The Democratic National Committee, a group consisting of party officials who guide the Democratic Party and are currently led by Howard Dean, have just selected three desi women and one man to positions within the party in preparation for the convention in Denver later this year. SM is determined to be on hand at said convention to hopefully see these new committee members in action, and to witness how/if South Asian Americans are making strides by integrating into all levels of political participation (including smoky back-room-type politics).
The executive committee of the Democratic National Committee has elected three Indian Americans to the standing committees at the 2008 Democratic National Convention, convening Aug. 25-28 in Denver, Colo.
Sunita Leeds, co-chair of the Washington, D.C.-based education-oriented Enfranchisement Foundation, was named one of the three co-chairs of the rules committee, which proposes convention rules, adopts an agenda and makes recommendations for permanent convention officers.
San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris and Smita Shah, founder and president of Chicago-based engineering and construction management company Spaan Technologies, were named to the platform committee, which drafts the party’s national platform.
In addition, Pakistan-born Iman Malik Mujahid, founder and president of Chicago-based Islamic teaching materials distributor Sound Vision Foundation, was named to the credentials committee, which coordinates selection of convention delegates and alternates. [Link]
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Of course, all of these new members will have their personal favorite among the candidates. For example, despite the fact that Smita Shah is a former Bill Clinton appointee, she is backing Obama in this race:
Shah, who will be married in February, was a delegate to the Democratic national conventions in 1996 and 2004 and on the rules committee in the 2000 and 2004 conventions.
She said that the Indian American community has changed dramatically since 1996, when “there were just seven people of Indian origin as delegates.” There were about 19-21 in 2004 and many more are expected this August.
A former appointee to President Bill Clinton’s Millennium Council to Save America’s Treasures, Shah is supporting Barack Obama for president.
“I have great respect for them (the Clintons), but I have been a supporter of Barack Obama and they have been gracious and understanding to me. They know I have to support my guy…” [Link]
Here is a bit of background on each of the new faces of the DNC:
Sunita Gupta LeedsSunita Gupta Leeds, with her husband Dan Leeds, has been involved in Democratic politics for years. A software developer by training, she is now deeply involved with progressive non-profit causes particularly focused on education, is on three advisory boards related to education, and Co-Chairs The Enfranchisement Foundation, which funds charities that act as catalysts in breaking the cycle of poverty and ignorance, and charities that specialize in women’s issues. As Chair of the Council’s Advisory Board, Sunita will coordinate a network of Indian-American activists, community leaders, elected officials, and celebrities to support the fundraising and outreach work of the Council. [Link]
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Kamala Harris
San Francisco District Attorney Kamala D. Harris is a veteran prosecutor who has dedicated her outstanding legal talents to prosecuting violent crime, combating the sexual exploitation of children, fighting elder abuse and working creatively to improve the quality of life in San Francisco. [Link]
Smita Shah
Today, Smita Shah is the president of SPAAN Technology, Inc. Founded in 1998, this Chicago-based firm now employs 41 professionals providing construction management, engineering, and facility/technology services. Clients include a wide range of public and private organizations including the State of Illinois, Exelon (Commonwealth Edison), the City of Chicago, U.S. Department of Energy, and Illinois Toll Highway Authority. Last summer, Senator Barbara Boxer presented Smita Shah with the 2004 Women Making History Award honoring her success as an entrepreneur. [Link]
Iman Malik Mujahid
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p>Abdul Malik Mujahid, is the President and Director of Sound Vision Foundation Inc. He is an Imam in the Chicago area. A graduate of Darul Uloom Shah Waliullah in Islamic Studies and the University of Chicago in Political Science, he has learned television production as director and producer at the Chicago Access Corporation. He is the producer of Sound Vision’s programs. He was also responsible for the concept and design of Al-Qari, the leading Quran learning multimedia software. Mujahid has served as the National Coordinator of Bosnia Task Force, USA. It was in this capacity that he initiated the formation of the Islamic Shura Council of North America. He also serves as National Coordinator of Kosova Task Force, USA, an alliance of 10 national organizations of Muslims in America. Mr. Mujahid also serves at the executive committee of the Council for a World Parliament of World Religions. [Link]
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With regard to these new appointments Howard Dean was quoted as saying:
Dean, in a statement about the inclusiveness of the selection process, added, “These outstanding leaders reflect the great strength, diversity and energy of the Democratic Party, and I’m confident their efforts will ensure our convention in Denver is reflective of our shared values and our nominee’s vision for America…” [Link]
I am considering trying out to be a delegate in Georgia. One of my friends asked me to try out. I heard you got to shell out 4 grand of your own money to cover all kinds of delegate related expenses.
