Nicholas Rathod As President Barack was an ‘insider’ in the US government ObamaDeputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs between 2009 and 2011, when he directed outreach and policy agendas with states and territories on behalf of the White House. He was also director of intergovernmental affairs on the Obama-Biden transition team in 2008–2009 and led the establishment of President-elect Obama. white House Intergovernmental Affairs Office. A specialist in policy, federalism, community service and organizational management and development, he also served as director of state campaigns for the multi-million dollar gun violence prevention organization Everytown for Gun Safety in 2013–14. The president and CEO of boutique consulting firm Uprising Strategies in Virginia, Rathod is now back as campaign manager for former Democrat Congressman Beto O’Rourke amid the hustle and bustle of a high-profile political battle, who is running for governor. Texas in November 2022.
Whom did Nick Rathod, an advocate, community organizer and co-founder of South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), and South Asian for Obama (SAFO), talk to during the 2008 presidential campaign? Ishani Duttagupta On a range of topics including his Indian American heritage and the importance of the ‘desi’ vote. Edited excerpt from interview:
You have served in senior positions in the Obama administration, what attracted you to public life and politics?
My family has always focused us on serving and giving back to the communities around us. During my childhood, in college and beyond, I felt a strong sense of service and knew I wanted to pursue a career that would allow me to do so. I never in my wildest dreams believed that I could have a role in American politics because it always seemed inaccessible and insular and only for privilege, money, and access. My family was a recent immigrant from India to the US, did not have money or access, and we lived in a very rural area in the state of Nebraska. Eventually, I made it to the White House and served President Obama, helping Senator Elizabeth Warren create a new government agency designed to protect consumers in America, an organization that served thousands of elected officials across America. And now I am the first Indian American. To run a statewide campaign for Beto O’Rourke in Texas.
Traditionally, Indian immigrants and American Indian Have been attracted to professions in engineering and medicine among others – do you see that changing and attracting many more political and government roles and public life?
Yes. When I was coming it was seen unusual and obvious by the community for anything to focus on a career like medicine or engineering, but now you can work in many fields from art, acting, law, politics, wellness See desi excellent. Advocacy and much more. It takes courage and strength to do something that is considered out of the norm and I am so proud to see so many fellow desi in America and following their passion and forging their own path.
Has your Indian American heritage contributed in any way to your political career? Do you have any relation with India?
I still have a considerable number of families (immediate and extended) in Gujarat. When I was a kid, we used to go there to visit our family and friends and have a deep connection and connection to India and always will be. So many of my values and how I work in my job in politics is based on the hard work I learned from my parents, the sacrifices, centering the family, building and maintaining community, the love and faith of the country and God. takes shape from the values of. and are rooted in Indian philosophy and culture.
He has been the founder of high profile organizations such as State Innovation Exchange for Obama, South Asian American Leading Together and South Asian. Do these organizations have any common goals?
The organizations I helped find and build were all ultimately focused on helping people – whether it was South Asians in the United States, engaging in the political process through SAALT and SAFO, or achieving legislative victory at SiX are doing [State Innovation Exchange] Which benefited everyone.
What have been some of the most challenging moments in your political career?
Too many to count but I think the work that was done with President Obama getting health care reform passed, getting some sensible gun laws passed through six states, creating the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Help came and now work is being done to elect Democrats. Governor of Texas, which hasn’t happened in decades, immediately emerged as the most challenging role of my career.
What are the biggest challenges in your current job as campaign manager for Beto O’Rourke’s campaign in the Texas gubernatorial race? Are you engaging with Indian American voters in a big way?
It’s been decades since a Democrat was elected governor of Texas, and politics in the state and the country is so polarized right now. Texas has also been front and center in recent years on some of the most extreme laws targeting women’s health, designed to stifle voting, harm LGBTQ+ communities and many others that ultimately lead to the worst in the state. harm the weak. If we succeed, we can hold those pushing those extreme policies accountable, bring Texans together to solve real problems in the state, and change the face of politics in the United States forever. . Many people, including Indian Americans, are counting on us who form a large part of the electorate in the state and whom we are prioritizing and engaging with on a daily basis.
