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April 20th, 2008
Meet Obama’s Legislative Director Chris Lu
Posted by Angelica JongcoChinese-language daily World Journal profiles Chris Lu in their April 20, 2008 edition. [Originally, this was presented as a PDF but is now available after the jump] Lu was Barack’s Harvard Law School classmate and serves as a trusted advisor on the campaign and in his Senate office.
Lu is also quoted on Obama’s ‘wonkishness’ in this November 2006 article in the Washingtonian.
CHINESE-AMERICAN CHIEF OF STAFF
CHRIS LU ASSISTS OBAMA
As Harvard Classmate, In Decision-Making Core Group
THE WORLD JOURNAL[1]
Sunday, April 20, 2008, Page A-3
Special Report by Christine Chiu
In the more than two hundred years history of the United States since her founding, Asian-Americans have never played a crucial role in the election contest for President. But since the start of this year, on Barack Obama’s team that has gained successive victories in primary battles, there is a Chinese-American, Chris Lu, who is a member of the decision-making core group.
Joining the Team - Serves As Legislative Director
The formal title of Chris Lu is Legislative Director of Obama’s Senate Office. Lu was Obama’s classmate at Harvard Law School. At the beginning of 2005, when Obama first entered the Senator as a Senator from Illinois, he invited Lu to join his team, and Lu has served as Obama’s Legislative Director since that time.
Obama himself is a lawyer of uncommon intelligence and unquestioned eloquence, and he has chosen Lu to be his legal advisor in the Senate, responsible for Obama’s legislative work in Congress. Lu leads a 15-person group that is responsible for doing the most important work of a Senator during his time in office– making laws. The legal ability and personal integrity of this top first-generation Chinese-American are quite evident. In the last year and half, Lu has also served as a core member of the team for Obama’s campaign for the Democratic nomination for President.
Chris Lu is 41 years old, was born in New Jersey and grew up in Maryland. He graduated college from Princeton University, and graduated in 1991 from Harvard Law School.
Lu, who is trusted and relied upon by Obama, comes from a family of jurists. His grandfather, Wang Ren-Yuan, had graduated from Chaoyang University in Beijing, and then obtained a degree from Meiji University in Japan. Wang was the Attorney General of the Republic of China from 1960 to 1966. He was also the first Representative of the Legislative Yuan from Tianjin District during the period of Kuomingtang rule in China.
Following graduation from Harvard Law School, Lu served as a law clerk to Judge Robert E. Cowen of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He then joined the prominent law firm of Sidley & Austin in Washington, D.C., where he worked for four and half years.
This major law firm has over one thousand eight hundred lawyers worldwide. It was at the Chicago Office of this law firm that Obama and his wife, Michelle, first met and came to know each other. Coincidentally, Lu and his wife, Katie Thomson, also met at this law firm in its Washington Office, where they fell in love and eventually married.
Lu’s parents are Eileen and Chien-Yang Lu, both of whom were graduate students in the U.S. from Taiwan during the 1960’s. Lu said that he was influenced as a child by his father who, though an electrical engineer, loved literature and history. Every night, Lu used to watch the evening news with his father, and they also read biographies of famous statesmen together.
Lu is grateful to his parents for respecting his interests. Lu said that during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, the number of Chinese-Americans who studied law was much smaller than that of Chinese-Americans who studied medicine or engineering, yet his parents did not force him to follow the crowd.
Giving Up Lawyer High Salary - Enters Political Arena
In 1997, Lu gave up his high-paying law firm job and entered the political arena. His first job was as Deputy Chief Counsel for the Democratic staff of the Governmental Reform Committee of the House of Representatives. During the 2004 Presidential election, Lu served as a Special Advisor to the Kerry campaign.
Between 1988 and 1991, Lu and Obama were both studying at Harvard Law School, the preeminent law school in the U.S. In a recent telephone interview with this newspaper, Lu said that each entering class of the Law School had 550 students, so because of the large number of students, Lu did not know Obama well at that time. But Obama had already exhibited his exceptional intelligence and leadership ability. Lu said: “I have admired his talents for a long time.”
