By Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
19 November 2009
A Cambodian American who has put forward his candidacy for upcoming US House of Representatives elections is mobilizing support from Cambodian community in the States.
In a meeting in Maryland last weekend, 38-year-old Sam Meas, who will run on a Repulican platform for 5th district in Massachussets, was optimistic that votes from Cambodian Americans can put him through to the House. The town of Lowell is in the 5th district of Massachussets and is home to 30,000 Cambodians.
“I am here in Maryland to firstly announce my candidacy and that I am the first Cambodian who dares to run for the House of Represenatives,” Sam Meas told VOA Khmer in an interview. “Secondly, I need Cambodian community outside the constituency that I run for to fully support me. Though they cannot vote, they can provide financial support and tell their relatives there to vote for me.”
More than 20 people from Washington area attended the gathering to listen to Sam Meas’s political platform.
“I am greatly excited to see a Cambodian running for an office here, especially up to the Congressional level because this will benefit Cambodian community here and those in Cambodia,” president of the Cambodian Association for Democracy and Human Rights, Yap Kimtung, told VOA Khmer after listening to Sam Meas’s presentation. “I would like to appeal to all Cambodian-American to register and vote for him.”
Sam Meas sees that once he wins the election he will be focusing on tax reduction and immigration issues.
Some young Cambodians in the US face deportation for crimes they commit despite living here for more than 20 years.
“I want to work with the government to change the law requiring deportation of Cambodian children who have lived in the US for 20 or 25 years for petty crimes they committed and were deported just because their parents don’t have citizenship,” said Sam Meas.
Sam Meas might face internal challengers from the Republican Party before the party endorses its candidate for the elections set for November 2010. The House of Representatives seat in this Massachussets district has been held by the Democratic Party since 1975.
In a meeting in Maryland last weekend, 38-year-old Sam Meas, who will run on a Repulican platform for 5th district in Massachussets, was optimistic that votes from Cambodian Americans can put him through to the House. The town of Lowell is in the 5th district of Massachussets and is home to 30,000 Cambodians.
“I am here in Maryland to firstly announce my candidacy and that I am the first Cambodian who dares to run for the House of Represenatives,” Sam Meas told VOA Khmer in an interview. “Secondly, I need Cambodian community outside the constituency that I run for to fully support me. Though they cannot vote, they can provide financial support and tell their relatives there to vote for me.”
More than 20 people from Washington area attended the gathering to listen to Sam Meas’s political platform.
“I am greatly excited to see a Cambodian running for an office here, especially up to the Congressional level because this will benefit Cambodian community here and those in Cambodia,” president of the Cambodian Association for Democracy and Human Rights, Yap Kimtung, told VOA Khmer after listening to Sam Meas’s presentation. “I would like to appeal to all Cambodian-American to register and vote for him.”
Sam Meas sees that once he wins the election he will be focusing on tax reduction and immigration issues.
Some young Cambodians in the US face deportation for crimes they commit despite living here for more than 20 years.
“I want to work with the government to change the law requiring deportation of Cambodian children who have lived in the US for 20 or 25 years for petty crimes they committed and were deported just because their parents don’t have citizenship,” said Sam Meas.
Sam Meas might face internal challengers from the Republican Party before the party endorses its candidate for the elections set for November 2010. The House of Representatives seat in this Massachussets district has been held by the Democratic Party since 1975.
32 comments:
100% support you.
Please support each other regardless of your political party. We must support one another for now, so our people can be up there to represent our people and communities. Not to mention a whole nine yards of good things. Please help him...near for far. We must show unity for any fronts. I also like Cambodia to carry on this new culture of helping each other to reach the top first, putting aside politics. Good luck Sam!!! ML
Way to go, Sam.
Make american cambodians proud!
GOOD ON U UNCLE SAM. U WILL WIN
PROUD OF YOU !!! FOR RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.
Khmer American
I support all Cambodian-American who is running for the public offices. Good luck to you, Sam....Good call!
It is good to have Khmer doing good for Khmer nation but not for him self.
Sam Meas,
With your vision of the modern way how to do politics, You can come to replace Sam Rainsy in Cambodia for elections in 2013?
Sam Rainsy is politically finished in Cambodia. We no longer believe anything in this politician.
We need new talents in politics for opposition.
Cambodia Town
Long Beach, Ca
I wish you good luck Sam Meas when you will become elected as U.S Representative, don't forget to support my voices too if you want Cambodia to improve social life. Maybe one day, I will be Cambodia Deputy PM.
New Phally
Good Luck Mr. Men Kimseng
I am only from Cambodia. I was read Ki-Media about you.
You Will Win!
