Nothing riles me up more than blatant, plain-for-all-to-see, lapdogism (another word to add to the Urban Dictionary please). Stay with me a moment. Dr. Raghavendra Vijayanagar (who goes by “Dr. Vijay”) is the chairman of the Indian American Republican Council (IARC) which was formed in 2002. Their purpose:
The IARC is a 501 (c)(4) organization, and is the only national organization in America representing Indian American Republicans. While we come from many parts of India and live across the U.S., we are united in our belief that less government, more liberty, and a strong national defense are in the best interests of our country and we share these values with the Republican Party. [Link]
After Senator Joseph Biden (D) made a comment earlier this year which stereotyped Indians as being in every donut shop and 7-11 in his state of Delaware, this is the statement released by the IARC:
“Joe Biden has a history of making insensitive and inappropriate remarks,” said Dr. Vijay. “But even for him, this recent gaffe is clearly over the top. But this isn’t the first time a Senate Democrat has insulted Indian Americans. In 2004, Senator John Kerry referred to Sikhs as terrorists and Senator Hillary Clinton jokingly referred to Mahatma Gandhi as a gas station owner. A clear double-standard in the mainstream media will likely ensure Senator Biden gets a pass over these comments that would get a Republican in deep trouble if he ever made a similar statement…”“Senator Biden will be surprised to hear that I am a cardiothoracic surgeon, leading a national association of Indian Americans who are physicians, attorneys, and small business owners. It’s amazing to know we don’t all work at Dunkin Donuts or the local 7/11. The contributions to America by Indian Americans in the fields of medicine, education, science, and business have been well-documented. We’re not asking Senator Biden to apologize for his embarrassing, stereotypical comments. However, we do appreciate knowing what he really thinks of his Indian American constituents in Delaware…” [Link]
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p>And what did Dr. Vijay have to say after Senator George Allen (R) hurled an alleged racial slur at an Indian American this past week?
“We don’t believe Senator George Allen was making a reference to the ethnicity of Jim Webb’s campaign volunteer. He has apologized for any misunderstanding this statement has caused. We do know that Senator Allen has worked closely with Indian Americans when he was Governor and as U.S. Senator, and he has always garnered strong support from the community. He has visited India and showed strong leadership in supporting the U.S.-India civilian nuclear agreement.
“It’s disappointing to see Jim Webb using an Indian American volunteer in a demeaning fashion in order to garner attention to his campaign. We believe there are pressing issues facing Virginia and our nation, from the war on terrorism to the challenges in the Middle East. Jim Webb needs to engage in these issues instead of attempting to smear the reputation of a respected leader…” [Link]
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p>So Dr. Vijay, who heads the “ONLY national organization in America representing Indian American Republicans,” is blaming Webb for “using” young Sidarth in a demeaning fashion. Dr. Vijay, I hope someone fills your water dish for you tonight.
Rather than leave comments following my entry, I’d ask instead that you use your time to email (info@iarcnational.org) the IARC and let them know what you think about their latest press release. I know that many of our readers are Republicans so now is your chance to take ownership of an organization that claims to represent your interests.
I also hope that the organization’s Secretary, Dino Teppara, resigns. I have blogged about Dino before (see here, here, and here) and heard him speak on a panel at the NASABA conference in 2005. Although I don’t agree with his conservative political views, he did strike me as a reasonable guy and he is the same age as many of us that blog and comment here. Hopefully he sees the ridiculous hypocrisy in these conflicting press statements and quits his position.
Hey Indian Repubs!
A lot of us are disappointed (disgusted, really) by Allen and also by IARC’s response to Allen. Maybe more of us should join the group or start our own group? Do you think a statement like that would have come out of the mouths of a Vinod, MD, KXB, Janeofalltrades or other right-leaners on this board? I bet we would have crafted something very different. I know I would have.
RC, calm down. You can slur Indian Republicans with tax-cut/doctor schtick all you want, but this particular one is her own woman and won’t be bullied into supporting causes she doesn’t believe in, okay?
EXCUSE ME? I agree with MD… you can slur doctors all you want..but i’m not ass kissing republicans…allen is a pure jackass, and his bum will be burned.. whether it be by a macaca mutiny or not…not all republicans are physicians, and vice versa…
MD – yes indeed girl, go head and start that group – desi republicans for sanity! Then join the Log Cabin Republicans in the basement of the next GOP convention and commiserate about your isolation and why the bossmen ain’t returning your calls (but are only too happy to cash your checks)!
As for taxcuts, etc. – i do not think RC was talking about all doctors or all republicans. Doctors just seem to be the most active in things like IARC, and since they are probably not about the Bible-thumping issues, it must be economic, maybe combined with some social conservative concerns (sex is bad, evil Western influences, etc). But having met many of these fatcat GOP uncle-jis – it’s nearly always about their wallets.
