Doug saw that the atmosphere between the two was a little wrong, and just wanted to play a round, but he felt that the cuffs were lightly pulled, and when he turned his head, his mother gave him a look, and Doug understood it, no more.

Barbara looked at the two with interest, Kamala is the hope star of the Democratic Party, and Zhang Chen is the most talented young man she has seen in recent years, if these two can spark, it is far greater than the energy that can burst out if they have reservations.

"How to win the votes of the Chinese? This seems to have been discussed many times, and the Chinese have a strong sense of clan and have similarities with the Italians, so most of the election campaigns focus on Chinatown, and through Chinatown the influence spreads to the various Chinese communities," Kamara mused. ”

Zhang Chen nodded: "What else?"

Kamala thought for a moment: "There is also the guarantee of equal employment opportunities for Chinese Americans, as well as more security for Chinese Americans, and the promise of higher minimum security and affordable housing for ethnic minorities, especially last but not a, to get a lot of support from ethnic minorities, as was the case with Willy's previous campaign strategy." ”

Willie Brown, who was elected mayor of San Francisco at the end of last year and only took office in January last year, is the first black mayor of San Francisco and the most powerful mayor in recent years.

At the beginning of his campaign, he pledged to increase minority employment and minimum living security, reduce crime rates, build more affordable housing, and reduce homelessness on the streets of San Francisco.

The fact that Zhou Guoqiang's case was able to be tried so quickly is inseparable from the attention of Willie Brown, after all, not long after becoming mayor, such a serious violent incident occurred in San Francisco, which seriously violated his original campaign promise.

Zhang Chen smiled and said, "Just like this?"

Kamala was silent.

Barbara said slowly: "Zack, you are Chinese, you must know the Chinese best, so don't sell it." ”

Zhang Chen is as good as flowing: "If you want Chinese Americans to become hardcore voters, the first thing to solve is the problem of Chinese voter turnout." And if you want to solve the problem of voter turnout, you must first figure out, what do Chinese people want?"

"I checked, the effective turnout rate of Chinese Americans last year was less than 5%, that is, nearly 200,000 Chinese Americans with voting rights, only less than 10,000 voted, California is still a relatively high Chinese turnout rate, like Illinois in a central state Chinese voter turnout rate is even less than 1%, which is the lowest among all major ethnic groups in the United States. ”

There are many reasons why the Chinese don't vote? There are many reasons, such as lack of political enthusiasm, cultural inheritance, national character, and various reasons. But in the final analysis, they don't care much about the benefits that their votes can bring to them, and all the electors have not touched the real interests of Chinese Americans, so they are not willing to give up a day's salary or a day's turnover to go to the polls to cast that vote. ”

Kamala couldn't help but say: "We have analyzed what you said, but the problem of Chinese voter turnout is a big problem in the national election campaign, and almost no one can really solve this problem." ”

Zhang Chen smiled: "It's because everyone doesn't want to solve it, right? Now the vote bases of the two parties are very stable in various places, and if the Chinese Americans who have not voted for a long time start voting, then the two parties will have to do the work of the Chinese vote base, which will invisibly increase the cost of campaigning." ”

Barbara said, "You're right, so if we can't get more than 20,000 votes from Chinese Americans, we won't be able to do these things worth the loss." ”

No matter how much Barbara admires Zhang Chen, she is a politician after all, and when it comes to votes and interests, no politician is warm.

Zhang Chen nodded and said, "Don't worry, I was about to say this." In fact, it is not that no one has paid attention to the large vote base of Chinese Americans, Mr. President once came to the Chinese community three times to pay for votes before the first election. Unfortunately, the effect was not great, so when he was running for re-election, he did not do similar work again. ”

"Kamara just said so much about the election campaign for the Chinese community, but in fact, it is useless, because neither Willy nor Mr. President has touched the fundamental interests of the Chinese, and naturally it cannot arouse the enthusiasm of the Chinese people to vote. ”

Kamala asked, "What are the fundamental interests of the Chinese?"

Zhang Chen said categorically: "Education!"

"Education?" Kamala muttered, "I know, the Chinese attach great importance to education, and when Willy campaigned, he promised to build more elementary and secondary schools in the Chinese community, but it didn't work." ”

Zhang Chen smiled and said, "Wrong, the way of thinking is completely wrong." ”

Kamala was focused.

Zhang Chen said leisurely: "Psychologically speaking, people's greatest motivation does not come from desire, but from fear. ”

"Fear of the capture?" Kamala and Barbara looked at each other.

"I remember last year, a bill was passed that required the government to recruit public officials and public schools without taking ethnicity into account, right?"

