

California State University, Los Angeles, carried out the study. It questioned more than 1,800 Asian American registered voters in Los Angeles.

The study suggested that Asian Americans’ politically are moving toward the Democratic Party, if they are moving at all. The researchers said age and country of origin are the biggest issues that divide Asian-Americans.

The study included people of Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Philippine ethnicity. It showed that those from the ages of 18 to 29, or “millennials,” think much differently than older Asians.

Most of the millennials were born in America. They know English very well. They get their news from the English language media. Their main source of news comes from the Internet.

The study shows that older Asian voters are mostly foreign-born and get their news from foreign language media.

Community leaders say political parties seeking support must find Asian candidates for office. They say Asian American voters often support candidates with whom they share the same ethnicity, even if they do not share the same political party.

“Asian Americans across the board support someone from their own community to represent them,” said business owner Charlie Woo. Woo is in charge of a community group called CAUSE.

Asian American also differ on what issues are important to them. Younger Asians in the study expressed liberal opinions on social issues, such as gay marriage.

Kat Alvarado is a Philippine American student at Cal State, Los Angeles. She says immigration reform, sexual² reproductive rights and gun control are the issues most important to her.

Alvarado says she is a political independent.

Political parties not reaching Asian Americans

Charlie Woo of CAUSE says that the study shows that only one in three Asian Americans voters have had contact with elected officials.

“I think the parties have been making a mistake not paying attention,” Woo said.

Many older immigrants need encouragement to vote, said David Ryu. He is the first Korean American elected to the Los Angeles City Council.

Ryu said total voter turnout in his election last year was just 16 percent. “For Asian Americans - Korean Americans - it was about 40 percent,” he said.

The leaders said outreach in politics should differ by age and community. Older Asian Americans are still the majority of active Asian voters. They attend to traditional broadcasts and print media.

Some of the recent Chinese and Korean immigrants follow foreign language media sources. Experts say religious organizations are another way to reach older Asian voters.

Young voters are less religious and more involved with technology. They can be reached through English websites and social media.

Less involvement in community

College student Hannah Hsieh spoke³ to VOA. She says that reaching Asian Americans like her can be difficult. She says this is because many young Asians are focused on education and career.

That is likely to change. Experts on politics predict that young, liberal Asian voters will become more involved in civic⁴ activities.

Words in This Story

millennials – n. a group of people whose birth dates generally range from the early 1980s to around 2000

encouragement - n. something that makes someone more determined⁵, hopeful or confident?

turnout – n. the number of people who go to or participate in something

focus - v. to cause something-such as attention- to be directed at something specific?

civic – adj. relating to citizenship or being a citizen

1 republican   

n.拥护共和政体的人； adj.共和政体的，（Republican）共和党人，（Republican）共和党的

参考例句：

• Some families have been republican for generations.有些家庭世代都支持共和党。
• A third candidate has entered the contest for the Republican nomination.第三个候选人已经加入角逐共和党提名的行列。

2 sexual   

adj.性的，两性的，性别的

参考例句：

• He was a person of gross sexual appetites.他是个性欲旺盛的人。
• It is socially irresponsible to refuse young people advice on sexual matters.拒绝向年轻人提供性方面的建议是对社会不负责任。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 civic   

adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的

参考例句：

• I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
• The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。

5 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。