A candidate in a North Carolina Republican congressional primary baselessly calls Pakistani immigrant Kamran Akhtar a terrorist (via Shashwati’s Blog). Here’s what the TV ad says:

“When Vernon said our unguarded Mexican border was a threat to our national security, the liberals laughed… They’re not laughing anymore. This is Pakistani terrorist Kamran Akhtar. He got arrested videotaping targets in Charlotte, North Carolina. He came here illegally, across our Mexican border… I’m Vernon Robinson and I approve this message because Akhtar didn’t come here to live the American dream. He came here to kill you. In Congress, I will shut that border down.”

Here’s what law enforcement says:

Last month, 35-year-old Kamran Akhtar was arrested while filming Charlotte’s downtown skyline… A high-ranking law enforcement official in New York said investigators there view Kamran Akhtar as a “video buff” with no links to terrorism… “At this point, there is nothing to connect this individual to any terrorist plot or organization,” Beatty [North Carolina’s head of homeland security] said Wednesday.

Vernon Robinson’s primary opponent, Republican Virginia Foxx, complained: Robinson is pulling accusations out of his colon.

Update: Robinson lost his primary to Foxx today, so his ad smacks of a last-minute Hail Mary. But he had 45% of the vote, which is just scary.

For those of you interested in the election, life in Washington D.C., and the politics of the White House, not only should DC blog (and gawker family blog) Wonkette be on your blog radar, Dan Froomkin’s White House Briefing should be a regular on your internet explorer’s history bar.

Froomkin’s most recent commentary has focused on the “Ask President Bush” events conducted by the White House and has pointed to two quite interesting pieces (among various others) on what appears to be quite misleading events. The first is from Yesterdays Times by Elisabeth Bumiller and another article by the Associated Press’s Scott Lindlaw.

For those that haven’t noticed, South Asians for Kerry (SAKI) has a website up and running. Although I don’t know for sure what the “I” in the acronym stands for, I suspect it is placed there simply so that the organization’s name is a homonym of the glorious alcoholic beverage, Sake. Well done, I say.

In an effort to energize the South Asian presence in the political process South Asians for Kerry in 2004 (SAKI) was formed in March of 2003. SAKI is officially recognized by and works closely with the Kerry campaign with chapters in Boston, Washington D.C., New York, and the Bay Area.

SAKI is focused on driving fundraising, voter registration, and policy initiatives throughout the South Asian community.

What I found most interesting on the site was the one-page issues primer.

According to my friend in NYC who works closely with SAKI, there is also an article in the WSJ today titled, “In the U.S., Indians Gain Political Clout.” Unfortunately my poor ass can’t afford the WSJ so I can’t be more helpful.

In an election where every vote will make the difference, you have to pick and choose which minorities you might be able to lure into your camp, and then make a play. The ball is in play and we are it. Sify news reports:

In a first advertisment of its kind, the Republican party has re-counted the strides made in the India-US relationship urging Indian-Americans to help re-elect President George W. Bush.

The advertisement, issued by Marc Raciot, chairman of the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign, said Bush understands India’s potential to become one of the great democratic powers of the 21st century and has worked to transform the US-India relationship.

“Throughout his first term in office, President Bush has honoured the many contributions of Indian-Americans in our country by advancing policies that reflect their priorities. We are grateful for the support the President’s campaign has obtained from Indian-Americans and we look forward to working together to re-elect President Bush,” the advertisement read.

Now I can’t seem to find this “advertisement.” Was it simply a verbal ad or was it print media, or television? I checked both the Bush-Cheney website and the RNC website but no luck so far. Will keep you updated. At times like this I wish there was a Karl Rove equivalent on the Dems side.

…the huge influx of smart, cute interns. Oh, stop being so self-righteous. You know that you were thinking it too, I am just saying it out loud. One of the many reasons I miss my old ‘hood.

A survey on Capitol Hill interns last year reveals how the interns straddle two worlds: a left-behind college campus where nose rings reign, and a high-powered city dotted with power ties.

The following quote sums it all up:

Says Ketaki Gokhale, 21, who interned with Congressman Jim Langevin: “I should write a diary: My Experience On The Hill. It’s a slog. I don’t think I’d work there as a staffer. But the nightlife rocks.”

Apparently and Indian American Leadership Council (IALC) was one of the groups that got formed during the Democratic National Convention. What is the IALC? As reported by the IACPA and by the Pacific News Service:

Unlike the Indian American Republican Council (IARC) formed last year by Republican sympathizers in the community, the IALC is not an independent body, but a wing of the [Democratic National Committee] working within the party structure. Besides the IALC, there are five other DNC leadership Councils: the WomenÂ’s Leadership Council, the Hispanic American Leadership Council, the Asian Pacific Leadership Council, the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council and the African American Leadership Council. The goal of each Council is to raise $2.5 million until November 2, 2004.

The use of the word sympathizers really stood out to me in the above paragraph.

I am no novice to politics. I know how the game is played and that cash rules everything, but reading this article it was so apparent that raising money for a cause seems to be more important than defining or debating the cause. I am not blaming the IALC for the impression this story left on me. It could simply be the way the article was written. Continue reading →

Apparently there was a bit of a throwdown right in the middle of the Indian Independence Day parade in Chi-town. Fellas don’t you understand? Divide and conquer. THAT is what “The Man” wants.

Check out the colors Barack is sporting.

The Harvard Crimson now reports that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, will not be speaking at Harvard this September.

The Indian Express wrote last week that, following a phone call from University President Lawrence H. Summers, Singh accepted Lamont University Professor Amartya SenÂ’s invitation to speak at the University.

Why the reversal? What gives?

Well according to an article on Rediff.com:

The Indian Express had also reported that India’s ministry of external affairs had advised the prime minister not to speak at Harvard as the timing of the lecture would clash with bilateral negotiation appointments. The article had that MEA officials felt that a “meeting with Summers, who was treasury secretary in Bill Clinton’s Democratic administration, could jeopardise relations with the current Republican White House.”

Sigh. Will things never change?

My favorite image from the DNC in Boston:

This is delegate Harjit Singh from Hershey, PA. There’s actually been a Sikh delegate at the DNC for at least 12 years. When I was younger, I remember watching an older gentleman from the South in the televised coverage; he always got at least one closeup.

Sadly, there is no guaranteed patriotic prophylaxis against hate crime. Post 9/11, Surinder Singh Siddhu was badly beaten in his L.A. liquor store by hoodlums who accused him of being Bin Laden and hit him with metal poles. Siddhu was also similarly attired.