November 4, 2008 marks the deadline for American
citizens to vote in this 2008 election. Both presidential candidates, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois and Senator John
McCain of Arizona have both intensified their campaign in battleground or swing
states, particularly Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia, where polls show
a very close race.
VOA has been a medium in bringing to you the voices of Laotian-Americans from various communities throughout the States. Today we feature a former US diplomat, Mr. Thavanh Svengsouk of Hawaii, Mr. Manh Phongboupha, advisor of the Khmu National Federation of California, and lastly, Mr. Kouichoy Saechao, President and co-founder of the Cultural Center of the Lao Iu Mien Association based in Oakland, California.
Retired diplomat Thavanh Svengsouk told VOA that…”Whoever will be the next president of the United States is going to be a person who can solve and improve the hardship and downturn of the current economic situation. Whether it will be Senator Barack Obama or Senator John McCain, who will assume the role of the next president of the United States,America will have a new base that will work well with foreign countries and better the domestic situation as well.”
Mr. Manh Phongboupha, a registered Republican, says “I’ll vote for John McCain to be the next president, because I’ve always supported the Republican Party since the Reagan era. Again it’s all up to individual‘s choice to make. But don’t just vote for party. Do consider which platforms or policies will be good for this country, for the betterment of the community and all of us.”
Mr. Kouichoy Saechao who thinks Senator John McCain is the one, who has more experience than Senator Barack Obama, says… “John McCain had served in uniform for over 22 years. The Lao-Iu Mien community is considered a very small Laotian-American community here in Oakland, California. We want to have a leader whom we can trust. McCain had been through a lot and has shown that quality. He will defend for us because he would put the country first.”
VOA would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of our interviewees who share his/her thoughts and ideas about this election. We highly recommend all Lao-Americans to come out and exercise your civic rights on Election Day.
Listen to our audio files for the whole interview in Lao.
VOA has been a medium in bringing to you the voices of Laotian-Americans from various communities throughout the States. Today we feature a former US diplomat, Mr. Thavanh Svengsouk of Hawaii, Mr. Manh Phongboupha, advisor of the Khmu National Federation of California, and lastly, Mr. Kouichoy Saechao, President and co-founder of the Cultural Center of the Lao Iu Mien Association based in Oakland, California.
Retired diplomat Thavanh Svengsouk told VOA that…”Whoever will be the next president of the United States is going to be a person who can solve and improve the hardship and downturn of the current economic situation. Whether it will be Senator Barack Obama or Senator John McCain, who will assume the role of the next president of the United States,America will have a new base that will work well with foreign countries and better the domestic situation as well.”
Mr. Manh Phongboupha, a registered Republican, says “I’ll vote for John McCain to be the next president, because I’ve always supported the Republican Party since the Reagan era. Again it’s all up to individual‘s choice to make. But don’t just vote for party. Do consider which platforms or policies will be good for this country, for the betterment of the community and all of us.”
Mr. Kouichoy Saechao who thinks Senator John McCain is the one, who has more experience than Senator Barack Obama, says… “John McCain had served in uniform for over 22 years. The Lao-Iu Mien community is considered a very small Laotian-American community here in Oakland, California. We want to have a leader whom we can trust. McCain had been through a lot and has shown that quality. He will defend for us because he would put the country first.”
VOA would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of our interviewees who share his/her thoughts and ideas about this election. We highly recommend all Lao-Americans to come out and exercise your civic rights on Election Day.
Listen to our audio files for the whole interview in Lao.