To most Americans, the first time that Obama appeared on the national political stage was in 2004, when he gave a moving address to the Democratic Party National Convention. But to his Harvard Law School classmates and schoolmates, Obama was already a renowned alumnus. When Obama was elected in 1990 as President of the Harvard Law Review, the event was momentous, because Obama was the first black student to be elected President of the Harvard Law Review in the then 104-year history of this most authoritative law publication in the U.S.
When news of Obama’s Presidential bid first became known, in addition to regular members of Obama’s team such as Lu, many Asian-American fellow-graduates of Harvard Law School also came out in support of Obama. Although they are all quite busy with their own work as lawyers or professors, they have stepped forward without hesitation at this crucial moment to devote significant time and effort to helping in the campaign.
Asian-Americans who are assisting enthusiastically in the Obama campaign include: Obama’s classmates from Harvard Law School, Terrence Yang and Grande Lum, fellow-graduate T.K. Chang, and schoolmate Tim Wu, who is a professor at Columbia Law School.
Fighting Together Shoulder to Shoulder - Deeply Admires Obama
Lu expresses deep admiration for Obama, with whom he has worked shoulder to shoulder for more than three years. Lu is articulate and has a resonant voice, but when he talks about Obama’s talents, his voice fills with emotion. He said, “In terms of intelligence and talent, Obama is without comparison. If he does win the White House, he will be one of the most brilliant Presidents in American history.” Lu said that during the eleven years that he has spent in the political arena, he has met many people: “With his quick and incisive mind, Obama is the most intelligent person that I have ever met in this circle of people.”
Lu also has high praise for Obama’s talent for writing. According to Lu, Obama shows profound sensitivity in his feel for the language. At the same time, Obama has the ability to string together different ideas into a coherent theme, making both his writing and his speeches stirring and moving. According to Lu, Obama writes beautifully and speaks eloquently, which is truly rare in Washington, where most politicians have whole troops of ghost writers laboring for them.
Obama also has another even more phenomenal ability that Lu greatly admires, and that his natural talent as a conciliator. Obama possesses a special charisma and is a natural-born politician.
Even though Obama received the best education from the best schools, and is an intellectual who loves to think, read and write, he also has the ability to develop a rapport with people of very different backgrounds. No matter who it is, Obama is able to share a common language with them, and to communicate with them in a way that they can accept. According to Lu, this special charisma enables Obama to reach across the boundaries of race, and to bridge differences in social and economic position.
According to Lu: “With his extraordinary ability and vision, Obama can help to repair American society, which has become extremely polarized in the last twenty years. If Obama wins the White House, he will not only benefit Asian-Americans, but he will improve the lives of all Americans.”
[1] Draft translation by T.K. Chang
Posted in Media and Press |
November 5th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
[...] Chris Lu - Executive Director (learn more about Chris here!) [...]
November 8th, 2008 at 2:19 am
Wonderful to know that Obama is reaching out and having a diverse team work with him:-)
November 8th, 2008 at 6:50 am
Dear Mr. Chris Lu,
As a way to introduce myself, due to a job offer at DC in May, I moved to Arlington, Virginia about 6 months. I came to US from Taiwan in 1994 to purse doctorate degree at Michigan, and began to learn Falun Gong in 1998. After graduation in 1999, I have been mostly working for an auto company in Michigan before moving to DC.
I came across of reading an article on The English Epoch Times about your speech in a forum at Arlington’s China Garden Restaurant to address Asian American voters in Northern Virginia, Oct. 25.
http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/united-states/obama-mccain-virginia-6234.html
With my whole heart, I would like to thank you very much for representing President Elect Senator Obama’s position in opposing religious persecutions, persecution in Tibet, Burma, Falun Gong practitioners, and China’s support of genocide in Darfur. This means tremendously to myself, in particular for being a Falun Gong practitioner.
