By Fatima Hasan
With only a few weeks to go for the landmark Presidential election, which saw more drama unfold throughout, the race seems to be getting close. Since the abrupt exit of Joe Biden, two apparent assassination attempts on Donald Trump, and the takeover of the Democratic mantle by Kamala Harris, this election has drawn the attention of the international community. At home, it created a dilemma for the voters.
There are 4.8 million Indian Americans, and Pakistani Americans number around 0.7 million as per the U.S. Census Bureau 2022 and 2020, respectively. A big chunk of them are registered voters, sizeable enough to make a difference. To understand the perspectives of these voters, the India Tribune talked to a few.
Here is what these ‘Desis,’ as they are called, have to say:
“Kamala Harris has shown uninterrupted dedication and passion throughout her career as an advocate. As we know, people who work in law have a great knowledge of the Constitution. As a result, I trust her as an amicable and uncorrupted leader who will safeguard women's rights,” said Brinda Sanyal, a US citizen currently based in India. She believes that Harris deserves a chance.
Donald Trump, on the other hand, according to her, “has under-performed as an honest leader. His uncanny and bizarre interest in dictators has given me even more reason to not trust him.”
Sanyal, who is an overseas voter, stresses that “Trump’s irrational and utter disrespect towards immigrant communities has disappointed me. His impulsiveness has made our country look stupid in front of the whole world.” She is registered to vote from California, and she declares her support for Harris as she believes Harris matches her way of thinking.
As soon as Kamala Harris announced her presidential run, the opinion polls started to show her leading among young voters.
Even Dinesh Gandhi, a financial advisor from Chicago, feels that Harris is the most experienced person as she did her best job in all capacities, including as attorney, senator of California, and Vice-President of the USA. “My focus is not what she will do for India or the Indian community here. Instead, I am focusing on what she will do for the USA and the rest of the world. I think she will be the best,” Gandhi said.
For many voters, ongoing issues like the Middle East war, immigration, and border crises are shaping their electoral preference.
One among them is Shakeel Mohammad, who works as an engineer in the Bay area. He said that he is still undecided on the candidates as it is a tough choice. "On one side is the second most powerful person in the administration who is arming the oppressor financially, politically, and with ammunition, and on the other side, we have a candidate who openly declared full support to the oppressor regime.”
Mohammad reasons that the outcome of this election will not be in favor of Palestinians.
Voicing a similar concern, Saleem Mohammad, an IT leader, said his choice is more about the Middle East policy of the prospective candidates. “While both have very unjust policies towards the ongoing Gaza War and Iran-Israel conflict, I have to choose the best amongst the two devils.”
Saleem has already cast his vote using an international absentee ballot and is based in Hyderabad, India. The Illinois law allows for early voting and absentee ballots. In terms of India-USA relations, he believes that candidates’ policies will not be different for India and will not make any difference as long as Modi and his party are in power. “When it comes to the treatment of Muslims, it smacks of apartheid, persecution, and injustice,” he added.
Maseeh Uddin, a retired businessman from Minnesota, holds similar views. He said, “I am very much inclined towards the third-party candidate, Jill Stein. I believe most Muslims--Indian, Pakistani, and others-- are very disgruntled with the continuing carnage in Palestine and now in Lebanon.”
“It appears that democratic leadership,” Maseeh Uddin says,” is hell-bent on supporting Israel regardless of the genocide being committed by them.
On the other hand, Safi Rahim, a senior manager in a consulting firm in Texas, believes that Trump is an extreme person with ideas and a mind. Rahim finds Trump’s approach as very focused and catering to a specific segment of the American population – the other 50 percent of the population. “He is that straightforward that if he does not care, he does not care.”
Rahim continues, “Kamala Harris is more moderate when it comes to being an ideologue and all.” But the way the American system works between Republicans and Democrats, there are too many shackles for any of these leaders to decide on their own. So what is the option, then questions Rahim? “Extreme idea or moderate? Go for the more balanced- the moderate who can help the general American public,” Rahim notes.
Voters for whom economy, inflation, and prices are top priority sound alarm over Harris’ Democratic policies.
“I prefer to vote for Donald Trump as he dreams best for our country, whereas Kamala Harris is associated with the Democratic Party and drives the country to worst,” said Haribhai Patel, president of Bhartiya Senior Citizens in Chicago.
“Look at the high prices every day. A lot of people crossed over very illegally in this country and are causing problems because of Harris–Biden policies.” said Patel. “I prefer to vote for Donald Trump. Why? Because the economy was growing and the prices were under control during his regime.”
However, a declared Democrat, Sohan Joshi, an accountant, says, “Harris is going to be the first woman president of the United States as she is ready, educated, and very knowledgeable.” He observes that as a loyalist, he has to think like a Democrat in the choice of the candidate.
Next up is Kalpesh Joshi, a hotelier. For him, Trump has business-mindedness. “The first time in U.S. history, this is a very crucial election as far as the status of the economy, businesses, and middle class are concerned,” said Joshi.
When it comes to the border, Joshi explains, “What has happened in last few years is that people poured in, and the government has hosted them by giving money, food stamps, and shelter.” He observes that the economy is not doing great and that money is the tax-payers money.
For Joshi, Trump is that personality to lead the country into a prosperous economy. He says that Trump’s way of working is different as he is not a politician but a businessman. Regarding immigration, Joshi said, “Currently, the illegal immigrants are getting working rights easily whereas legal immigrants-- the professional people-- have to wait so many years for the citizenship path.” Joshi concludes by saying that choosing Trump would be a good option for the economy of the USA and its relations with India.
