Question: Is having an Asian Am. Cabinet Secretary important?

Answer: Before 2000, YES. Then, we wanted the historic first Asian Am.
secretary for its symbolic significance. After 2001, NO! We are way
beyond wanting a token Asian Am. Cabinet Secretary now.

   In 2000, Norm Mineta made history by being the first Asian Am. Cabinet
Secretary under Pres. Clinton. President Bush invited 2 Asian Ams into his
cabinet. Mineta made us proud. He insisted on no racial profiling in airport
checks during those emotional days following 9/11. At the end he proved
to the nation the worth of his judgment.

   Elaine Chao was a different story.

   She taught us that having an Asian Am. cabinet secretary does NOT
necessarily benefit our community.

Q: How did Elaine Chao disappoint or harm our community?
Give facts please.

A: In 2001, 80-20 approached Sec. Elaine Chao about the apparent
non-enforcement of the Exec. Order 11246 for Asian Ams. Her Labor
Dept. was explicitly charged by Exec. Order 11246 to secure equal
opportunity in workplaces for ALL Americans. She used various excuses
to avoid discussion.

   In 2005, 80-20 presented irrefutable data, shown at the end of this email
that had been read into the Congressional Record by Sen. Tom Carper of
Delaware. It showed that

     "Asian Ams have the least opportunity to enter management
      and the slowest rate of progress towards equal employment
      opportunity, despite having the highest educational attainment."

   She still refused to enforce the law although it was her duty as the Labor
Secretary*.

Q: Could Sec. Chao be right and 80-20 be wrong?

A: NO. She could have held a public hearing to examine the merits
of 80-20's request. Note that 16 Democratic presidential candidates
including John Kerry & Joe Lieberman in 2004 and Barack Obama & Joe
Biden in 2008 have agreed to this 80-20 request.

   Her Deputy Sec. Steve Law sent comments intended to refute the
our argument. Instead, when 80-20 researched to verify their validity ,
we found facts diametrically opposed to the comments. Why the labor
Dept. didn't seek the validity of its own comments before sending them to
80-20 was a puzzle. It seemed to suggest an unprofessional way the
department was run.

   For details visit
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org./projects/equalopp_washingtonpost.asp
Go to "6. Frequently Asked Questions," where 80-20 EF answered all the
questions sent by the Labor Department under Sec. Chao.

Q: So what did the lesson teach us?

A: As George Santayana said, "Those who cannot remember the
past are condemned to 
repeat it." We don't just want an Asian Am.
Cabinet Secretary. We want

   "qualified Asian Am. Cabinet Secretaries and/or any Cabinet
Secretary who share our community's rightful concerns. "

Q: How do we ensure that the lesson learned will benefit us with
the Obama Administration?

A: Ever since Obama's victory, 80-20 has worked hard to ensure
that we have qualified Asian Am candidates who will share our
community's rightful concerns. President-elect Obama's Transition Team
has been most helpful.

   Remember the past! Don't worship Asian Ams with impressive
government titles. Such worshipping betrays a servile and feudal
mentality. Respect them only if they serve the nation and our
community well. Otherwise reject them.

Respectfully yours,

S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation.

* 80-20 seriously considered suing Sec. Chao. We instead decided to go
through the political process with presidential candidates which would
be less time and money consuming.