Anyone knows if it is worth it? I have a cousin who used to be in the DNC. I will probably talk to her about it. I wonder after all that trouble, I will end up just observing a Hillary coronation.
Pravin, Only you can say whether it’s “worth” it–why not give it a shot? I’m sure it would be an interesting experience, whether or not you’d want to repeat it.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Help! Help! Help! And here I was cowering under my bed the whole last few years at the threat of the GOP’s anti-secularist agenda.
re: comment #2, I am trying to have fun with the difference between US and Indian conceptions of “secularism.”
I LOVE that brown ppl are establishing higher visibility political roles, finally! And to top it off, it’s smart Desi women taking the lead.
Pravin- if you’ve got the ambition, do it! There are desi pockets everywhere itching to support you.
If that happens, Neera Tanden may be someone to keep an eye on.
“SM is determined to be on hand at said convention….”
Will there be an SM get-together in Denver too?
sj, thanks. I think, we as a community, have the ability to offer the Democratic Party a fresh perspective on ideas. Education and fiscal policy being two of those issues.
Abhi, just wanted to say I am loving your elections coverage. Thanks 🙂
more power, more curry!!!
Or not. OBAMA!
I believe Hillary would consider that an obamanation.
lol
This election is a joke on the american people.
Mcain, Romney, Huckabee,Guliani,Clinton, Obama,.. all are backed by the same neo-con folks.
Clinton ( the establishment candidate and rupert murdochs favorite choice for president, enough said) Obama ( the biggest joke on the american public, look who his campaign backers, some of the biggest neo cons, ever, look at the amount of “special interest” money this guy has taken from pharma companies and hedge funds ) Huckabee ( ohh ok, his assistant governor was a rockfeller, enough said ) Mcain ( this guy has gone so right wing, he wants to keep troops in iraq, and has joe liberman supporting him, enough said.) Romney(if this guy aint true blue blood establishment, no one is, his pops george romney was a part of the trilateral comission, former governor of michigan and part of general motors board,)
what a pharce.. but hey i guess.. its karma, you reap what you sow.
i guess the “taken to the cleaners” american voter, deserves this.
good luck with your election coverage.
Obama is shocked, SHOCKED, I tell you, that people would impute even the tiniest hint of pettiness to his nobility. Are you with hope, or against hope?
Can any of you bloggers get into the Dem or Rep convention ?? I mean can you get a press pass?? I hope any of you can and also find the time to do it. It can be great. It’d be like when Stephen Colbert went to the 2004(in 2003) conventions.
Abhi, just wanted to say I am loving your elections coverage. Thanks 🙂
I second that.
Frankly, where the f&& is SPOORLAM???!!!! I’m tired of these half-penny imitators.
coverage/jihadi/punjabi boy/hugo chavez/eugene mccarthy/keeping them honest/TAMIL TIGER,
please pick a handle–only one and stick to it. Continue to switch and you will be banned and deleted.
That has always been my Evil master plan. So yes.
Are you with hope, or against hope?
How different is this than the 04 campaign of, area you for terrorist attacks? or against them?
area = are
Eugene Mcarthy has it right (just like the the real E. Mcarthy) All the canidates, both the donkey and the elephant are un-inspiring in this campaign. They all share the same ideology and lobbyists. As Barry Goldwater said. “there is not a dime worth of difference once they get to Washington, D.C.”
I don’t know. I find the Huckabee candidacy very inspirational. If only I could pull off even half his stellar ratio of achievement to intellectual ability, it would truly reinforce my belief in the American Dream.
This might be, but we still live in a world where a woman running for president inspires reactions like this, Fox can get “experts” who say things like “When Hillary speaks, men hear ‘take out the garbage'”, and men can interrupt her campaign meetings yelling “Iron my clothes.” Truly vomit-inducing.
And in other corner… A pox on all y’all’s houses.
“Ted Kennedy does not care about women people.”