Between them, they've raised millions and millions for both the Republican and Democratic parties. They've reached that elevated stage - above all glass ceilings - where President George W. Bush and Presidential nominee John Kerry, not to say Bill and Hillary Clinton, know them on a first name basis.

Zach P. Zachariah, Finance Co-Chair for Bush Cheney Re-election Campaign in Florida, for instance, has raised millions for George W. Bush. This Florida cardiologist has even flown with Pres. Bush on Air Force One and visited him at his ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Since these fundraisers generally tap the Indian American community to write out the checks, does said community benefit in any concerete way? Do these high-fliers have an agenda for the community, do they truly represent it?

As State Finance Co-Chair of the Republican Party, Zachariah has helped raised $12 million for the president in Florida. He says, "There are many Indians who are involved in the campaign and have raised substantial amount of money."

Asked when he raises these substantial amounts of money from the Indian community, does it in any way make him a spokesperson for the community, Zachariah replied: "It all depends. Our job is to elect the best person for the office, that is the only issue involved in raising money and supporting a candidate. There is no other hidden agenda for any one of us. I think we want to have a good president who has a vision to do the right thing. That is the only and main object.

"But when you do that, I suspect that the Republican Party and the president's staff know that we are a vital part of the campaign. Having said that, I don't think any one of us is going to lobby for India, absolutely not. Sure, I would want America to have the best relationship with India possible, but I don't want to be a lobbyist. My focus is America first."
Kapur, who has been raising money since 1980 in Massachusetts for Democratic candidates from Mike Dukakis to the Clintons to John Kerry, says: " The key thing is to be engaged on a regular basis. That's how people get the respect of the candidates, whether it's the Democratic Party or the Republican Party."

Although he started in fundraising, he says he has been involved to a certain extent in policy, with a particular interest in U.S.-India relations, and in civil rights issues important to the Indian community.
"My excitement is with the Indian community, that's where I get my high, to get them involved," says Kapur who worked actively to get Kumar Barve and Satveer Chaudhry elected. "We are always fighting for issues which are of importance to the Indian community. On the top of the list, to my generation, is U.S.- India relations.
"To the next generation it's making sure there's no discrimination. Our generation is probably used to discrimination. We came in the late 60's but the next generation isn't willing to tolerate what we did. At times when the economy went down, we were the first ones laid off."
Questioned whether the issues of interest to the Indian community are being addressed by his candidate, Zachariah asserts that because of their involvement in the political process, both at the state level and the national level, several Indians have been appointed to commissions and boards in many states and nationally.
He adds, "I think the campaigns know that the Indian community is one that they ought to reckon with, mainly because of their fundraising prowess, as the number of registered voters in the Indians are not that big. From the fundraising aspect, the Indians have done very well as an ethnic community."

While the Indian American community is one of the most affluent, it also comprises of people who are struggling on the margins. Zachariah points out that every community has these disparities, which are a fact of life "Everybody has to watch out for themselves, you've got to do your best," he says. " This is a land of opportunity and I personally don't believe in giving things away. If you have the ability to work, you should work and if you work hard, you will succeed in America. I don't believe in handouts. No one handed out anything to me and I don't believe in handing anything out either."
At the same time, there are issues of immigration, of detentions in the wake of the Patriot Act, and racial profiling. So does the Indian community need an Indian Jesse Jackson to advocate on its behalf?
"Absolutely not!" says Zachariah. "That would be totally counter-productive because it doesn't make sense. There isn't that kind of discrimination against Indians nor have they gone through slavery in America."
He adds, "This is a land of opportunity and nobody is stopping anyone from doing their thing and I think if you have the know-how and do the right thing, you will get ahead in the game. All I'm talking to is your question about whether we should have a Jesse Jackson in the Indian community. I don't think it will happen, it cannot happen and it should not happen."

He points out that Jesse Jackson is also pushing for political access for his community, so if in our community there are certain people who are affected by discrimination, especially after 9/11, then there should be someone active forming institutions like the Jewish community has done with B'nai B'rith or the Anti-Defamation League.

"We do need a leader and it will probably be someone from the next generation who will take the leadership in that area," says Kapur. And if the next generation gets active in the political arena, forming an Indian caucus like the Black Caucus or the Hispanic Caucus, then there will be more people of Indian origin running and being elected in the House and Senate.

He adds, "These folks can make sure that people are not discriminated against, because they will make and set policy also. We are not big in numbers so we will probably have to create coalitions with the Asian, Black, Hispanic and the Jewish communities."

Whether blue or red, one point that these heavy hitters agree on is that political involvement is the only way to power. So their message is get out there and vote, and if you aren't eligible to vote, at least write a check or man the phone banks. The Indian community has achieved success in every field, and the last, final frontier that remains to be conquered is the political arena.