Andy Toy来稿: 力挺哈里斯的更多原因, 别让谎言把我们分裂

As one of the Philadelphia AAPI leaders, Andy Toy now serves as Policy Director of Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations (PACDC). He also serves on the boards of several organizations, including the School District of Philadelphia's Nominating Panel and the Philadelphia Union Benevolent Association, etc. 

I hope that many readers here were able to read my editorial in the Chinese Metro 4 weeks ago (Why Asian Americans should be voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in November),  before the Presidential debate. If not, you may want to take the time to read it. 

Unfortunately, what we're seeing from Trump (and his running mate), even in the debate, has gotten even worse - completely false attacks on legal immigrants (Haitians are here legally and hard working) claiming they are eating dogs and cats and bringing disease to America. He could have easily been talking about us as Asian Americans. 

Years ago I remember taking a bus from Philly to NYC to protest the false accusations by a NY paper that Chinese restaurants were serving rats in their food. And remember SARS and then COVID caused people to shun Chinatown and Chinese Americans? Trump could have easily substituted Asian for Haitian and we would be under attack again. Using fear, hate and "othering" (especially of non-white people) is obviously a strategy of his and we know that, from the China Virus, Kung Flu and that global warming is a Chinese hoax! 

And the idea that Trump might be better for the economy is laughable. For someone whose father gave him over $400 Million to capitalize his business he has declared bankruptcy 6 times and not paid many small businesses the money he owed them. He may call that smart, I call that dishonest. My great grandfather came to this country with almost nothing but had a piece of wood with the words "honesty endures". He was successful in business because he kept his word, could be trusted, and treated people the way he wanted to be treated, unlike Trump. 

Trump's strategy is to attack "others" (do you remember how he mocked a man with disabilities?) just like a bully. As an Asian American I know how that feels, and you do too. We know he has questioned Harris' race as he questioned Obama being American.

As Oprah said recently, and many others have too, "character counts" critically. This is why hundreds of Republican leaders and American military leaders have come out against him - even his own Vice President, Chiefs of Staff and 4 Star Generals are working to keep him away from power again. And he just said that people protesting the Supreme Court should be locked up - does this sound eerily familiar? 

So ultimately, if you don't think character is important, then how do you support someone who, while President, even before the pandemic, lost hundreds of thousands of jobs and was responsible for the third highest Federal debt increase in history, in large part due to his tax breaks for the wealthiest, who already don't pay their fair share of taxes？Meanwhile, under Biden-Harris we have hit all-time highs in the stock market, a leading indicator of the economy. 16 million new jobs for Biden-Harris versus losing 2.7 million jobs under Trump (starting before the pandemic).

Gas prices are now down - I was in NJ and the price was below $3 per gallon! This will lead to even greater decreases in inflation since the cost of energy is a part of everything we buy. And Kamala Harris has a real plan that will help most of us who are hard working and didn't inherit our wealth, so don't fall for his lies, including tariffs that will create even more inflation and probably create a recession. 

Smartly, most Asian Americans recognize the reality and are not fooled by the lies and divisiveness from Trump. In fact, APIAVote just released a poll showing 66 percent of Asian American voters plan on voting for Vice President Harris, compared to 28 percent who say they back former President Trump. If you are not already with us, please think carefully and do the right thing for Asian Americans: vote for Harris - Walz in this election!

Statement: Metro Chinese Weekly welcomes submissions from both Harris/Walz and Trump/Vance supporters. Our editorial team will review and select articles that are logically sound, respectful, and reader-friendly for publication.