Please help Cambodia Location
I also wish him the best. However, I encourage him to do more at his hometown. I am only a stone thrown away from him and have not met or spoken to him. I believe he can benefit more if he starts knocking on doors and speak to more people.
Live and learn..
Whata hell is meng kimseng?
Cambodian need more Cambodian's voices in America. Well, at least we got one out there. Yap Kimtung could have done it himself, but not sure why, he chose not to. Is it because of his mix nationality of Chinese descent? I wouldn't. There are plenty of Chinese Cambodian in the US and they aren't dump people.
congrat
Wish you best Sam! Good luck! Break the ice!
There's a viet in congress. Now lets put a Khmer in there too.
Sam, Lowell is supporting you! There is a lot of buzz building about this candidacy, esp. downtown and in the Highlands..
God bless you SAM!
Wow... million percents.. yes I will vote for you SAM.
as a former orphan myself, i support sam meas and happy to see his ambition succeed
This Old Phally Monkey,
I support you Meas but I out here to get at Mi New Phally Monkey!
to all combodai people in Massachuset please vote for same meas. so we all as khmer proud to be khmer please vote. thank you
may God bless you
correct: to all khmer in lowell not Massachuset.
Another corrupt Khmer politician.. They're all the same!!
Sorry, I don't support someone who doesn't represent a majority of Khmers/Khmer-Americans' views. We don't need a Khmer Republican who's lost sight of what Khmer-Americans really want. Go with Niki Tsongas, not Khmer but at least speaks for our Cambodian people here in the US. Sorry, Mr. Meas. You should represent us Khmers, not the white conservative rich racist Republicans in the US. Disappointed.
10:47AM.
Republican is not a White party or racist party, you idiot.
I am not Dem or Rep, but I understand what each party stance.
Democrat wants a big government whereas Rep wants a small government. Democrat spends citizen's money where whereas Rep allow the citizen to spend their own money. About racsim, don't fool anyone anymore, Democrats are more and more racist in it. You see more and more minority like educated Black become Republican because tehy understand. Your mind is stucked with Communist that's why you like Socialist and lie to us that you know about the party?
This man is joking? Think about it! Does he knows the duty of the Congress? For god sake, he have no education in the law field nor have any experience in it.
No doubt he can run but obviously have no chance of winning. Don't waist money on campaigning. This is a joke! Look at his bio!
Honestly, I really think he just want attention. He knows he have no ability in any field in law. Nevermind the congress position. He don't even qualify to be a paralegal.
12;21pm.
You are an idiot.
A few actors (Holliwood movie stars) had no degrees but they were president of the US of A, and A Governor of CA. Youu don't need a law degree to run for a Congress, idiot. IDEA that counts.
Jo, you're the idiot!
You are fooled by whatever textbook you read up on.
The Republican Party essentially IS a White party, dumbass! Go do some research! Ninety percent of registered Republicans are White, based on ABC news polling.
You're really glib on the politics here, JO or whatever your name is. Communism isn't synonymous with Democrats so get your terms correct before writing. No, most Democrats wouldn't want this. I think you're talking about the far left (the radicals). However, the current ones you see...absolutely not! The Republican Party has brainwashed you into thinking that's what Democrats are for but you're sadly mistaken.
And yes! The Republicans ARE racist. Here's one example: Have you not seen and heard of John McCain and his comments made in the past? Oh ... I guess not...
Go educate yourself first.
PS
Educated Blacks become Republicans? Haha...uh...Obama is Black and he's not Republican. Dumb ass! There are very FEW minorities in the Republican Party, FYI. Please get your facts straight before sounding like an idiot on here. Pass!
Haha! It is a joke! He doesn't have any legal experiences. No J.D. or polisci B.A. or anything. Not that a PoliSci degree would mean much at this stage, but a J.D. would because it would tell us more of his ability and competence in law. Yes, he's able to run for the position, but winning? I think not.
First of all, those FEW actors (Hollywood movie stars) become a politician (i.e. Governor of CA) and actually win a position and they don't have a degree or education to back it up BUT they have something else: STAR POWER! DUH!
Do you think any bum can just run for a political office with no real education or degree or star power can win??? Are you that dense? Plus, Obama didn't win on merit alone. He won because of his Star Power, obviously.
You, DEMOCRATS out there, if you are so sure about the Democrat Party, the part of inclusion, why don't you run for office? You want to represent the Khmer Americans in Lowell, why do don't you run for Congress,State Representative, State Senate or City Council?
How come there is no Khmer American voice in Lowell City Council or School committee? May be Meas is trying to do something in for the Khmer Americans in which YOU are not willing to do. Meas has the courage to stick his neck out, at least. He gets my respect for trying!
You, Democrats, stop whinning and start doing something to help your Khmer people.
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