HomeAsian AmericansDemocratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden, Trump Surrogate Participate in Town Hall to...
Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams

Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden, Trump Surrogate Participate in Town Hall to Discuss AAPI Issues

By Akemi Tamanaha, AsAmNews Associate Editor

Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden and former Governor of Guam, Eddie Baza Calvo, a surrogate for the Trump campaign, participated in a virtual town hall hosted by APIA Vote to discuss Asian American and Pacific Islander issues ahead of the 2020 presidential election. 

Vicky Nguyen, an NBC News investigative correspondent, and Amna Nawaz, senior national correspondent at PBS Newshour moderated the town hall. Representative Judy Chu gave the event’s opening remarks. 

The moderators and viewers pointed out that Trump, unlike Biden, had chosen not to attend the town hall. CNN correspondent Manu Raju tweeted pictures of Trump golfing while the town hall was getting underway.

When questioned about Trump’s decision, Calvo pointed out that the town hall was virtual and that Biden had attended virtually. He said that Trump “doesn’t stay in a basement” and praised him for spending face time with Asian American voters at rallies not just “through a screen.”

“Again for all my Asian American and Pacific Islander friends, there’s the optics of thinking that he’s not here, but then there’s the reality that he’s out there,” Calvo said. “You’re saying that he went to a golf course, but I do know with President Trump everyday he’s actually going out and meeting the people, and he’s not afraid to answer tough questions.”

In his opening remarks, Biden addressed a recent New York Times article that claimed Russian intelligence agencies offered to pay Afghan militants bounties to kill US troops. The article also claimed that Trump has known about the offers for months. Biden condemned Putin and promised that, unlike Trump, he would confront him if he’s elected president. 

Biden also criticized Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic pointing out how he considered pulling federal funding for testing and is fighting in court “to strip Americans of their healthcare” by ending Obamacare. He condemned the rise in violence and hate against Asian Americans stemming from xenophobic rhetoric which “has come from the mouth of the President himself.”

Calvo began his opening by praising Trump for his diplomacy in North Korea. He said that Trump’s discussions with Kim Jong Un, his “blunt warning” and “crippling sanctions” ended threats from North Korea. According to Calvo, nuclear testing ceased and there are no longer missile flights in the direction of Guam, Hawaii or the mainland. However, Reuters recently reported that North Korea had begun conducting short-range missile tests again in March 2020. 

Calvo also praised Trump for stopping in Guam after talks with Kim Jong Un. Throughout his portion of the forum he talked about support for America and Trump in Guam. 

The moderators and Asian American voters posed questions to both men through zoom and in pre-recorded videos. Some questions were specific to each campaign. 

Joe Biden pledged to PBS National Correspondent Amna Nawaz he would release the demographic background of his senior staff immediately after the AAPI Town Hall

Biden was questioned about the diversity of his campaign staff. It has been reported that Biden’s senior staff was mostly White with very few Black or Brown senior staff members and no Asian American senior staff members. 

Biden said that his staff was “very diverse,” and offered to ensure that data on staff diversity was released. After the town hall, CNN reported that a Biden campaign aide told CNN that 36% of senior staff are people of color. The Biden campaign says the AAPI senior leaders on staff are the campaign’s chief financial officer, chief operating officer, national voter protection director, digital chief of staff, director of digital partnerships and surrogates director.

Vicky Nguyen questioned Calvo specifically about Trump’s using the racist term “Kung flu” to refer to the coronavirus. Calvo told Nguyen that he wanted to “correct” her about who “the authors of that term” were and claimed that the term “Kung flu” comes from the Obama administration.

Vicky Nguyen questioned Calvo specifically about Trump’s using the racist term “Kung flu” to refer to the coronavirus. Calvo told Nguyen that he wanted to “correct” her about who “the authors of that term” were and claimed that the term “Kung flu” comes from the Obama administration.Vicky Nguyen questioned Calvo specifically about Trump’s using the racist term “Kung flu” to refer to the coronavirus. Calvo told Nguyen that he wanted to “correct” her about who “the authors of that term” were and claimed that the term “Kung flu” comes from the Obama administration.Vicky Nguyen questioned Calvo specifically about Trump’s using the racist term “Kung flu” to refer to the coronavirus. Calvo told Nguyen that he wanted to “correct” her about who “the authors of that term” were and claimed that the term “Kung flu” comes from the Obama administration.

Nguyen said that the term came from “people who were waging a public health campaign” and was never linked to the Obama campaign. It was used twice during his administration by health agencies who were trying to fight the flu.

“If you would allow me to continue, but again it came within the Obama administration,” Calvo said.

Trump surrogate and former Governor of Guan, Edward Baza Calvo defended the use of “kung flu” to refer to the coronavirus after being questioned by NBC Investigative Correspondent Vicky Nguyen

Nguyen again debunked Calvo’s claim and asked him if he believed it was okay for Trump to use it if it was used during the Obama administration. 

