There is a question that has taken on more and more meaning as India increases in importance on the world stage, while Indian-Americans are involved in American politics as never before. Which candidate, Barack Obama or Mitt Romney would be a better president on issues that are important to India and Indians?
Predictably, both candidates have kissed up to Indian-American donors and speak highly of India when given the opportunity. Both claim that India is an important ally and friend to the United States. Strikingly, neither candidate discussed India in the foreign policy debate this week. In truth, it is difficult to accurately forecast the answer to this question based on past records and statements. It’s also unclear how much influence a president can bring to bear on these issues. But it’s worth speculating on.
The primary challenge in this endeavor would be to identify the core issues that Indians consider to be important. India is a vast and chaotic cauldron of democracy, with wildly varying views on religious, political, and social issues. These variances have spilled over onto American soil as immigrants of Indian origin may be found supporting or participating in either political party. For example, Aneesh Chopra and Kal Penn have worked in the Obama administration while Bobby Jindal and Nikki Haley are staunch Southern Republican governors, and Dinesh D’Souza has savaged Obama’s psyche from the right. That being said, as a longtime observer of the diaspora as well as US-India relations, I believe the issues that matter most are: trade policy, immigration policy, national security postures, hate crimes legislation, nuclear issues, and personal diplomacy. Below is a breakdown of each.
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