Politics and religion are making all sorts of strange bedfellows these days – prowar desi hindus since they hate on the muslims, radical islamists finding bonds with neo-nazis, etc. I know the Dems ain’t perfect, but I cannot figure out a really solid reason for desis to be GOPers other than the wallet, GIVEN the current party’s straying from truly conservative principles (personal privacy, spending discipline, truly free markets, etc.).
Hell, I might be a republican too if they actually represented any of those things nowadays.
… and chick pea, just to close the loop on your comment, it also goes without saying that not all republican physicians go around pimping for unrepentant, confederate-sympathizing, slur-wielding, usually-consultant-scripted senators with bad hair.
Dr. Vijay Sahib – good job recruiting me into the democratic fold. Now that you’ve insulted me personally, which democratic house ‘macaca’ should I mail the check to?
And what’s up with the dissing the uncli-jis on this thread? Except when you want their money for law school, grad school, med school, that new shiny car……
Nice try saying you’d be a Republican too if they stood for truly conservative principles. You aren’t a conservative, so why should their straying bother you?
Jeez. Another classic example of why I left the left. Your every motive is suspect if it doesn’t follow the party line.
What is wrong with being republican because you think that republicans make the most economic sense? Not excusing lapdogism. But, what exactly is wrong with thinking through your wallet?
Ah yes MD – you are so right. I forgot how big and inclusive the GOP tent is. As for who’s towing party lines, where to even begin – do you get faxed Mehlman’s Talking Points memo daily?
And you do not know me, how can you say that I am a Democrat and that I am not a conservative – if you are concerned about party lines being towed, then you should be for someone who chooses their positions a la carte. Unfortunately the buffet ain’t looking great at the modern GOP.
Also, to be clear, no uncle-ji (just a generic term btw) paid for my education or otherwise, so what’s that have to do with anything?
PS – where was the personal insult? Relax and have a nice day.
You are not a conservative and you are not a republican. Come on, no righty I know writes stuff like ‘fat cat uncle-jis thinking through their wallets’, okay? And it is a personal insult to suggest the only reason a person votes republican is because they are greedy, which is what you implied with the uncleji comment. And you weren’t the only one to single out fat cat uncle-jis, so that part of it wasn’t specifically directed at you.
Thanks. I will have a nice day 🙂
OK MD – i’ll bite, please elaborate on why you are a “rightie”, other than greed.
And I never said I was a Republican or a conservative (in your version of the word), but you assumed I was a Democrat. One can be fiscally conservative (and still think about the fatcats who are only considering their wallets) and be a social libertarian – that sums it up for me. There are fiscally conservative approaches that still have a social conscience (like progressive welfare reform) – but I see few of those coming out of the modern GOP. Check up on it.
?progressive welfare reform? Social libertarian and fiscally conservative? Oh dear. Gibberish.
Okay, sorry, that was mean and I should apologize. So, I apologize. Good luck to you.
PS: Free markets. Low tariffs and free trade. Limited farm subsidies. Strong defense. Strong communities and strong families (no, that’s not anti-gay marriage). The right to bear arms. Limited government regulation. Accountability in government. A person to be judged as an individual. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. You know, stuff like that.
Look, currently the republicans are a bit of a mess. But, to me, the other side is more of a mess. That’s all.
MD – thanks for the elaborate response. You’ve really made your case.
HMF, that comment just made me smile. Again, best wishes to you. Sincerely.
Oh, and by the way? I wasn’t being sarcastic, as you were in your last comment. I genuinely wish you the best.
(Oh great gods of Sepia Mutiny, why do I even bother?)
MD – my last comment posted before your last response – no harm done.
I have to say that you need to examine how much the modern GOP stands for the principles you outline (though the right to bear arms is iffy). But I think you’ve started to acknowledge that – but i would disagree that the other side is more of a mess. Thinking people have disagreements and do not march lockstep, which leads to a percieved mess, egged on by FOXNews and other mouthpieces – perhaps your minority w/in the GOP needs to get fired up and better organized to take back the sanity. Surely, as an MD, you bristle when Dubya says the jury is out on evolution and global warming, for starters.
Peace unto you…
That’s why we heart you, Emdee-di. 🙂
Just to let you know that people are taking action … I just made a $200 donation to Webb’s campaign. I’m thinking of volunteering for the campaign as well since I live in the DC area.
Also, please note that the South Asian Bar Association of Washington, DC criticized Sen. Allen’s remarks.
how about “I am Macaca !” T-shirt ?
What did you Allen-haters think about Joe Biden’s comment about Indians or Hillary Clinton’s derogatory comment using Mahatma Gandhi of all people? BTW, George Allen is a jackass, but let’s get real. Biden and Hillary are as well.