Asian-Americans can help determine the course of America’s future, the author writes. Asian-Americans should back Mitt

Asian-American voters face a big choice in the election this November. Like all voters, we care deeply about the state of our nation’s economy and our country’s unemployment crisis. And after four years of sky-high jobless rates, declining incomes and rising costs for health care, gasoline and food, it’s clear that America can’t afford another four years like the last four years. Fortunately, we have the opportunity to take our country in a new direction by electing Mitt Romney as president of the United States.

I have the honor of serving as Romney’s chief policy adviser and the policy director of his presidential campaign. In that role, I’ve come to know him as a man of great integrity who cares deeply about the future of our nation and of the Asian-American community.


Many of our parents and grandparents came to the United States in search of a better life. My parents came to the United States from Taiwan seeking opportunity — not just for themselves, but for our family too. Unfortunately, many of those opportunities are slipping away today because of President Barack Obama’s failure to lead over the past four years.

There’s no doubt that Obama and Romney both want to do what’s best for our country. The problem is that we’ve seen the results of Obama’s policies — and they aren’t good. Twenty-three million Americans are struggling for work. Our federal government has had four consecutive trillion-dollar budget deficits. And the American economy has become less competitive.

Reelection for Obama means more of the same failed policies that we’ve seen over the past four years. In a second term, he will take our national debt past $20 trillion, a frightening figure that we will eventually have to pay off. He’ll raise another $2 trillion in taxes, including on many of our nation’s small businesses. “Obamacare” will put a damper on job creation. And energy prices will continue to creep upward.

In contrast, Romney has a record of success and a plan to improve our economy. He has brought people together to solve big challenges. When he was governor of Massachusetts, he worked with a Legislature that was more than 85 percent Democratic to balance the state’s budget every year. He cut taxes 19 times, made the state a better place to do business, and drove the schools in his state to be among the best in the nation.

Romney was also a successful businessman and knows the struggles that business owners face. His experiences in government and business inform his five-part Plan for a Stronger Middle Class, which will create 12 million jobs and rising incomes over the next four years.

His plan will cut the deficit and put us on track to a balanced budget. It will get us energy independent in eight years by ensuring we take advantage of all our natural resources. And it will open markets for American goods and ensure that our trading partners play by the rules.

Romney will also focus his energy on championing small businesses across America. He will cut business taxes and make our Tax Code simpler, eliminate regulations that unnecessarily restrict businesses from growing and prospering, and repeal Obamacare, which raises taxes on small businesses.

Romney’s also a big believer in improving America’s education system. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School, and wants every child in America to have access to good schools and great teachers. He will give parents more choice and more information so that they can make the best educational decisions for their kids.

Finally, I know Romney cares deeply about his family. He is close with all five of his sons and has eighteen grandchildren. He has served his church and his community on many occasions. Romney understands that the success of our families is integral to the success of our country.

Asian-Americans can have an impact on this year’s presidential election and help determine the course of America’s future. This election is a choice between the status quo and real change, between another four years like the past four years and a future that will be better than the past. Romney is the candidate in this race who will put our country back on the path to prosperity, and that’s the reason I urge Asian-Americans to join me in voting for Mitt Romney for president of the United States.

Lanhee Chen is the policy director of the Romney campaign.