lennart
12-04-03, 17:31
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/04/12/BA27731.DTL
Seven weeks ago, Katrina Leung was greeting friends at the state Republican Convention in Sacramento, a dynamic party fund-raiser and enthusiastic leader in the growing effort to bring more Asian Americans into the GOP.
But Leung's arrest Wednesday as an alleged spy for the Chinese government could make it even tougher for Asian Americans to carve out their spot on California's political scene.
Coming on top of scandals involving illegal contributions by Asian Americans to President Bill Clinton's 1996 re-election campaign and Democrat Al Gore's embarrassing fund-raiser at a Buddhist temple, Leung's arrest and the concerns that surround it could send would-be donors packing, warned Assemblyman Leland Yee, D-San Francisco.
"This is going to put a damper on Asian American involvement in politics," said Yee, who is Chinese American. "You're going to have people who might have wanted to get involved staying out."
Until the day FBI agents snapped the handcuffs on Leung at her multimillion- dollar home in the wealthy Los Angeles suburb of San Marino, the self-employed businesswoman was everything the Republicans could want in a party activist.
Precies wat ze willen in de Republiekse Partij denk ik, geen buitenstaanders ajb.
Seven weeks ago, Katrina Leung was greeting friends at the state Republican Convention in Sacramento, a dynamic party fund-raiser and enthusiastic leader in the growing effort to bring more Asian Americans into the GOP.
But Leung's arrest Wednesday as an alleged spy for the Chinese government could make it even tougher for Asian Americans to carve out their spot on California's political scene.
Coming on top of scandals involving illegal contributions by Asian Americans to President Bill Clinton's 1996 re-election campaign and Democrat Al Gore's embarrassing fund-raiser at a Buddhist temple, Leung's arrest and the concerns that surround it could send would-be donors packing, warned Assemblyman Leland Yee, D-San Francisco.
"This is going to put a damper on Asian American involvement in politics," said Yee, who is Chinese American. "You're going to have people who might have wanted to get involved staying out."
Until the day FBI agents snapped the handcuffs on Leung at her multimillion- dollar home in the wealthy Los Angeles suburb of San Marino, the self-employed businesswoman was everything the Republicans could want in a party activist.
Precies wat ze willen in de Republiekse Partij denk ik, geen buitenstaanders ajb.