Barbara nodded: "California Proposition 209, which was unanimously passed by the state legislature at that time. ”

Zhang Chen continued: "The bill was officially passed last year, but before that, California's public schools had already done two years of enrollment according to this standard. California's public universities, the proportion of Chinese students enrolled last year rose from 24 percent to 26 percent, and this year it is expected to exceed 27 percent, the proportion of African Americans has dropped from 5 percent to 3 percent, a drop of more than 40 percent, the proportion of Mexicans has increased slightly, and the percentage of other ethnic groups has increased by 3 percent compared to '95, and now it seems to be rising, right? However, the acceptance rate for whites has plummeted from 41 percent to 36 percent!"

"What would the Republican rednecks do if they realized this?"

Kamara's heart thumped and blurted out: "They will definitely start opposing Bill 209, at least make a supplementary proposal!"

Zhang Chen nodded: "That's right, and they have a good reason, that is, equal rights." ”

"Naturally, the rednecks will not directly use the excuse of the declining white acceptance rate to promote the counterattack of affirmative action in the California education system, but the sharp drop in the black acceptance rate has given them a good reason. ”

Barbara's face was slightly moved, she has been a politician for so many years, and now she has become one of the first-class political families in the United States, how can she not know what Zhang Chen wants to say?

Kamara's eyes were full of excitement and fanaticism, and she loved the feeling of discussing all kinds of political intrigues in this little dark room.

Barbara pondered for a long time: "No, affirmative action was proposed by the Democrats, and the Republicans have always been opposed or neutral, and they will not directly use affirmative action to veto Proposition 209." ”

Zhang Chen smiled: "It's true, it's really unlikely that they will directly take the affirmative action bill, but affirmative action is now absolutely politically correct, so it is possible for the Republican Party to put forward a subdivision proposal for the 209 bill." ”

"For example, the Asian segment. ”

Kamara raised his hands and applauded, "Zack, you're a political genius." ”

"Whew... Barbara glanced at Zhang Chen with a complicated expression, and said inexplicably, "Zack, is it worth it?"

Zhang Chen was stunned for a moment, but he just smiled, but there was a little more bitterness in his smile.

Barbara took a deep breath: "We still need to consider Zack's proposal, it involves too many aspects, and we must carefully evaluate the pros and cons of this plan." ”

Kamara said hurriedly: "Barbara, I think... ”

Barbara said categorically: "Kamara, you have now entered the Attorney General's Office, as long as you are the next District Attorney General, as long as you do not make mistakes, it is a natural thing to get Willy's nomination, don't be too anxious, you are still young." ”

Kamara didn't dare to argue anymore, but the unwillingness in his eyes grew stronger.

She knows very well that as long as this plan is implemented, as long as she clearly states that she will defend the implementation of Proposition 209 in California and oppose the introduction of the Asian American subdivision in the future campaign, she will be able to firmly control the large vote base of Chinese Americans.

Whether it is the Los Angeles Attorney General or the California Attorney General, they are too far away, and no one is sure that they will be able to climb smoothly from a county attorney to the position of Attorney General.

And if you become a political star yourself, everything is different.

Even if the judicial system does not develop, you can still run for parliament, which is too beneficial for your future.

Barbara ignored Kamala and said, "Zack, I won't adopt this plan, our previous deal was aborted, but I can tell you why Diana filed this antitrust investigation, and whether it can be resolved or not is up to you." ”

Without waiting for Zhang Chen to speak, Barbara said to herself: "Diana's current husband Richard Bran is an investment banker, and the Xinqiao Capital he founded has made a lot of investments in the banking industry in China, so Diana has always been more pro-China. But last year, Republican Norin Evans filed a no-confidence motion against Diana over her husband's business background, which made Diana very embarrassed in the Senate, and even publicized her property and divided her and her husband's property. ”

Zhang Chen said intently: "So in order to avoid suspicion, she proposed an anti-monopoly investigation against the Huaxia home appliance industry?"

Barbara nodded and said: "Yes, I privately estimate that the home appliance industry has a lot of influence, but it has no impact on her husband's business, and it is also for this reason that she, as a member of the Democratic Party, nominated this anti-monopoly investigation, in fact, in the party, this matter is more controversial." ”

Zhang Chen groaned: "In other words, if you want to solve this matter, you still have to start with this Richard Bran?"

Barbara bowed slightly: "Looking for him is the most direct way, although it is impossible to get Diana to withdraw the proposal, but it is not difficult to make some small concessions to the results of the investigation." ”

Zhang Chen said solemnly: "Barbara, thank you." I'm sorry just now, but you know what I mean. ”

Barbara smiled: "Don't worry, my Chinese boy." ”

Watching Zhang Chen drive away from the Napa Valley, Kamala was completely confused and couldn't help but say, "Barbara, why don't you want to do this? Although the Republican Party has always been opposed to affirmative action, it is entirely possible to propose a subdivision bill. ”

Barbara looked at Kamala and sighed, "Kamara, you really need to gain some more experience. ”

Although Kamara didn't say anything, there was obviously an unconvinced expression on his face.