Ever since the persecution of Falun Gong in China starts from 1999, I have been trying to share my personal experiences with practicing Falun Gong to help people stay immune to the Chinese Communist Party’s campaign against Falun Gong and Falun Gong practitioners. My experiences have been that, oftentimes, many people who initially know nothing about Falun Gong are unknowningly polluted by their Mainland Chinese friends who have been mostly exposed (or “brain-washed”) to the “deliberate” TV programs broadcasted via stations closely affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party around the world including US.
It is sadd to see that these people also become victims of the persecution of Falun Gong in China. Your speaking out of oppsoing the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners definitely save us a great deal of effort and resources to reach out to people who have been polluted by or might be exposed to the invisible network of CCP’s campaign against Falun Gong.
All in all, thank you very much again for speaking out for Falun Gong. I wish you very best and all the success. As an old Chinese saying says: Sincere, genuine thought and support reveals during hard times and hardships.
Best regards,
Alex Lin
Arlington, Virginia, Nov 7, 2008
November 9th, 2008 at 2:35 am
Hello Mr. Lu;
I have been extremely impressed with the outstanding political and transition organizations of President-elect Obama!
I’m looking for an opportunity to volunteer my services to the Transition Team in the Operations or Agency Review areas. I have an extensive background in the insurance and financial services industry, having worked in both the private and government sectors.
Kind regards,
Roy Brown
November 10th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Hi Roy,
This website has no formal connection or affiliation with the Obama campaign or transition team. Please visit http://www.change.gov to apply for a position with the transition team.
Ramey
November 13th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY RE-BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP!
AND I AM JUST THE GUY WHO CAN DO IT. DEMOCRAT, BI-PARTISAN,
AND INDEPENDENT. FREE FROM FAVORS, PAYBACK OR COLLUSION.
Ready to Serve. And, AT NO COST OR SALARY FROM THE GOVERNMENT. I AM SELF SUPPORTING AND ANXIOUS TO CHANGE AMERICA.
To: The the Honorable Barack Obama
United States Senate
President Elect
713 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-1305
Resume In Consideration for Presidential Appointment
Daniel Wilson Cooley
I would consider it an honor and a Privilege to be considered for any Presidential Appointments for your Cabinet and or Administration. Below is my brief resume and bio. I have an affinity for the US Military Complex and Our Veterans and what they face each day in this country, as well as our Active Duty Soldier’s today.
I am:
100% Service Connected P&T with Incurable Cancer of the Spine because of Agent Orange Chemical
Weapons Exposure.
100% Service Connected P&T with Incurable Lung Cancer due to Agent Orange Chemical Weapons Exposure.
100% Service Connected P&T with Incurable Cancer of the Left Femur.
Loss of Use of Bowel
Loss use of Bowel
Loss of use of Bladder
Loss of use of Creative Organ
Loss of use of both Feet
Loss use of Legs
Post Polio Syndrome
100% Service Connected P&T with Acute Vietnam Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. ( PTSD )
As stated, I have a special place in my heart for disabled veterans deep in my Heart, as well as non-disabled Veterans as well. . I have a special place in my heart for our active military who face horrible things each day. I believe that the US Military Establishment needs an overhaul from top to bottom making the military the 1st place people to consider for a career . The Billions wasted is outrageous.
And I agree with President Obama concerning the Travesty of PTSD and the lack of help and diagnosis. And I will turn the PTSD program around and upside down and inside out.
I wish to be considered for the Appointments of:
Special Assistant to the President for Veterans Affairs
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Secretary of Defence
Secretary of the Army
Secretary of the Air Force
Secretary of the Navy
Or any Presidential Appointments
I DO NOT want to be on the outside looking in as the United States and the World changes right before our eyes. I may be disabled, but my mind is as sharp as a tack. I am Tenacious, Have a Powerful Personality, Well Liked and Respected, can easily turn a conversation quickly. I want to be part of the group of people who turn things up side down in this country. I believe we need strong,
brave, conscientious leadership. My relationship with my God and Jesus are paramount in my life.
