Issue October 2010

www.thedesidiva.com

On August 31, 2010, Desi Diva founder Anjali Bansal and political correspondent Salas Saraiya had a phone conversation with Congressional hopeful Manan Trivedi. Trivedi is running for Congress in the 6th district. He is posing a stern challenge to incumbent Republican Congressman Jim Gerlach. Veterans and unions are among his strong supporters - as they have supported him since early in the primary season, when he was an underdog running against fellow Democrat Doug Pike.

My favorite part of the conversation was his response to me asking why he was putting his medical career on hold to run for political office, and he responded by asking if I had been talking to his mother (listen to "Decision to run" below). A close second was his incisive take-down of the recently passed health care bill. In his opinion, the bill was a net positive, but fell woefully short of solving the problem. Listen to "Addressing Health Care Costs" below to find out why.

In the space below, we have pulled some of the audio clips from our phone conversation. We attempted to capture Trivedi's stance on the pertinent issues, his opinion of the political landsape, and a candid take on his personal motivations. Because of knowledge of the 6th district, wealth of ideas to fix existing issues, and confidence in his vision for a better future, we believe he would be an outstanding Congressman. In addition, he would be a great symbol of leadership for the Indian community.

Issues (click play button to hear audio)

Addressing Health Care Costs Q: You have a lot of experience in the health care field - as a civilian and military doctor, and as a health policy advisor to then-Senator Obama. As a health care expert, what do you believe the immediate and long-term impact of the health care bill will be for the American people? What still needs to be done?
Evidence-based Medicine Q: Knowing that 30% of health care provided is ineffective, do you feel that doctors should be held accountable for their patients' overall health?
Rising Cost of Education Q: How do we address the rising cost of education in this country?
Ways to Cut the Deficit Q: We recognize that by placing a higher priority on controlling the cost of education, we are implying we spend more on education. With the current financial crisis our country is facing, where do you suggest these additional funds come from?
Pledge to Support Social Security Q: There has been ongoing speculation around the longevity of Social Security. Do you feel that we can help to cut the deficit by cutting the Social Security program?
Streamlining Visas for Skilled Labor Q:One issue of particular interest to the Indian community is the visa process for skilled applicants. You have spoken out on this issue - saying that America's late '90s technology boom never would have happened if the stricter immigration policies proposed by Tom Tancredo were in effect. What changes would you like to see to streamline the visa process?

Politics (click play button to hear audio)

Indian American candidates

Q: During the first three weeks after declaring your candidacy, roughly a quarter of your monetary resources was coming from the Indian community. At the same time, there are several other young Indians running for Congress. Does this mark a permanent growth of the Indian community's role in politics?

On Gerlach's Personal Attacks

Q:Congressman Jim Gerlach has started attacking your honesty - stating that you did not grow up in what is now considered the 6th district, and that you have not worked for The Reading Hospital for several months. While these are tangential attacks, he is attempting to strike a chord with the voters. How do you plan to keep the campaign’s focus on the issues facing the 6th district?

Unions Support Green Jobs

Q: Labor and transport unions in the 6th district have supported your candidacy, despite a campaign directed away from traditional manufacturing and industrialization and towards green jobs. How have you managed this?

Personal (click play button to hear audio)

Decision to run
Q: As a doctor at Reading Hospital, you are already providing a service to society. Why did you decide your talents would be better suited to public office?

Use of Social Media in Campaign

Q: You have used a variety of new media outlets - including Facebook, Twitter, DailyKos, and Sepia Mutiny - to get your message out. Was this media strategy necessary because of a lack of initial funding, or do you think it is the best strategy to reach the most voters?

Surekha's role in the campaign

Q: You have spoken about the major role Surekha, your wife, has played in your campaign. She is also a biotech executive and recently gave birth to your first child, Sonia (Congratulations!). Can you talk a little bit about how the two of you have managed all the challenges and excitement of the past year?