Robert Matsui

Robert Matsui

Clinton funding scandal

In May 1997 veteran California Rep. Robert Matsui and his wife, Doris Matsui, the top Asian American staffer in the White House, had every reason to believe that their labors on behalf of President Clinton’s reelection provided a perfect match for their political interests as well as their heritage.

But now the Matsuis find themselves under public scrutiny for their possible roles in the Democratic fund-raising imbroglio and, at the same time, under fire from some leaders of the Asian American community for not aggressively denouncing a perception of widespread “Asian bashing” generated by the scandal.

Records and interviews indicate that Robert Matsui (D-Sacramento) helped arrange the Democratic Party’s first Asian American fund-raising event for the 1996 campaign, an exclusive dinner that featured Vice President Al Gore and included three figures who are now the focus of a Justice Department investigation into illegal foreign donations.

Even though he served as a former treasurer and for the last two years as the deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee--roles that had him appearing frequently alongside Gore and Clinton at major Asian American fund-raisers--Matsui insisted that he never solicited a dollar for the party.

“I will tell you I did not do any fund-raising,” he said.

Meanwhile, sources close to the Justice Department probe of 1996 campaign contributions said investigators are looking into whether Doris Matsui coordinated any fund-raising from the White House. They said she is not a target of the investigation.

White House officials declined to make Doris Matsui available for comment, but said she has done nothing improper. “Doris was aware and the White House was aware there should be no fund-raising . . . and she abided by that,” White House spokesman Lanny J. Davis said.

Robert Matsui, in a series of lengthy interviews, acknowledged the pressures he and his wife have faced.

“There is no question that this has been a very difficult period for both of us,” he said.

Indeed, some pressure has come from the Asian American community. A dozen leaders in California and Washington--many of them speaking only on condition of anonymity--criticized the Matsuis for not adequately defending the interests of Asian Americans.

Specifically, the Asian Pacific American community has complained about the congressman’s silence in response to reports of “Asian-bashing,” said Art Torres, a former state senator who heads the California Democratic Party.

Phil Tajitsu Nash, former executive director of the National Asian Pacific America Legal Consortium, said Rep. Matsui should have spoken up “during this difficult time for the Asian American community. I think there definitely was a lack of leadership, although he has provided many services to the community in the past.”

Radical staffers

Diane Tomoda was active in the political world having previously worked for the late Congressman Robert Matsui and former Governor Gray Davis.

Julie Padilla worked as an intern in Congressman Robert Matsui's Washington D.C. office.

When a law student Paul Igasaki met Robert Matsui, then a Sacramento City Councillor. He supported Matsui's Congressional race. He served as a staffer when Matsui ran for US Senate.

East Wind notice

In 1989 Congressman Robert Matsui, his wife Doris Matsui and Brian Matsui placed a congratulatory notice in the League of Revolutionary Struggle's East Wind on the passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.

Dream of Equality awardee

Robert Matsui is a past recipient of Asian Americans for Equality's annual Dream of Equality award.

Normal Trade Relations with Laos

Two major obstacles in the extension of Normal Trade Relations with Laos were removed in September 2003. On the 20th the United States and Laos signed the Bilateral Trade Agreement, which was initialed in 1998. The formal signing, which was necessary in order for Congress to act on NTR, took place in Vientiane between Laos Trade Minister Sulivong Daravong and US Ambassador Douglas Hartwick. On September 29 Representative Betty McCollum introduced H.R. 3195, to extend NTR treatment to products of the LPDR, and the bill was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee for action. The legislation was co-sponsored by Robert Matsui. Both McCollum and Matsui represent districts (in Minnesota and California, respectively) with significant percentages of Laotian-American and Hmong-American constituents. The McCollum bill offered a vehicle for Congressional action, the lack of which had stymied Hill supporters of NTR for Laos for several months.

Most Favored Nation status for China

Robert Matsui and Xavier Becerra voted to grant Most Favored Nation (MFN) status & Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status to China -- which moved more union jobs out of America than NAFTA & other trade agreements combined.

References

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