I am a life long Christian, a Born Again Christian since 1970. But I am Non-Denominational, do not and will not preach my faith to anyone, I am bi-partisan, A Harry Truman kind of guy who doesn’t give a damn about rules, regs, policy or orders. If I see something that needs to be fixed, I fix it. I can truly say that I have never lost an issue that I have taken on in my life. I have overcome huge problems as a child and as an adult. I survived Polio as a youth and was completely rehabilitated. I survived a broken neck and back and was completely rehabilitated, I survived being dragged by a car, hit and run by a truck, Spinal Meningitis, Vietnam, Combat, shot at, shot down, survived a direct hit by a rocket.
I am a Survivor!
WHO IS DAN COOLEY
Daniel W. Cooley
14488 Swiss Lane
Truckee, Ca. 96161
These things I do,
“That Others May Live.”
Educational Background
Administration of Justice and Criminal Law , Business Administration and Computer Science
Degree in Theology ATh with Emphasis in Pastoral Care, Graduate of Calvary Chapel Bible College with High Honors
Professional Licenses / Certifications
California State Contractors License Board Licensed Contractor 30 years , Elected Chaplain
Military Experience
Volunteered United States Army 1967
Volunteered for Combat Duty in Vietnam 1968
Volunteered for 2nd Consecutive Combat Tour 1969 / 1970
Volunteered for 118th Assault Helicopter Company Bandit Platoon / Thunderbirds, Gunships, Special Operations / Cambodia, Laos/ Flying Bibles, food, medicine and supplies, rebuilding Chapels, serving the men, women and children and orphanages, repair and building, always under enemy fire flying in and out, servicing South Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. First Combat Gunships in
Vietnam, Last to leave Vietnam. The most highly decorated Helicopter Company in United States Army Aviation History for Valor and Heroism
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-25av.htm
Decorated
Numerous Citations for Valor, Meritorious Action , Aid and Attendance for the South Vietnamese People
Returned stateside in 1970 and attended college 1970/1974
Volunteered United States Airforce 1972 /1974
15th AirForce, 22nd Bomb Wing, Strategic Air Command / Combat Wing Operations
Wing Disaster Response Force, “ VADO “ Victor Alert Duty Officer” Nuclear Weapons Deployment Eastern Europe, Soviet Union , Yom Kippur War / Israel
United States Army Reserves 1967 /1974
Volunteered for Operation Desert Storm, Iraq , 1990 , Turned down because of Disabilities and Age
Returned to college in 1974 and worked for The California State Department of Corrections
as a Narcotics Correctional Officer while attending college 1974 / 1976 Riverside, California
Moved to Truckee, Ca. 1977 to current.
Started my own business in 1977 and was a California State Licensed Contractor.
Name of Company / High Sierras Painting.
Retired from High Sierra Painting and gave the business to my son.
Service Connected Disabilities/ Medical History
Diagnosed with Incurable Cancer of the Spine, Lungs and Left Femur from Agent Orange Chemical Weapons Exposure.
Diagnosed by Veterans Administration , VA Oncology Department / Cancer is incurable, and given 3 to 5 years in 2000. Plus a multitude of other Service Connected Disabilities. Still here and kicking Thank God . A total of 10 Service Connected Disabilities.
Community/ Political/ Volunteer Experience
To much to tell completely, covers over 31 years of Service to Truckee
Became intimately involved with the Town of Truckee/ its awakening and formation from 1977, into a thriving community it is today. Involved in setting up the General Plan and design of the creation of Truckee, it’s mission goals, environmental impacts and growth. Served as Vice President of The Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce (Appointed). Served as part of forming the Incorporation committee to establish The Town of Truckee within Nevada County. Was elected (Public Election) to The Truckee Donner Public Utility District / Elected Treasurer TDPUD /providing power and water to the Town of Truckee and surrounding areas, with a annual budget of $50,000,000.00. Was elected to The Tahoe Sierra Meadows Property Owners Association, Board of Directors overseeing over 1,000 homes, facilities, pools, park and recreation. Created the steering committee to move the California Department of Agriculture Inspection station on Interstate 80 at Truckee, from its old location, to its new home on 1-80 next to the California Highway Patrol Inspections Faculty. Created the California State Highway 267 Bypass Project Committee to build a new 1-80, Hwy 267 Interchange at 1-80 and Bypass Truckee, connecting further south on the new Hwy 267. Budget, $ 30,000,000.00. Worked with our Congressman and Senators, Federal Highway Administration, California Department of Transportation, State and Local Government, Nevada, Placer County, Bi-county Chambers of Commerce, businesses and residents. Project came in under budget, and under time for construction. A miracle for this to happen in snow country.
