WASHINGTON: In references to what has been described as a “head turn” and a “deaf-tone attempt at levity,” the U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday Indian Americans said they are “taking over” the United States.
The Biden reference came off-the-cuff at the time of a call to NASA while talking to Swati Mohan, NASA’s direction and control is making its way to the Mars Perseverance rover, and it appears to have been made in competition with the Indian-American contribution in the fields of science. and technology.
“It’s amazing. Indigenous Americans are taking over the country – you, my vice presidentKamala Harris), my speechwriter (Vinay Reddy), ”Biden told Mohan, and his lead role in leading the Perservance rover ride last month was highly praised.
“One of the reasons we are such an amazing country is that we are such a diverse country. We make the most of every single culture in the world, here in the United States of America, and we will give people the opportunity to let their dreams run their course, “Biden said, clearly emphasizing the U.S. nationality by referring to them as” Americans belonging to the India. ”
Biden had a good history of making weird gaffes, so his over-the-top remarks were made even in the right-wing newspapers already in heavy xenophobia. The New York Post described the comments as “a tone-deaf attempt at levity” and Breitbart News, home of nativist reports, said Biden has a history of bizarre statements on the growing population of Americans Indian. ”
But the comments also clearly acknowledged the growing image in areas ranging from politics and public service to science and business, of an ethnic group seen as a “minority model” and by whether the best educational standards are in any community in the United States. .
According to a Pew research study, more than 70 percent of people of Indian descent age 25 and older have college degrees, with 40 percent getting a graduate degree, nearly 2.5 times the rate among the U.S. -full. crowd. Indian Americans have the highest median income in the U.S. – $ 132,000 compared to $ 64,000 and $ 66,000 for all immigrant and U.S.-born households.
Their success is reflected in Biden’s administrative role with a large number in government – more than 55 at the last census.
Although one of Biden ‘s most famous officials, Neera Tanden, has been rejected by Conservative lawyers for political reasons, she is expected to continue to serve in the administration in a position that does not require confirmation. from the Senate. Other prominent office bearers include Dr. Vivek Murthy as U.S. Surgeon General Vanita Gupta, Deputy Attorney General (both positions require confirmation from Senate), Uzra Zeya, Under Secretary of State for Rights Humanities and Democracy, Mala Adiga as Policy Director for the First Lady Jill Biden, and Bharat Ramamurti, Deputy Director of the National Economic Council.
Indians-Americans are also present in numbers that are disproportionate to their demographic strength as CXOs in corporate America, academia, and small businesses, something Biden recognized as far back as 2006 when he talked about their rise in his Delaware home state.
“In Delaware, the largest population growth is Indian Americans moving out of India. You can’t go to 7-Eleven or Dunkin ‘Donuts unless you have a small Indian accent. I am not joking, “he said with an infelicity that is now recognized as normal for him.