A while back in the comment section of this post about the power of the “Desi voting bloc,” I introduced the term “iceberg” as an alternative to “bloc.” Some people argue, correctly, that you can’t have a “South Asian/desi voting bloc” because on certain issues Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi-Americans etc. simply won’t agree. True. However, I believe that living in America there is far more that we agree on than disagree on. So why not icebergs? They float around and clump together and then float apart again. Nothing forces them to stay together all the time. When they do clump together they can bring down a ship with ease (and drown DiCaprio as a bonus).

In this election cycle SM has been asked to help in a number of political campaigns. People know that we have a diverse South Asian audience that is pretty knowledgeable. We turned all such requests down of course since SM is a non-partisan blog that does not have a political agenda other than to inform our readers of South Asian American politics and politicians. All previous requests came from South Asian candidates. Now we have non-South Asian candidates vying for the attention of this audience (YOU GUYS) as well. You want an example? Tammy Duckworth (D) is running for U.S. Congress in Illinois’s 6th Congressional District (open seat). She is Thai American, and she is also a veteran:

Tammy Duckworth of Hoffman Estates has built her life and career upon serving her country, her community and those in need around the world. She is a dedicated, tireless leader and an inspirational example of what can be achieved through hard work, determination, compassion for others and a positive outlook. Having recently recovered from serious injuries sustained while serving on active duty in Iraq, Tammy’s next goal – in addition to flying helicopters again for the Illinois Army National Guard – is to fight for the interests of the people of Illinois’ Sixth District in the United States Congress…

On November 12, 2004, Tammy was co-piloting a Black Hawk helicopter north of Baghdad when a rocket-propelled grenade struck the cockpit of her aircraft and exploded. Focused on the safety of her crew, Tammy was determined to land the helicopter not realizing she had been severely injured and that the other pilot was already at the controls. It wasn’t until the helicopter landed that she passed out. Ten days later, when she woke up at Walter Reed Memorial Hospital in Maryland, she learned that the explosion would cost her both legs and had shattered her right arm. It has been a long road to recovery, but Tammy is optimistic and determined to serve her country in a new way. [Link]

So what does any of this have to do with SM and its readers? Here is an email I received from someone working on Duckworth’s campaign who wanted to place campaign ads on our site (we don’t do ads):

She’s Asian American–Thai and Chinese on her mother’s side–and would be the first Asian American to represent the Midwestern states, and, I believe, the only Asian American woman in Congress, if she wins. Her race is deadlocked right now, but there’s every chance she can win…and the key to victory turns out to be South Asians in her district. The election probably hinges on a few hundred votes, so literally, this will be a race decided by Desis.

I know he is correct when he says that the key to victory in this election might be desis because I am very familiar with that district. Most of my extended family lives within its borders and I was born close by. Her opponent is Peter Roskam (R):

The seed of interest in government was planted by his fourth grade teacher, Miss Lillian Anderson, at Ben Franklin Public School. Peter completed his “Illinois” project folder and still carries it with him to school classrooms when he visits today.

His years in growing up in the district were punctuated by experiences that left a lasting impression on him. He started a house cleaning service, served as Student Senate President at Glenbard West High School and was a varsity gymnast. He even bicycled across America – from San Diego to Virginia Beach. [Link]

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p>An article in the Sun-Times describes how this is “ground game time.” Your votes are part of that ground game:

The battle to replace Rep. Henry Hyde, one of the most closely watched in the nation, is down to a massive war on the airwaves and intense get-out-the-vote drives.

“It’s now the ground game,” Democrat Tammy Duckworth said Sunday.

“This is where the ground game pays off,” said GOP rival Peter Roskam.

It’s rare agreement in what has been a brutal race in the west and northwest suburban 6th Congressional District that combined will cost more than $10 million, with most of the money spent on television ads. Polls — public and those conducted for the campaigns — show it’s a tossup.

“All of the experts say that this race will be won or lost by 2,000 votes — 1 or 2 percent. That’s all it’s going to be,” Duckworth said. [Link]

SM does not endorse either candidate. We will leave it up to you to check out their websites and do your research. There is still plenty of time. If you live in that district and had any doubt that your vote mattered, I hope I’ve erased it. One thing is clear though, other Asian American communities are reaching out to the South Asian “icebergs.”