Religious Activities
My 50 Years as a Christian
I became a Born Again Christian in 1970 through Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa in Southern
California on the Beach upon return from Vietnam. I was born a Baptist.
I was appointed Deacon of Church Facilities, Security and Management, Appointed as Deacon of Church Finances and collections. Appointed Sunday school Teacher, Served a multitude of various appointed ministries within the church structure, Calvary Chapel Truckee over 20 years of service. Graduate, Calvary Chapel Bible College with high honors with my major in Pastoral Care and Theology
Awards and Decorations
Air Medal for Heroic and meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight
Army Commendation Medal / heroism, meritorious achievement ,meritorious service,for sustained acts of heroism
Airforce Commendation Medal / heroism, meritorious achievement ,meritorious service,for sustained acts of heroism
The Air Gallantry Cross / meritorious and heroic conduct while engaged in aerial combat
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm / French Croix de Guerre / Awarded for valor and heroic conduct in Combat
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry 2nd Award
Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal 1st class / For Valorous , Meritorious and outstanding achievements in the field of civic action.
Presidential Citation / extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy.
The 118th Assault Helicopter Company was the Highest Decorated Helicopter Company for Heroism and Valor in the History of United States Army Aviation.
Dan Cooley
14488 Swiss Lane
Truckee, Ca. 96161
530-587-2244
dan@dancooley.com
November 20th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
‘The 15% Solution”
One possible approach to dealing with the auto crisis — The federal government could give any one who buys a fuel efficient car from the Big 3 US automakers a 15% instant rebate back on the selling price. This program could have an 18 month time limit.
The total of the rebate dollars might then constitute a loan the auto makers would have to pay back.
If effective, this solution would immediately jump start US auto makers by giving them a huge advantage over the competition while they work on the
remaining legacy issues. Auto makers would stay employed and no money would go directly to the car makers.
The feds might also think about underwriting an extended car warranty program for this period. Again, the total dollars to do so, could constitute a loan to the auto makers.
If the dollars don’t proof out, the concept still might we worth exploring.
Joe Hare
Hingham, MA.
More…..
A quick direct “15%” instant government rebate (say averaging around $3,000) from the Dept of Treasury paid to consumer with purchase of a US auto maker lower mileage car might make these cars especially attractive.
The problem with the fed using IRS tax return deductions is you only get indirect value (a lower tax payment) and but once a year (April 15)….and higher wage earners get more real dollar benefit.
If you could buy a Camry priced today at $20,000 for $20,000 versus a Malibu priced today for $20,000 for $17,000 (plus get a100K mileage warranty), which would you buy?
Giving a bailout just keeps them from going bankrupt while they try to get a higher % of americans to buy their cars. They have not suceeded in doing that over the last 20 years. Assuming Americans were motivated to buy fuel efficient Gm-Ford-Chrysler cars, the biggest stumbling blocks might be that the auto makers could not retool fast enough to produce enough low mpg cars to get profitable, that they could not get rid of their gas guzzlers, and that they can not work out union entitlements.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:17 am
Mr Lu and Mr Obama:
As a Chinese, I would first congratulate on Mr Lu’s designation as legislative direcotor for Mr Obama. But after second thought, my opinion changed. After reading a post from a taiwanese students practicing Falun Gong who “condemn” Chinese government’s efforts to restore order in Tibet and do whatever to secure Chinese own national interest, I found that I was wrong to some extend.
