Ken Mehlman, chairman of the Republican National Committee, launched his party's latest minority-recruitment drive in the Great Wall Mall in Kent yesterday, telling a small group of Asian Americans that they, and the mall, best represent the American dream promoted by President Bush.

It was Mehlman's first outreach effort with Asian Americans since he took over the party earlier this year.

"America is a country, as everyone here knows and lives every single day, where your aspirations matter more than your origins," Mehlman told about 75 people in the Imperial Garden Seafood Restaurant. "In America everyone can own a big mall like this if you have a good idea and if you're willing to work hard and pursue the American dream.

"And no one proves that more everyday than the Asian-American community all over this country."

Today, Mehlman travels to Portland for a similar event with Hispanic business leaders as he tries to broaden the party's ties with minorities.

His message yesterday was that Asian Americans, particularly immigrants, should feel a natural tie to the Republican Party. Mehlman talked about the roots of the party led by President Lincoln, its historical ties to the end of slavery and more-contemporary efforts by the party to fight communism.

Mehlman said in an interview that President Bush's foreign and domestic agendas should be attractive to all minority groups "who recognize the importance of sharing the American dream with people who didn't have it before."

Questions from the group on hand yesterday, though, showed some of the difficulties in selling that agenda.

Pham Huy Sanh, who heads a state group of former South Vietnamese military veterans, grilled Mehlman on the administration's Vietnam policy. He was particularly bothered by a potential official visit by Bush to Vietnam next year, and asked whether that was a sign of the administration shifting "toward the Communist Vietnam."

Mehlman said that Bush believes that if he can engage Vietnam "and at the same time speak truth to power ... we can make sure Vietnam is a free nation."

Ted Choi Tam, a veteran Republican activist, watched the exchange and said, "Almost everyone in here was a refugee at one point. The mother country is very important to us."

Mehlman said Bush would propose immigration changes that would "honor our heritage as immigrants" and, at the same time, "make sure the laws are enforced so all Americans are protected."

"In a world of 9/11 terrorists, if you're not controlling who comes to this country we're not safe," he told the group. "And we also need to make sure our system is compassionate, which is why this president believes there are going to be important jobs that Americans don't want, and for those jobs we ought to welcome people to take them, provided we know that the folks taking those jobs are not terrorists or drug dealers."

Democratic Party state Chairman Paul Berendt said he thinks Mehlman's trip is an attempt to deflect from the administration's problems in New Orleans.

"They are fanning out across the country having these so-called outreach meetings because they know they have suffered a giant PR disaster with the way they have handled the minority community in New Orleans," Berendt said.

Choi said he has been watching Republican outreach efforts since at least 1984. He said he thinks progress is being made, particularly with Bush's appointments of Asian Americans in his administration, including two Cabinet secretaries.

Christine Lee gave Mehlman a tour of the mall she owns with her husband. She considers herself an independent, voting for Republicans and Democrats in recent elections. She said any party will have to combat a cultural tradition that makes Asian Americans new to this country reluctant to get involved.

"Asians normally are very quiet and keep to themselves," she said.

She and her husband hold frequent civic events at the mall and in the Imperial Garden, which they also own, to encourage more involvement.

David Postman: 360-943-9882 or dpostman@seattletimes.com