Barbara broke it open and crumpled it and said, "Have you forgotten? You are a Democratic Party, and we can oppose the implementation of affirmative action in the California education system, but this is because there are not many African Americans in California, and Bill 209 vetoes the effect of affirmative action in education, which is good for minorities except blacks." ”

"Regardless of whether the affirmative action is reasonable or not, but if we stand up against the affirmative action in a clear position, we will lose our own position, and the Democratic Party will no longer have a place for you and me, you only see these 200,000 votes now, but you don't see that behind this is the struggle between the ideas and lines of the two parties and those who represent the Democratic Party's iron vote, once you show your position on this matter, you can indeed please Asians, but what you lose is the position of the Democratic Party.

Kamara was shocked, yes, affirmative action can be said to be one of the most fundamental concepts of the current Democratic Party, if he stands up against it clearly, how should the Democratic Party view itself?

Kamala said worriedly: "Then wouldn't he hurt you and me by making this proposal?"

Barbara smiled, "You haven't figured it out, how can he make such a big flaw? He wasn't targeting the Republican Party at all." In other words, everyone knows that even if the Republican Party proposes amendments, it will not use the name of equal rights. The Republican Party's proposal is just a rhetoric. ”

Kamara's eyes widened: "Then what does he mean?"

Barbara patted Kamala's arm and smiled meaningfully, "You can think for yourself." ”

Doug smiled next to him: "But in any case, as a Chinese, he sold the interests of his own race in exchange for votes, if he is in politics, he must be a good politician." ”

Barbara shook her head and said, "Betrayal?" hehe, you're thinking too simply. ”

Kamala and Doug looked at each other, and Kamara tentatively asked, "You asked him earlier if it was worth it, is that what you said?"

Barbara looked at the sun: "For so many years, the turnout of Chinese Americans has been very low, so low that people can completely ignore it, so in the United States, no matter what policy, Chinese Americans do not get any benefits, even in California, where there are the most Chinese, Chinese Americans have not received any preferential treatment." In fact, from the perspective of the two parties, they are generally happy to see this situation, after all, the part of the vote base that is small is small for everyone, and it is fair to both sides. ”

But he's right, the Chinese are very focused on the training and education of the next generation, and you should be able to see that in California schools, Chinese and Indian students are far better than other ethnic groups, so in public schools, Chinese people always have a large percentage. When I went to China last year, I had an exchange with a local women's and children's organization, and in order to get their children to go to a better school, the Chinese people would rather give 80 percent of their annual income to their children's education. ”

"Think about it, in this case, if you tell Chinese Americans that it will reduce the admission rate of their children to public schools, what will they do? At this time, if somebody stands up and tells them that as long as they have the right to vote, they can reject this policy, will they vote?"

"Chinese Americans don't vote because they don't appreciate the power of their votes. When they realize this, they will naturally value every vote in their hands, and the voter turnout will naturally increase, and perhaps their voting tendencies will be more obvious. ”

In this way, over time, the political and social status of Chinese Americans in the United States will be steadily improved, and whether or not this bill can be passed, it will be beneficial to Chinese Americans in the long run. ”

Kamara hesitated: "However, in this way, most of his ethnic group will definitely hate him to death, and they will think that he has betrayed the interests of the Chinese people as a whole." ”

Barbara sighed, "That's why I asked him if it was worth it." ”

Immediately, Barbara laughed: "But even if we take his advice, who will say that it is his proposal? No one can prove that maybe he is the one who called for the Chinese to vote at that time." ”

Kamala declined Doug's invitation to dinner with him in the evening, and Doug only regretted it and watched Kamara drive away.

"Mom, you just said he wasn't targeting the Republicans?" Doug couldn't help but ask what Mother meant by what she just said.

Barbara glanced at her son: "It's right not to let you go into politics." ”

Doug blushed, and Barbara sighed: "How can the Republican Party put forward such a proposal, the only one who can put forward it is Diana, who is a Democratic Party but close to the Republican line, he wants us to design Diana and let Diana act as this scapegoat." It's just that Kamara is here, and he can't say it explicitly, so the Republicans came out to the top of the tank. ”

Doug gasped, "Is he still trying to pull Diana off the horse?"

Barbara sneered, "It's just a giveaway, and the main purpose is what I just said." That's why I rejected his proposal and told him why Diana filed an antitrust investigation. After all, Diana and I have been working together for many years, and we already have a tacit understanding, and she has been in an eventful time recently, and if she loses some support from the party, she may have problems in her re-election campaign the year after next. ”

Doug looked at his mother in surprise, although he knew that his mother was not a simple character, but in such a short period of time, being able to understand all this still gave him a new understanding of his mother.

Is this what politicians are?

Tomorrow my sister gets married, and the update will be late.

Still recovering two shifts, I'm tired to death these days.

(End of chapter)