What policy will Mr Lu issue concerning China? Nobody knows, but since Mr Obama publicly suppport Tibet independence and “rebuke” whatever Chinese do to protect its own national interest and security, my first conclusion is : Chinese government may face guys that will pose tough stance on China. Your taiwanese root may mean that you will issue more pro-Taiwan policies in the future, which will seriously damange the Sino-US relationship.
Just some advice for Mr Obama and Mr Lu: since now the US and the EU should put smoothing the fallout of subprime mortgage debacle as your first priority, don’t do stupid things and don’t issue stupid, meaningless and futile policies concerning any issues related to Chinese sovereignty. China is just act to protect its own national interest as the US does. So don’t blame others while you yourself are behaving quite poorly.
Wise guys know how to tackle China. Don’t be tough or China will be much tougher. Don’t forget North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, China now has much more tools and measures to let you know how to “approach” China. Don’t sell F16 to Taiwan or China will sell J10 to Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and other countries that are posing threat to the US. Be wise, don’t do stupid things to piss Chinese off. What you want is cooperation from China, confrontation with China is useless and doomed. Don’t forget the consequence of Sino-US confrontation during the Cold War. And also don’t forget, China is no USSR.
WHEN TIBET AND TAIWAN IS A PART OF CHINA, THERE IS NO SUCH A COUNTRY CALLED THE UNITED STATES OF AMRICA, WHICH WAS BUILT ON THE BLOOD, TEARS AND BONES OF SLAVES AND INDIANS.
BE WISE THEN YOU WILL GET YOU WANT OR YOU WILL BE MIRED IN MESS.
November 22nd, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Dear President-elected Obama,
I am so glad that I voted for you. As Asian American, I feel relief when I read this article that you have had good relation and connection with different races in America; especially the Asian. My concern was that you would be bias toward a certain group when you became the President, but now I feel more comfortable with President Obama. Yes, many people have doubts about you and your ability, but you have good team who you can trust. Let show them your best and that you are not a Muslim, not an African, and not bias to certain group, but you are a human being, a man with dignity who do the right things right and fair. I am so happy that you have chosen Mr. Chris Lu as your core team for the whole time. As Chinese American, I believe Mr. Lu or other of your Chinese secretaries/staff will do their best with conscience to serve you and American people. May Buddha and all good Gods bless you for your next 8 years.
Dear Mr. Chris Lu,
I am so proud of you as a Chinese. You made the right decision to join Mr. Obama in 2005. This first year as a cabinet member to President Obama will be tough for you and him. But I believe you can do it. Show America and the world what Chinese can do, with dignity and trust. You and many Chinese in America are the pioneers who have laid down the path for future Chinese. Show them we can do the hardest job on earth, we can work with others, can be trusted, and deserve a respect. May Buddha bless you and good people.
Best Regards,
Victor Wei
Arizona
December 29th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Dear President-elect Obama,
As an Indonesian Chinese descendant, now Canadian I would hereby congratulate you as the coming US President, hoping for all the best under your administration, American will be prosperous which will also bring Canadian into a better era.
I would certainly offer you my wife’s special Indonesian Nasi Goreng if permitted, when you visit Canadian Vancouver.
Best Wishesm for the Happy New Year 2009/
Aswin Harriman,
1328 West 55th Avenue,
Vancouver, BC, Canada V6P 1R2
Tel: 604-261-3615
email address: doharlan@telus.net; doharlan@gmail.com
January 6th, 2009 at 4:30 am
Hi, Lu:
We are almost from same Chinese root - Lu family, almost same BOD and year 1967. But I am more in high-tech sector and former member of U.S. FCC technological advisory council and US delegation on internatioanl standard to help secure U.S. international interest in telecommunications industry.
I am very pride of you, and ready to help new administration to move US forward for the next decade.
I am based in Palo Alto, CA, and a former Stanford Professor.
Happy new year!
Willie Lu
wwlu@yahoo.com