Subject: RE: For approval: 3 short scripts for AAPI heritage month videos
From: "Miranda, Luis" <[email-masked]>
To: "Bagchi, K.J." <[email-masked]>, "Christopher, Rebecca" <[email-masked]>, "Freundlich, Christina" <[email-masked]>
Cc: "Walker, Eric" <[email-masked]>, Video-Vetting_d <[email-masked]>, "Alvillar, Raul" <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2016 07:43:41 -0700

I know Mike Honda well and have great affection for him from our last run at the DNC in the Dean years. But we can't separate Congress from political. The fact is it will be looked at as political. And there are other AAPI members that could fit the bill. Is it not possible to get another member?

From: Bagchi, K.J.
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2016 10:31 AM
To: Miranda, Luis; Christopher, Rebecca; Freundlich, Christina
Cc: Walker, Eric; Video-Vetting_d; Alvillar, Raul
Subject: RE: For approval: 3 short scripts for AAPI heritage month videos

Let me provide context for what these 1-minute videos are for:

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM). As part of the DNC's celebration and recognition of this community, we'll be releasing 1-minute videos via social media highlighting elected members of Congress who are AAPI. 10 AAPI members of Congress have agreed to take part in this project. The videos highlight their stories and why they are Dems. We are not doing anything in that election - we're trying to highlight the small, but critical, caucus of sitting AAPI members. Honda already lent his name to a DNC AAPI fundraiser in March - while being in a primary. No one took that effort as a nod by POTUS. I think the story on the POTUS not endorsing is vividly clear.

Not including him in these videos, especially when he is the longest-serving AAPI member will create more of a story in that race and bring us unwanted scrutiny.

From: Miranda, Luis
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2016 10:18 AM
To: Bagchi, K.J.; Christopher, Rebecca; Freundlich, Christina
Cc: Walker, Eric; Video-Vetting_d; Alvillar, Raul
Subject: RE: For approval: 3 short scripts for AAPI heritage month videos

Adding Raul since Political will need to chime in on this. Anything we do in this race will be interpreted as a nod one way or another, so we have to tread carefully. The DNC had to do the confirmation that POTUS would not be endorsing, fyi.

From: Miranda, Luis
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2016 10:12 AM
To: Bagchi, K.J.; Christopher, Rebecca; Freundlich, Christina
Cc: Walker, Eric; Video-Vetting_d
Subject: RE: For approval: 3 short scripts for AAPI heritage month videos

But he's in a contested primary against another AAPI candidate. So does this look like we're weighing in?

[SigDems]<http://www.democrats.org/>Luis Miranda, Communications Director
Democratic National Committee
202-863-8148 - [email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]> - @MiraLuisDC<https://www.twitter.com/MiraLuisDC>

From: Bagchi, K.J.
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2016 10:11 AM
To: Christopher, Rebecca; Freundlich, Christina
Cc: Walker, Eric; Video-Vetting_d
Subject: RE: For approval: 3 short scripts for AAPI heritage month videos

Yes, we did. It's also important to note that Congressman Honda headlined a DNC fundraiser with Amy Dacey for us in SF. He was endorsed by the CA Dem party and he is the most senior member of CAPAC- the purpose of these videos is to highlight sitting members of Congress who are AAPI. Not including him would raise way more political issues for us.

From: Christopher, Rebecca
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2016 10:08 AM
To: Freundlich, Christina
Cc: Walker, Eric; Video-Vetting_d; Bagchi, K.J.
Subject: Re: For approval: 3 short scripts for AAPI heritage month videos

+KJ who is running this show!

On Apr 18, 2016, at 9:50 PM, Freundlich, Christina <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>> wrote:
Video team, to clarify, you have already reached out to Honda to participate in the video?

On Mon, Apr 18, 2016 at 4:29 PM -0700, "Walker, Eric" <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>> wrote:
Honda has a great story but he's under investigation and he's being primaried. I think using him may be a political issue. Love the other two.

On Apr 18, 2016, at 5:56 PM, Christopher, Rebecca <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>> wrote:

Hi everyone!

Below are three scripts we'd like to film as part of an AAPI heritage month launch. They have been approved by the relevant officers, which are:

-Senator Hirono
-Rep. Honda
-Rep. Lieu

And will be in response to an off-camera question. Please let me know if I can answer any questions of your own!

1. TED LIEU

Q: What inspired you to seek public office?
Rep. Lieu:
I joined the U.S. Air Force on active duty after law school, and I'm currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force reserves. My family found success in this country, and the desire to give back was what drew me into military service and later run for office.

I'm a Democrat because I believe in working toward solutions to problems like climate change and laws that make our country more inclusive and less tolerant of discrimination. We clearly see the alternative on the Republican side is either denial or fear-mongering and blaming those need help.

I owe it to my kids to make sure that my country reflects the values I grew up with.

2. MIKE HONDA
Q: What inspired you to seek public office?

Rep. Honda:
I spent most of my childhood in a Japanese internment camp in Colorado, so the civil rights issues have always been at the forefront for me, first during my career as an educator and later in public service. I am Chair Emeritus of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and Vice-Chair of the House LGBT Caucus.

So for me, it hits close to home when I hear of Republican presidential candidates calling for banning and tracking all Muslims in our country or when they talk about deporting all undocumented immigrants. We need to be focused on progressive policies that move all of us forward, not just the wealthy few. Today, that's what being a Democrat and being a congressman means to me.

3. MAZIE HIRONO
Q: What inspired you to seek public office?

When I was nearly eight years old, my mother escaped an abusive marriage in Japan to give me and my brothers a better life. After we settled in Hawaii, things weren't always easy. Mom worked low-wage jobs and we sometimes ran out of money by the end of the month. But we persevered.

Sen. Hirono:
I ran for office as a Democrat because I wanted to fight for women like her, so that families like mine have the opportunity to succeed. Throughout my time in public service, I've fought for early education and to bring the more than 11 million undocumented immigrants out of the shadows. To me, being a Democrat means that humble beginnings don't define your future.