Wednesday, December 24, 2025
ADVT 
Interesting

Why Do Indian-Americans Support Clinton Over Trump?

IANS, 17 Oct, 2016 01:41 PM
    The Indian-Americans largely support Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton because of the unique relationship she has built with the community and India, according to one of her major backers.
     
    "Historically, Indian-Americans, like other Asian Americans and a lot of other immigrant groups, have been big supporters of the Democratic Party," Frank Islam, an India-born entrepreneur and philanthropist told IANS.
     
    "It has been more inclusive and more welcoming toward all immigrants," he said, adding "I doubt any other American politician has been able to build the kind of relationship with the Indian American community - and India as Clinton."
     
    "Additionally she has been a champion of the middle class for decades," Islam said. 
     
    "As President, she wants to provide better health care and better jobs for all Americans."
     
    "Hillary has been a staunch ally of India and she recognised that Indian-Americans have enabled the US to be a stronger and healthier nation," he added.
     
     
    Roughly 70 per cent Indian-Americans plan to vote for Hillary Clinton compared with 7 per cent for her Republican rival Donald Trump, according to most recent polls cited by the Washington Post.
     
    "I am a big fan of Hindu and a big fan of India," Trump told a rally organised by the Republican Hindu Coalition in Edison, New Jersey over the weekend.
     
    He also praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "great man", saying the two nations would be "best friends" and "there won't be any relationship more important to us".
     
    "Indian-Americans, as a community, have shunned Donald Trump, and rightfully so," asserted Islam. 
     
    But he conceded that "Trump has touched the nerve of angry and uneducated white working class voters."
     
    "His message on job losses is resonating with these people," he said, adding "Clinton is making every effort to reach out to this demography."
     
    "With her strong economic message, I am confident she will succeed converting a significant section of this group to her side."
     
    Islam was also confident that Clinton will offer "true friendship" to India and "take the US-India relations to the next level".
     
     
    Noting that "since 1992, the US-India relations have gotten better and better under every president, whether a Democrat or Republican," he said. "I have no doubt that the ties will continue to be nurtured under a Clinton administration."
     
    "There will be focus on trade and economic partnership, on cooperation in the area of defence and counter-terrorism, and on climate change and other global issues," Islam said noting there is bipartisan support for India in the US.
     
    Islam, who is on Hillary Clinton's national finance committee, found it hard to say how much money the community has raised for the Clinton campaign, but he himself is on pace to raise close to $1 million for it.
     
    Republican Hindu Coalition's founder, Shalabh Kumar, is one of rival Trump's biggest fundraisers, according to the Washington Post.
     
    Together with his immediate family, Kumar has given almost $2 million to super political action committees that support Trump, it said.

    MORE Interesting ARTICLES

    Wage Gap Between Canadian Men And Women Narrows With Education

    Wage Gap Between Canadian Men And Women Narrows With Education
    TORONTO — A global education study reveals larger-than-average earning gaps between Canadian men and women, but that narrows as women pursue higher levels of study.

    Wage Gap Between Canadian Men And Women Narrows With Education

    Rivers Of Blood On The Streets Of Dhaka After Eid Animal Sacrifice

    Rivers Of Blood On The Streets Of Dhaka After Eid Animal Sacrifice
    Authorities in Dhaka designated several places in the city where residents could slaughter animals, but heavy downpours Tuesday meant few people could use those areas.

    Rivers Of Blood On The Streets Of Dhaka After Eid Animal Sacrifice

    20-Year-Old Indian-Origin Pharmacology Student Dies Of Rare Meningitis Virus In UK

    20-Year-Old Indian-Origin Pharmacology Student Dies Of Rare Meningitis Virus In UK
    Ms Paawan Purba was due to start the second year of her degree at the University of East London this month but died in hospital on August 27, less than 48 hours after falling ill.

    20-Year-Old Indian-Origin Pharmacology Student Dies Of Rare Meningitis Virus In UK

    Need Some Medical Marijuana? There's An App For That

    An Alberta-based pot producer has launched a mobile app to make it easier for patients with a prescription to purchase federally-regulated medicinal weed.

    Need Some Medical Marijuana? There's An App For That

    Chicago Woman Launches Lawsuit Against Canadian Maker Of App-Based Vibrator

    Chicago Woman Launches Lawsuit Against Canadian Maker Of App-Based Vibrator
    U.S. woman has launched a proposed class-action lawsuit against the Canadian-owned maker of a smartphone-enabled vibrator, alleging the company sells products that secretly collect and transmit "highly sensitive" information.

    Chicago Woman Launches Lawsuit Against Canadian Maker Of App-Based Vibrator

    Activist Bono Says Working With Trump Would Be His Biggest Challenge, 'By Far'

    Activist Bono Says Working With Trump Would Be His Biggest Challenge, 'By Far'
    OTTAWA — U2 lead singer and activist Bono says working with a Trump administration to fight extreme poverty would be his biggest challenge — "by far."

    Activist Bono Says Working With Trump Would Be His Biggest Challenge, 'By Far'