PRESS RELEASE

October 11, 2008

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: 

English: Shandon Phan   (202) 415-3366

Vietnamese:   Khai Nguyen   (301) 922-3372

(Annandale, VA) – The Vietnamese Americans for McCain-Palin Coalition today announced its endorsement of Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) for President of the United States at an endorsement rally in Falls Church, Virginia. 

“Senator McCain has been a loyal friend of the Vietnamese people and our community in the United States,” said Shandon Phan, National Co-Chair of Vietnamese Americans for McCain-Palin.  “This special friendship dated back to McCain’s years of service as a young naval aviator fighting for freedom and democracy in Vietnam.”  

“Vietnamese Americans, however, are not single-issue voters.  Our coalition members came from all walks of life but unite in our common belief that Senator McCain is the most qualified to lead our country.  From government reform to immigration reform to Iraq war to detainee policy, Sen. McCain has shown the courage, temperament and judgment of a great leader,” said Phan. 

“On some of the most important issues to the Vietnamese American community – for example, the advancement of freedom and democracy in communist Vietnam and the settlement of tens of thousands of South Vietnamese political prisoners who were American allies during the war - Sen. McCain stood with us.  And he did so with real sacrifices, great compassion, and inspiring leadership.  We are honored to stand with him,” said Khai Nguyen, a long-time Republican activist and Event Co-Chair. 

According to a study by the Manhattan Institute in 2008, Vietnamese Americans have the highest rate of naturalization and civic assimilation among all immigrant groups, with at least 82% of them United States citizens.  Vietnamese Americans participate actively in the political process and overwhelmingly register as Republicans because they share common values with the Republican Party, such as individual freedom & responsibility, family values, limited government, strong national defense, and advancement of freedom and democracy abroad.

As one of the largest ethnic communities in Northern Virginia, Vietnamese Americans will play an important role in determining the outcome of this tight race. 

The Coalition maintains an operation office in Annandale, Virginia, and for the past several months, has connected community leaders and volunteers with the campaign operation.  Its members have conducted voter registration drives, fundraised, organized community outreach events, canvassed neighborhoods, and run phone bank operations. 

Honored guest speakers include:  Tom Hanton, retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and POW, Former Virginia Governor/U.S. Senator George Allen, VA State Senator Ken Cuccinelli, Peter Su, McCain Campaign’s National APA Coalitions Coordinator, Mina Nguyen, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Business Affairs at Treasury Department, Chuck Smith, former Virginia Beach GOP Chairman, Pat Herrity, Springfield District Supervisor, Mark Ellmore, Candidate for VA’s 8th Congressional District.

Political & Community Leaders share the reasons why they support McCain-Palin:

 “John McCain is my hero. When others talked, he led. As they protested, he suffered for our country. While they waffled, John McCain showed us the courage of his convictions.” 

-- Viet Dinh, Former U.S. Assistant Attorney General, Event Honorary Co-Chair

"Both Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin are real reformers who demonstrate effective leadership and vision for our country.  Both have the ability to inspire and unite the people, overcome partisanship, and focus on delivering real solutions for our future.”

-- Kristine Phan, Coalition’s Virginia Co-Chair. 

"Senator McCain will bring character, courage, decisiveness, and leadership to the highest office of the land--at a time when our country still faces the threat of international terrorism, the nuclear arms of rogue states and a fast-changing international order brought about by globalization." 

-- Bich Nguyen, former Director of Radio Free Asia - Vietnamese Service, Chairman of Board of Directors of National Congress of Vietnamese Americans.

“Elephants never forget.  The Vietnamese Americans know well who has been fighting for them, who truly represents our community's values of patriotism, compassion, hope and freedom.”

-- Chu Nguyen, businessman.

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 The Vietnamese Americans for McCain-Palin Coalition, a subdivision of the larger APA coalition, is a national coalition of political, community and business leaders whose mission is to help elect Senator John McCain the next President of the United States.  For more information, visit our Web site at www.AsianAmericansforMcCain.org.