On the other hand, Bharath Barai, a medical director and a well-known community leader, gives his note on every important issue of the voters. “Many of us, including myself, came here legally and had to wait long years before we got a green card. So why is it ok for well-qualified people to come through the legal route of immigration and wait long while millions of illegal immigrants now have all rights?" asked Barai. So, he said, Kamala Harris was supposed to be in charge of it, and they didn't do anything. “Now for wooing voters,” he points out, “she has put up the show of concern.”
Coming to law and order, he said, “The Democrats should not be trying to dismantle the police. I mean, we have so many illegal activities going on in Seattle, San Francisco, Portland, Minneapolis, all those places, but the police are inactive there as they are told not to do anything. “Harris has been very soft on the criminal. She might say that she is a prosecutor, but her actions do not make her a good prosecutor.”
Talking about Trump, Barai said, “Well, his economic policies have been good. The government doesn't manufacture automobiles. It cannot give everybody a job and run hospitals. But allowing the private sector to thrive is how jobs are created. “This is what Trump did. He is also powerful on defense and law and order.”
Finally, enlisting the negatives of Trump, Barai said, “Trump is very abusive. He is insulting many people, including some national heroes like John McCain. And whether he is making racist comments or calling her mentally retarded is not how a presidential candidate behaves. He should concentrate on the policies and persuade voters about his leadership rather than resorting to insults and mockery.
Barai goes on, “I wish we had a better choice. There were better Republicans vying for the post like Nikki Haley, DeSantis.” He is going to wait for another two to three weeks to decide his choice.
According to Pew Research, the supporters of both candidates have a different set of issues. For Pro-Trump voters, the Economy, immigration, and violent crime are the leading issues. Whereas for Harris- supporters, these are Abortion, healthcare, illegal immigration, and the economy.
Pakistani Americans’ views
For most of the Pakistani Americans, the Israel war in the Middle East is most concerning. “Both candidates are the same for us. So, to vote for one of them is difficult. They are not clear about what the Muslims of America want,” said Mona Rasool, a Pakistani American. “Vote is our right, and we will exercise it irrespective.”
Mona Rasool, a housewife, is waiting for guidance from the Chicago Area Muslim community to decide on whom to vote. Recently, a group of Muslim scholars urged voters to snub Kamala Harris and vote for a third party. “We want to know who is willing to talk to us, give assurance to the minority Muslim community, and respect us. Be it Trump or Harris or a third party, I don’t care. I just need those answers,” she said.
Declaring her vote up-front for the third party candidate, Farah Mohammad, a housewife from Minnesota, said, “My choice is Dr Jill Stein as she has called out the genocide for what it is.”
Farah, who is a housewife and has been a Democrat all her life, said, “It will be sad to see Trump win, but it will serve as a lesson to Democrats to know what power of vote can do so that they get their facts straight next time.”
“If your candidate has not called out the genocide and you still vote for them, think about what you are green lighting as a Muslim,” she says and believes that it will be a long road to democracy, but such consequences are inevitable in this election.
When asked about his views as a young first-time voter, Hunain Siddique, a Pakistani American student from a Chicago-based University, said, “I am still thinking because I am unhappy with both candidates. I initially decided to vote Democrats, but their way of handling the Middle East crisis is not satisfactory,”
Siddique is also not comfortable with Republicans either, as he lives in a white area and understands the power play.
While explaining his views in detail, Obaid Siddique, a social justice activist based in Texas, said, “Kamala doesn’t seem to have better views than Biden, but you know, that is because she just follows what the establishment wants her to do. So I believe they have their opinion for all politics, including Asian politics, but aren't able to make individual choices as they have to follow the cue from the venture capitalists who ultimately fund them.”
According to him, Trump is a racist and follows the same measures of colonial agenda. Siddique tells blatantly that he does not want to vote for these two parties and wants to go for a third party to express his frustration with the system and its agenda. He said even if votes of people like him just count for five percent, this will be enough to send the message and get the candidates to work on real issues.”
Giving an insight into his views, Sheheryar Shah, a managing partner in a Texas company, said, “ When it comes to foreign policy, Kamala Harris remains relatively silent on issues concerning us, like the Pakistan-American relation, with her focus appearing grossly weighted towards India, mostly due to her ties with Narendra Modi administration. This is important to raise questions concerning the balance of U.S. foreign policy within the region.”
On the other side, Donald Trump, he said, for all his contentious rhetoric-then had rather more clearly defined positions on issues that resonated with me personally, especially in foreign policy and economic matters.
Declaring his vote for Trump, Shah continues, “During his rule, the US remained strategically aloof from further embroilment in the South Asian conflict. His economic policies were also favorable to business, lowering corporate taxes and creating a climate of deregulation that fostered growth. This economic focus had proved to be a definite plus for Pakistani-Americans who were entrepreneurs and professionals.” Lastly, on immigration, he said, “While his strict stance on immigration perhaps was called to handle unlawful immigration, such measures also covered the line of lawful immigration, which particularly hurt families and professionals coming from Pakistan.”
As the D day is approaching, it will be interesting to see who gets the mandate. Whoever receives the mandate will be crucial. Harris will become the first woman president, that to a Black. Trump, on the other side, will become the first exceptional case for becoming a president with conviction charges.
