Posted on 10/16/2015 4:19:09 PM PDT by Starman417
This showed up in my FB newsfeed today, regarding something that occurred earlier this week while I was in Colorado:
Things got awkward on Monday when Donald Trump asked an Asian-American college student if he was from South Korea.A 20-year-old Harvard economics major identified by NPR as Joseph Choe had launched into a query about South Korea during a question-and-answer session at the No Labels-hosted Problem Solver Convention in New Hampshire.
"I just had a really quick question about something you said earlier this summer," Choe said in video captured by C-SPAN. "Basically, you said that South Korea takes advantage of the United States in terms of the defense spending on the Korean peninsula. You said that they don't have to pay anything. However, I just want to get the facts straight and say that --"
Trump interrupted to ask, "Are you from South Korea?"
"I'm not. I was born in Texas, raised in Colorado," Choe responded.
The GOP presidential candidate shrugged as awkward laughter from the audience escalated into full-blown cheering for Choe.
"No matter where I'm from, I like to get my facts straight, and I wanted to tell you that that's not true. South Korea paid $861 million," Choe said before Trump cut him off again.
I don't believe Trump's question was totally unreasonable. Watch the video. In context, the student is defending/standing up for an Asian country. Choe looks rather Asiatic. Is it completely unwarranted to question motive and bias through possible ethnic ties? After all, people all the time do show loyalty, favoritism, connection, etc. to their ancestral country/ethnic origins.
Incidentally, this isn't the first time Joseph Choe has spoken out on behalf of Korean interests. He seems to be involved in Korean politics and interests. Back in April, he confronted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe regarding Korean comfort women:
A Korean-American Harvard University student is gaining attention in South Korea for a question he asked Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe regarding comfort women.Harvard student Joseph Choe put the Prime Minister on the spot during his April 27 visit to Harvard Universitys Kennedy School when he asked him to clarify his position on the Japanese governments involvement in coercing Korean women and girls into sexual slavery during World War II.
Yes. Joseph Choe is an American, born in Texas and raised in Colorado. But he is ethnically tied by ancestry to Korea; and seems to have an interest in Korea. Whether it is relevant to the larger point or not on American military expenditure and bases in Korea, it at least provides Trump with a contextualization for where the source of Choe's interest in the topic may be coming from.
So basically, Trump's instincts were correct and he had Choe's number correct.
(Excerpt) Read more at floppingaces.net...
Hey! What was the point? DOES S. Korea get a free ride or don’t they? Do they pay the U.S. nearly a $billion per year, or don’t they? And to clarify, exactly WHAT is the payment designated FOR? Are they paying it merely for our PRESENCE there, which I gather, is what Choe was claiming? Or is Trump correct, and the $800+ odd million$ are actually in payment for weapons, equipment and/or other defense materiel....which are a different matter altogether, and would blow Choe’s claim into a cocked hat.
Trump was right on the money. Look at the kid’s Twitter page. It’s in hangul as well as English. He talks about his summer job working for the National Assembly (Korea’s version of Congress). I would bet his parents are Korean, which makes him a Korean citizen under Korean law even if he was born in the U.S.
“No matter where I’m from, I like to get my facts straight, and I wanted to tell you that that’s not true. South Korea paid $861 million,” Choe said
...
A drop in the bucket.
After watching video, I wouldnt necessarily call the audiences response to the students reply to Trumps question where the student is from to be significant.
This reminds me of a previous thread where the authors description of the audiences response to a comment that Trump made about Rubio was likewise questionable.
Conservatives boo Trump after Rubio 'clown' insult
You’re getting pathetic.
His question was perfectly ok. The kid looks Korean, cares, apparently, only about Korean issues, and asks a question about Korea. If this is racism, this country is crazier than even I thought it was.
so lets live in the past...
this guy has opened the door...to some necessary discussion
a Statesmen he will never be
So if he was readily able to assume an ehtnic identlty... why did he feel the need to ask the question?
statesmen...REAL statesmen don’t respond is such a manner,,and our next Presidet had BETTER be an Authentic Stateman
I agree. I think that some people will see his statements as egregious faux pas. But it has been normal for many years.
what does the word korean refer to in this instance....his taste in ICE CREAM??
no? okay then...his sartorial choices?
maybe you might want to re read you message with “fresh eyes” as they say
all actions by the would be candidate from NYC...appear to be Sacrosanct to many.....
The question of origin was well within reason. The reaction is not.
Did you even watch the video? While Trump answered his question, that brat was busy talking to someone else.
And what the hell does ice cream have to do with anything? The Trump haters seem to be on benders today.
Trump Rules.. Dewdette!!
I thought that question was inappropriate, as it had no relevance to the issue at hand.
Even assuming this person was biased, the question and subsequent answer would all be based on facts which, by definition, are devoid of any bias.
To be fair to Mr. Trump, we don’t know what transpired before that to cause him to go that route. Nor do we know what his internals said about what GOPe/RNC plants may be in the crowd that he had to watch out for.
So without knowing the full story it is unwise to render judgement.
I’ll take it that you didn’t bother to watch the entire video. So why should I take anything YOU say seriously?
Yeah? And how much did WE pay?
okay lets see we covered the Ice Cream Choice question
his sartorial choices...were maybe Korean?
No His APPERANCE ?? yes BINGO
what about his appearance made him look korean?
Just PERHAPS it was his... Racial..Characteristics?
well there you have it,,,if you can SEE IT!!
“Im married to a Chinese woman. Asian issues matter avove all others to most of them (sorry, but its true).”
You are correct
My wife makes it a point to tell other Asians that I speak Cantonese so that they don’t make disparaging remarks about her “Ghiweilo” husband around a table thinking I don’t know what they are saying.
But why does it matter why the kid asked the question? He asked the question, so why not just answer it?
...If this is racism, this country is crazier than even I thought it is...
Welcome to the 21st century and 2015 AD. Nothing makes sense
anymore.
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