DNC Vice-Chair Mike Honda, Actress Kelly Hu Inspire Audience

Washington DC, June 10, 2008 - Over 200 Asian American activists and leaders packed the hall for the 2008 Celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander American Political Empowerment. Held at the Democratic National Committee's headquarters on Capitol Hill, AAA-Fund's Celebration celebrated Asian American unity and participation in politics.

"In 2008, Asian Americans will play a critical role in helping us retake the White House and enlarge our House and Senate majority," said AAA-Fund Executive Director Gautam Dutta. "We congratulate Hillary Clinton on her historic candidacy, and look forward to doing our part to help Barack Obama become President," he added.

Actress Kelly Hu, the Celebration's Mistress of Ceremonies, took pride in how Asian Americans have come together for the 2008 election: "Tonight's event is about unity. We have the same desire to increase the voice of the APA community in government and politics and the same desire to work together with all Democrats to elect a President and a Congress that will fix the economy and the war, make health care coverage universal, and get serious about global warming."

Hu has campaigned for Senator Barack Obama in several states.

Both Clinton and Obama supporters used the evening to rally behind Obama's Presidential candidacy. Irene Bueno, National APA Outreach Director for the Clinton Campaign, thanked the Asian American community for their support and urged them to help elect Obama.

Senator Obama's Legislative Counsel, Ruchi Bhowmik, told the audience that on Asian American issues "Senator Obama gets it." She noted that Obama's chief of staff and legislative director are Asian Americans. She also shared a story about how Obama had urged her to run for office, because Asian Americans and women are underrepresented in politics.

Chris Van Hollen, Maryland Congressman and Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said Obama's campaign would help Democrats in key congressional races in the fall, including Asian American candidates: "The enthusiasm we've seen about the Barack Obama campaign is going to help lift many of our challengers around the country. In the House races we have 40 challengers ready to take on incumbent Republicans." Van Hollen made special mention of one those challengers, Ashwin Madia, an Indian-American running for Congress in Minnesota. Madia is an AAA-Fund endorsee.

Speakers praised the AAA-Fund's work in helping Asian American candidates overcome the disadvantages they face as newcomers on the political scene.

Congresswoman and AAA-Fund Honorary Board Member Mazie Hirono (D-HI) described how a longtime House member spent only $75,000 in his last campaign for reelection, while she spent $1.5 million to get elected in 2006. "That's the kind of money we are having to raise, so I thank AAA-Fund very much," she said.

AAA-Fund Honorary Board Chair and Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA) noted that AAA-Fund had raised half a million dollars to support 60 candidates and that he was one of the first recipients of funding eight years ago. "In eight years this vision of being politically active by pulling resources together has become a reality," he said.

The evening also brought out the importance of having Asian Americans in Congress. Hirono touted her support of a bill to provide benefits to Filipino American World War II veterans, and recognized an octogenarian veteran in the audience.

Others in attendance included Congressmembers and AAA-Fund Honorary Board Members Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Bobby Scott (D-VA), David Wu (D-OR), Al Green (D-TX), and Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam). AAA-Fund endorsee Edwin Chau, who is running for the Southern California's 42nd Congressional District in the fall, also flew in from Southern California to join the Celebration. Representatives Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Mike Capuano (D-MA), and Joe Sestak (D-PA) also attended the celebration.

To view the highlights of the night, please visit AAA-Fund's video postings.

The AAA-Fund is a national Democratic political organization whose goal is to increase the voice of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) in local, state and federal government, by encouraging AAPIs to volunteer on campaigns, raise money for candidates, and run for political office.