Here's an interesting article that just appeared in today's Los Angeles Times, "The party that wins Asian Votes may benefit for decades." While pointing out that the majority of Asian Americans currently vote for Democrats, it points out the potential for Republicans to gain a foothold in the community. Given how poorly the GOP does with Latinos, African Americans and progressive and moderate whites, it seems they are going to have play somewhere. 

One of the few glimmers of hope for the GOP in a poll published last week by the Los Angeles Times and the USCCollege of Letters, Arts and Sciences was the openness among Asian voters to consider Republican candidates whom many in the state, particularly other minority groups, have spurned.

Among the state's two ascendant ethnic voter groups, Latinos and Asians, the poll found plenty of agreement. Both backed Democrat Jerry Brown over Whitman in the governor's race, and both supported Democrat Barbara Boxer over RepublicanCarly Fiorina in the U.S. Senate race. Both supported an activist role for government in regulating businesses, protecting minorities and aiding the poor.

The poll goes on to break down attitudes on a variety of issues. And while the Asian American population does vote Democratic overall, it's not as progressive as I would like, particularly in a whole host of areas:

When asked whether the state's giant budget deficit should be pared through tax hikes or decreased spending, 51% of Asian voters cited spending, well above the 35% among Latinos and the 46% among white voters.

On social issues, the distinctions were most pronounced on same-sex marriage. Thirty-eight percent of Asians said same-sex couples deserved no legal recognition, and only 29% backed the right to marriage. Among Latinos, 19% opted for no recognition and 45% backed marriage; among whites 12% opposed legal recognition and 53% supported marriage.

On immigration, Asians agreed with Latinos on backing a temporary worker program and allowing undocumented residents to gain citizenship if they fulfilled certain dictates. And they favored a measure that would allow citizenship for those who graduate from college or serve in the military.

But they differed sharply on whether employers who hire illegal immigrants should be fined: Latinos disagreed and Asians strongly agreed. And on the emotional matter of whether illegal immigrants should be barred from services like emergency room care or public school admission, Latinos strongly disagreed and Asians narrowly agreed.

Just as striking, Asians had a far more positive view of Whitman, who alienated Latinos with her handling of immigration and her treatment of an undocumented housekeeper. While 71% of Latinos had an unfavorable impression of Whitman, only 39% of Asians did. Thirty-three percent of Asians thought well of her, double the percentage of Latinos.

Now we all know there are variations in the community based off of ethnicity, class and immigration status, so to be really useful, it would be nice to break these numbers down even further, but at least it's a start.

Analysts said the distinctions rested on demographic differences between the two groups. Latinos were younger, with 71% under age 50 to 59% for Asian voters. Latinos included more women, 60% to 48% for Asians. Latinos were less likely to be college graduates, 22% to 56% for Asians.

Most important, Latinos were far more likely to have been born in this country — 63% to only 27% for Asian voters. Junn said that meant that Asian voters were still, in many cases, hewing to the beliefs of their native countries rather than their adopted one.

On social issues, "you've got to remember where people are coming from," she said. "If you come from China, Korea and Vietnam, you cannot be gay in that society. It's not allowed, and it's not open.... It's a real taboo topic for Asians."

I'm optimistic that the immigrant voters will learn to appreciate what it means to be living in a diverse city like America and that their kids will push them to be more progressive. But we can't take this for granted. We have to keep pushing progressive ideas and the Democratic party will need to step up it's efforts to retain this growing and vital voting bloc.