Do you like Indian food and Indian music?
I am a big fan of all this. I cook Indian food at home and love to indulge in some of my favorite foods from across the country, and I love Bollywood music and movies.
Whom did Nick Rathod, an advocate, community organizer and co-founder of South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), and South Asian for Obama (SAFO), talk to during the 2008 presidential campaign? Ishani Duttagupta On a range of topics including his Indian American heritage and the importance of the ‘desi’ vote. Edited excerpt from interview:
You have served in senior positions in the Obama administration, what attracted you to public life and politics?
My family has always focused us on serving and giving back to the communities around us. During my childhood, in college and beyond, I felt a strong sense of service and knew I wanted to pursue a career that would allow me to do so. I never in my wildest dreams believed that I could have a role in American politics because it always seemed inaccessible and insular and only for privilege, money, and access. My family was a recent immigrant from India to the US, did not have money or access, and we lived in a very rural area in the state of Nebraska. Eventually, I made it to the White House and served President Obama, helping Senator Elizabeth Warren create a new government agency designed to protect consumers in America, an organization that served thousands of elected officials across America. And now I am the first Indian American. To run a statewide campaign for Beto O’Rourke in Texas.
Traditionally, Indian immigrants and American Indian Have been attracted to professions in engineering and medicine among others – do you see that changing and attracting many more political and government roles and public life?
Yes. When I was coming it was seen unusual and obvious by the community for anything to focus on a career like medicine or engineering, but now you can work in many fields from art, acting, law, politics, wellness See desi excellent. Advocacy and much more. It takes courage and strength to do something that is considered out of the norm and I am so proud to see so many fellow desi in America and following their passion and forging their own path.
Has your Indian American heritage contributed in any way to your political career? Do you have any relation with India?
I still have a considerable number of families (immediate and extended) in Gujarat. When I was a kid, we used to go there to visit our family and friends and have a deep connection and connection to India and always will be. So many of my values and how I work in my job in politics is based on the hard work I learned from my parents, the sacrifices, centering the family, building and maintaining community, the love and faith of the country and God. takes shape from the values of. and are rooted in Indian philosophy and culture.
He has been the founder of high profile organizations such as State Innovation Exchange for Obama, South Asian American Leading Together and South Asian. Do these organizations have any common goals?
The organizations I helped find and build were all ultimately focused on helping people – whether it was South Asians in the United States, engaging in the political process through SAALT and SAFO, or achieving legislative victory at SiX are doing [State Innovation Exchange] Which benefited everyone.
What have been some of the most challenging moments in your political career?
Too many to count but I think the work that was done with President Obama getting health care reform passed, getting some sensible gun laws passed through six states, creating the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Help came and now work is being done to elect Democrats. Governor of Texas, which hasn’t happened in decades, immediately emerged as the most challenging role of my career.
What are the biggest challenges in your current job as campaign manager for Beto O’Rourke’s campaign in the Texas gubernatorial race? Are you engaging with Indian American voters in a big way?
It’s been decades since a Democrat was elected governor of Texas, and politics in the state and the country is so polarized right now. Texas has also been front and center in recent years on some of the most extreme laws targeting women’s health, designed to stifle voting, harm LGBTQ+ communities and many others that ultimately lead to the worst in the state. harm the weak. If we succeed, we can hold those pushing those extreme policies accountable, bring Texans together to solve real problems in the state, and change the face of politics in the United States forever. . Many people, including Indian Americans, are counting on us who form a large part of the electorate in the state and whom we are prioritizing and engaging with on a daily basis.
Do you like Indian food and Indian music?
I am a big fan of all this. I cook Indian food at home and love to indulge in some of my favorite foods from across the country, and I love Bollywood music and movies.