“You gotta be very careful on words,” Calvo said. “And I gotta tell you my president, he’s sometimes very unorthodox, and he uses certain words.” But you also have to look at actions. 

“You gotta be very careful on words,” Calvo said. “And I gotta tell you my president, he’s sometimes very unorthodox, and he uses certain words.” But you also have to look at actions.

Systemic Racism and Criminal Justice Reform

Calvo was also asked about what Trump plans to do to address systemic racism. Calvo seemingly praised Trump’s colorblindness.

“President Trump believes in people,” Calvo said. “He doesn’t believe in whatever color it is or whether or not you can vote for president.”

He said that one of the actions Trump has taken is advocating for school choice, which would allow people of color to choose better schools for their children. He added that Trump has “done a lot” but things need to be done locally. He pointed out that the Minneapolis, where protests erupted after George Floyd’s murder, hasn’t had a Republican mayor since 1972. According to Calvo, St. Louis, which he called the “murder capital of America,” hasn’t had a Republican mayor since 1944. Chicago, which he says has enough murders to be considered a war zone, is also a city that hasn’t had a Republican mayor since 1931.

“If there’s anybody who has blood on their hands, it’s those leaders,” Calvo said. 

He blamed Biden supporters for the looting and rioting happening across the country.

A former prisoner asked Biden how he plans to help prisoners who do their time and struggle to find jobs once they’re released. 

“We should, and I’ve been pushing this for awhile now, we should turn our system from one of punishment to rehabilitation,” Biden said.

He argued that released prisoners should be entitled to every “single solitary program” in the government from access to housing, food, Pell grants and educational opportunities. 

“There’s much more to talk about in terms of dealing with the whole notion of prisoner reform,” he added.

Immigration:

Both Biden and Calvo answered questions about what they would do to help immigrants, specifically undocumented immigrants, during the first 100 days of their presidencies. 

Biden said that on day one he would send a legislative immigration reform bill to Congress to provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants “who contribute so much to this country.”  He plans on reversing several of Trump’s policies including taking immediate action to protect dreamers including the “100,000 dreamers from East and South Asia.” 

“My immigration policy is built around keeping families together, modernizing the immigration system by keeping family unification and diversity as pillars of our unification system which it used to be.

The Trump administration recently announced that it would temporarily suspend new H-1B work visas. Nguyen said the decision will have a large impact on AAPIs. Biden promised that he would not end the H-1B program. Calvo added that Trump plans on returning to the program once the economy recovers. 

When asked about Trump’s immigration policy, Calvo emphasized the importance of securing American borders. Calvo said that “thousands of families” in places like Guam and Hawaii are suffering because of drugs that come through “porous borders” and are shipped from other states to the islands. He said that thousands of criminals have been arrested at the borders, adding also that many instances of work-place abuse can be attributed to undocumented immigrants who sneak through the border. 

Healthcare:

Voters also asked Biden and Calvo how they planned to ensure AAPI communities, many who are working the front lines to fight COVID-19, have access to health care. He plans on ensuring that free testing is widely available and that medical facilities have the proper protective equipment. If elected, he would drop Trump’s efforts to end Obamacare. He criticized the President for putting his politics ahead of the American people. 

Calvo criticized Obamacare for limiting health care choices and raising premiums. He praised Trump for investing $2 billion in community health centers. However, according to the HHS the number is actually $1.3 billion and was given to community health centers through the CARES Act, a bill introduced by a Democrat and passed by Congress.

Economic Recovery:

Biden and Calvo also answered questions about supporting AAPI communities that have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Voters asked what both campaigns would do to support small businesses and the AAPI community on the path toward economic recovery.

Calvo expressed concern for the Asian businesses that have been destroyed by looting and rioting, attributing the destruction to Biden supporters. 

He praised Trump’s response to the pandemic, crediting him with providing several communities across the country with immediate relief, specifically mentioning the $2 billion of relief Guam received.

Biden did not share Calvo’s perspective. He said he initially thought the CARES Act would be “Trump corrupt recovery.” He pointed out that many large corporations received large relief packages, while small businesses, many AAPI owned, did not receive money.

Biden specifically expressed concern for AAPI owned businesses that have had trouble accessing the paycheck protection program because they’re cash owned. If elected, he plans to rehire an inspector general (Trump fired one) to determine who actually received relief money.

The former vice president also spoke about the importance of improving AAPI language access for federal programs. He rejected the model minority myth, acknowledging that many AAPI communities do not have the same levels of wealth and educational attainment. He argued the data should be broken down by ethnicity so the government can help vulnerable AAPI communities.

“We’re supposed to be breaking that out so they can be taken care of and treated fairly,” Biden said. “That’s one of the priorities I will have.”

 AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. Check out our new Instagram account. Go to our  Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. Please consider interning, joining our staff, or submitting a story.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Latest

Worth the Time

Must Read

Regular Features

Latest

Discover more from AsAmNews

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading