CA State Senator Leland Yee discusses his support of Barack Obama

When last we spoke with Dr. Leland Yee, he was a California State Assembly member fighting racist Sony ads and pushing bills to protect student journalists, limit gay bashing in political campaigns, and increase production of renewable energy. Now he's a California State Senator who has just announced his support for Barack Obama for President. Today Senator Yee took time out of his schedule to answer a few questions about his endorsement.

AsiansVote: Primary endorsements can be risky for politicians. What made you care enough about John Edwards -- and now Barack Obama -- to step up and endorse?

Leland Yee: I never think about risk when making an endorsement, but rather who I believe in. I endorsed John Edwards last time around as I was and I continue to be inspired by his message of One America. I believe Barack Obama is the candidate that has the credentials, integrity, commitment, and the ability to inspire that is necessary to bring about the changes our country needs. As Senator Ted Kennedy said earlier this week, "With Barack Obama, we will turn the page on the old politics of misrepresentation and distortion. With Barack Obama we will close the book on the old politics of race against race, gender against gender, ethnic group against ethnic group, and straight against gay."

AV: Senators Obama and Clinton have both been accused of following rather than leading on certain progressive issues -- for example, it was Senator Chris Dodd rather than Obama or Clinton who led the charge against the Bush Administration's efforts to grant immunity to telecoms for warrantless wiretaps. What would be your pitch to convince self-described progressives -- perhaps former supporters of John Edwards like yourself -- to feel good about pulling the lever for Obama?

LY: Obama has had the courage to stand for a number of progressive values, including the issue of driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants. In addition, his healthcare plan is the only one without an individual mandate. Recently in California, we defeated Governor Schwarzenegger's ill-advised healthcare plan on this basis. You can not penalize individuals because they can't afford to purchase insurance. Finally, Barack Obama has energized young progressives unlike any candidate in our nation's history. His ability to connect even with the most disengaged and the most cynical is incredibly impressive. His campaign has been one of inclusion and the most diverse I have ever witnessed at the national level.

AV: Your office's press release about your endorsement of Obama noted that California is 14 percent Asian American. Meanwhile, the latest Rasmussen poll shows just a three percent gap between Clinton and Obama in California. Could Asian Americans constitute the margin of victory in the California primary? What's your guess about how the Asian American Democratic vote is currently splitting between Obama and Clinton? And what do you think needs to happen for your candidate to win the state?

LY: I am doing all I can to help spread the word to the Asian American community and I believe our community can be the difference in this campaign. Certainly, Hillary Clinton has support from within our community, but I believe Barack Obama will garner a majority of our votes. He has a long personal connection to our community, growing up in Hawaii and many API family members. He co-authored the federal legislation to restore benefits for Filipino WWII veterans and is a true believer in language access, small business development, and education. An Obama victory is a victory for all communities of color and all Americans.

AV: What will you be doing between now and Super Tuesday? Will you be attending any Obama events that our readers should know about?

LY: Saturday night I will participate in an API house party in Palo Alto. I plan to be on the phones garnering support, raising money, and doing anything else the campaign asks me to do. After Super Tuesday, I plan to visit other states and cities, especially those with large API communities, to help get out the vote.

AV: And finally, a slightly off topic question... You recently announced that you would not run for retiring Congressman Tom Lantos's seat. Now we're hearing that "Survivor" winner Yul Kwon, also an Obama supporter, may be considering a run for the job. Any thoughts on Kwon and what it would take for you to support him if he were to run?

LY: I have not spoken to Yul, nor do I know much about him besides his role in Survivor.

On another note, I want to congratulate the many Asian Americans who were recently sworn-in to school boards and city councils throughout California in January.