Ed. Note: This afternoon our friend Ramey Ko was interviewed by a top Dallas-Fort Worth newsradio station, about Texas GOP Rep. Betty Brown’s anti-Asian American comments. Here’s his own account of how it went:
Just finished radio interview with Scott Braddock on Newsradio 1080 in Dallas. I think it went pretty well – I was able to talk about the legislation [SB 362] for almost the entire 10 minutes … He opened by playing the clip of [Texas Rep. Brown] saying that last thing about me being a “bright young man”.
First question was whether I was offended. I said I was a little shocked, but pivoted to the fact that I’m one person, and the more important issue is how this legislation will impact Asian American voters. I noted the “your people” part of the comment, and how that kind of attitude demonstrated a lack of concern for Asian Americans’ obstacles to voting. I noted how this also showed that apparently Asian Americans are supposed to bear the burden of protecting their right to vote instead of the government.
He then asked me to explain what other problems Asian Americans can have voting. I noted the problems with transliteration itself, with many people now lacking photo ID. Reemphasized that regardless of which interpretation you choose, the problems with the bill remain.
He asked me if I was a Democrat. I said I vote Democratic, but I was testifying in my capacity as representative of the non-partisan OCA, and that I was representing concerns shared by my whole community. I noted that many non-partisan APA organizations such as 80-20, etc. have Republican members who oppose the legislation.
He played a clip of Republican strategist Chris Begala (Paul’s brother!), who said that this was ridiculous because in the testimony, I AGREED with her that it was a problem. I responded that I wasn’t agreeing, I was trying to address an obvious misunderstanding that’s dangerous. Emphasized again that this is a larger issue than just me and [Texas Rep.] Betty Brown, and that she’s just one example of the problems with the House Elections Committee considering a bill that they don’t even understand the gravity and implications of. He then asked me about Republican claims of ineligible voters on voting rolls, to which I responded that photo ID wouldn’t solve false registrations. He ended it there.
That’s as best as I can remember it.
– Ramey Ko
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