If I believe what I am told then the Republicans support outsourcing and the Democrats are against it, right? That’s not entirely true as we all know. The Dems are exploiting outsourcing as a wedge issue, sometimes unfairly as Vinod pointed out in a previous post. How many times did we hear during the debate, “we outsourced the Tora Bora fight to Afghan Warlords.” The Dems know that use of the very word can exploit the anger many Americans feel, and they use this to their advantage. I doubt there would be huge differences in the policy either man would pursue as President.

What is happening in New Jersey’s 6th Congressional District is sort of backwards however. The Indian American Republican challenger Sylvester Fernandez, is going after the Democrat incumbent Frank Pallone with great vigor using outsourcing as the wedge issue. From the Ashbury Park Press:

Sylvester Fernandez, the Republican challenger in the 6th Congressional District race, blames incumbent Democrat Rep. Frank J. Pallone Jr. for the outsourcing of jobs to India.

But Pallone, of Long Branch, insists his voting record in the House of Representatives reflects his anti-outsourcing stance. And he pointed out that jobs are outsourced to countries other than India, which appears to be his opponent’s singular focus.

Let me get this straight. A first generation Indian American is attacking a Democrat for supporting outsourcing of jobs to India? Does this seem backward to anyone else? Looking at Fernandez’s platform on his website we see what his main issues are:

1. OUTSOURCING AS IT STANDS NOW IS UNFAIR TO AMERICANS. IT IS A ONE WAY STREET. THOSE COUNTRIES RECEIVING AMERICAN OUTSOURCED WORK MUST OPEN UP THEIR MARKETS IMMEDIATELY TO ALL AMERICAN GOODS AND SERVICES WITHOUT LET OR HINDRANCE. IT WILL CREATE JOBS IN AMERICA AND IN THOSE THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES TOO. OTHERWISE OUTSOURCING OF AMERICAN JOBS MUST BE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY.

2. I WILL PROPOSE CHEAPER MEDICINES TO SENIORS AND ALL CITIZENS FROM FDA APPROVED OVERSEAS PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES. I WILL INVITE HMO ORGANIZATIONS FROM EUROPE AND ASIA TO COMPETE IN AMERICA TO LOWER HEALTHCARE AND MEDICATIONÂ’S COSTS. PFIZER AMERICA AND PFIZER JAPAN IS THE SAME BUT PRODUCE CHEAPER MEDICATIONS IN ASIA WHICH SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE AT LOWER PRICES IN U.S.A TOO.

Here is what is even more bizzare. Pallone ranks sixth among congressman in the number of Indian American voters in his district. He has a record of being a strong supporter of Indian American causes. Just two weeks ago he introduced (probably with some coaxing) legislation in Congress:

[Pallone] introduced a legislation in the US House of Representatives recognising the 20th anniversary of the Bhopal disaster and expressing Congress’ commitment to working with the Indian government to ensure that Union Carbide is held responsible for its actions.

Now, although I don’t have the poll numbers to back this up, I would guess that most Indian American’s in the 6th district would support outsourcing as a way to uplift the status of India and relatives back home. By making his central issue anti-outsourcing, Fernandez might alienate his strongest potential constituency, which one would think would be fellow Indian Americans. Now I have never run a campaign, but this doesn’t seem so smart to me.

Fernandez, who is not expected to win, asks,

“I am the little guy. I am outmatched in funds, in name recognition, in height, weight, looks and the connections!” Fernandez wrote. “I am the outsider. I am David trying to fight Goliath. Am I stupid or what?”

No comment.

Update: Pallone in fact has the most Indian Americans in his district of any U.S. Congressional Rep.