Asian American Group Views Clinton’s Absence as Snub

WASHINGTON —  A group of Asian American political leaders, convening here for its annual meeting, lashed out at President Clinton on Thursday, charging that they were being slighted by an administration they had done much to support.

Francey Lim Youngberg, executive director of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Institute, complained that Clinton--the keynote speaker at the group’s last two annual meetings--is not attending this year’s gathering.

White House officials noted that the president is in the middle of a major diplomatic trip to Mexico and Central America, but to many of the Asian American political leaders his absence is a further sign that he is attempting to distance himself from them.

“We’re being snubbed by the White House this year, and partially people feel it’s a result of this political fund-raising controversy,” Youngberg said.

The fund-raising scandal has focused largely on whether foreign interests, especially in Asia, sought to illegally funnel money to the Democratic National Committee during the 1996 election campaign.

Informed of the group’s comments, an administration spokesman said that Clinton’s trip to Mexico and Central America created an “impossible” scheduling conflict.

Barry Toiv, the White House spokesman, also noted that seven Cabinet members accompanied Clinton on the trip, reducing the number of top officials available to attend the Asian American event.

“The president is obviously disappointed that there was a conflict this year, which was unavoidable from our end, certainly,” Toiv said. “We plan to make it up to them in the future.”

About 1,000 people attended Wednesday’s dinner for the caucus, which was formed in 1995 to increase the participation of Asian Americans in public policy issues.

Toiv acknowledged that at the last minute, a senior White House official was made available as a dinner speaker, but the caucus “understandably” decided to proceed with its previously planned program.

Toiv sought to play down unhappiness within the Asian American community toward the White House and Democratic Party in the wake of the campaign finance controversy.

“Both the White House and the DNC have tried to make it very clear how we appreciate the support of the Asian American community, and we continue to work closely with the Asian American community on the issues that are of greatest concern to them,” Toiv said.

Still, former Rep. Norman Y. Mineta (D-San Jose), the caucus chairman, said that congressional hearings planned later this year on the fund-raising controversy pose a particular challenge to the Asian American community.

“We must ensure that efforts to reform campaign financing do not inhibit the ability of Americans of Asian Pacific ancestry to participate in the political process,” he said in a letter to conference participants.

At seminars on Thursday, some participants voiced concern that Asian Americans are being unfairly singled out because of the actions of a few individuals or a few foreign interests.