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DESPITE MAJOR SHIFTS IN CONGRESS, ARMENIANS FARED WELL; TURKS NOT SO WELL
By Harut Sassounian
Tert.am
10.11.10
The Nov. 2 elections were a referendum on Pres. Obama. He had
disillusioned most Americans by his failed economic policies and
disappointed Armenian-Americans by breaking his promise on the
Genocide.
Despite record Democratic losses in the elections, Armenian-Americans
succeeded in helping elect their congressional friends on both side
of the aisle. Moreover, the newly-elected conservative Congress is
expected to be less tolerant of Turkey's flirtations with Iran and
quarrels with Israel.
Indeed, Armenian-American voters made a big difference in several
key races. More than 95% of the 152 House members from both parties
endorsed by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) were
re-elected, including the two Armenian-American members of Congress,
Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Jackie Speier (D-CA). Meanwhile, several major
opponents of the Armenian Genocide resolution were defeated, including
Cong. Michael McMahon (Dem.-NY), a staunch supporter of Turkey. He
lost to Michael Grimm, a Republican, after a concerted effort by the
Armenian and Greek communities in New York.
Five of the six Senatorial candidates endorsed by the ANCA were
victorious - Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Sen. Barbara Boxer
(D-CA), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD),
and Cong. Mark Kirk (R-IL), co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues who successfully ran for the Senate. Other important
victories were scored by Gov. Jerry Brown (D-CA) and Gov. Deval Patrick
(D-MA), both strongly supported by the Armenian-American community.
Although many incumbents lost their seats, 95% of the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues and over 90% of cosponsors of the
congressional resolution on the Armenian Genocide were re-elected.
Overall, Armenian-Americans fared well in these elections, mostly
because they voted on the basis of the individual record of each
member of Congress rather than his or her party affiliation.
Otherwise, more of their supporters would have lost and more of their
opponents would have won.
How will these elections impact Armenian issues? We must remember that
the term of the current members of Congress runs until January 2011,
at which time those elected on Nov. 2 will take their seats. Whatever
unfinished business Congress had before the election remains on its
agenda until January when all pending nominations, resolutions and
bills have to be reintroduced.
The first order of business for both Houses of the current Congress
is passage of the Armenian Genocide resolution. In the Senate, this
bill has yet to be taken up by the Foreign Relations Committee, while
awaiting consideration by the full House, ever since its adoption
last March by the Committee on Foreign Affairs. As the Democrats lost
their majority in the House, this is Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (Dem.-CA)
last chance to redeem herself by keeping her own promise on passing
this resolution before she steps down as Speaker in January. If no
action is taken by then, the Genocide resolution would have to be
resubmitted to the House. Even though the next Speaker, Cong. John
Boehner (Rep.-Ohio), has opposed the resolution in the past, he may
well change his views given the Republicans' utter displeasure with
Turkey's anti-western policies.
Also of interest to the Armenian-American community are the nominations
of Matthew Bryza as US Ambassador to Azerbaijan - vacant since
September 2009, and Francis Ricciardone as US Ambassador to Turkey -
vacant since July 2010.
Bryza's nomination has been blocked by a double "hold" from Senators
Barbara Boxer (Dem.- CA) and Robert Menendez (Dem.-N.J.). It is
highly unlikely that they would lift their hold during "the lame duck"
session. The wisest choice for Pres. Obama at this time would be to
submit a new nominee to the Senate, thus speeding up the appointment
of an Ambassador to Azerbaijan. However, if Pres. Obama insists on
resubmitting Bryza's name in January, he could be delaying the posting
of a US Ambassador in Azerbaijan for many months.
Ricciardone, on the other hand, has a better chance of becoming
Ambassador to Turkey, as Sen. Sam Brownback (Rep.-Kansas), who had
placed a hold on his nomination, has just been elected Governor
of Kansas. If Sen. Brownback relinquishes his Senate seat before
January, and no other Senator places a hold on Ricciardone, he could
be confirmed before the New Year. Otherwise, Pres. Obama could either
re-submit his name or nominate a new candidate in January, when the
newly elected Congress convenes for its first session. However, if
another Senator places a hold on Ricciardone, Turkey would then be
deprived of a US Ambassador for several more months.
Regardless of Ricciardone's fate, it is anticipated that Turkey
would have a rough sailing in the new Congress, because most of
the recently-elected Republicans are not too pleased with Ankara's
Islamist regime and its pro-Iranian and anti-Israeli policies.
From: A. Papazian
By Harut Sassounian
Tert.am
10.11.10
The Nov. 2 elections were a referendum on Pres. Obama. He had
disillusioned most Americans by his failed economic policies and
disappointed Armenian-Americans by breaking his promise on the
Genocide.
Despite record Democratic losses in the elections, Armenian-Americans
succeeded in helping elect their congressional friends on both side
of the aisle. Moreover, the newly-elected conservative Congress is
expected to be less tolerant of Turkey's flirtations with Iran and
quarrels with Israel.
Indeed, Armenian-American voters made a big difference in several
key races. More than 95% of the 152 House members from both parties
endorsed by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) were
re-elected, including the two Armenian-American members of Congress,
Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Jackie Speier (D-CA). Meanwhile, several major
opponents of the Armenian Genocide resolution were defeated, including
Cong. Michael McMahon (Dem.-NY), a staunch supporter of Turkey. He
lost to Michael Grimm, a Republican, after a concerted effort by the
Armenian and Greek communities in New York.
Five of the six Senatorial candidates endorsed by the ANCA were
victorious - Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Sen. Barbara Boxer
(D-CA), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD),
and Cong. Mark Kirk (R-IL), co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues who successfully ran for the Senate. Other important
victories were scored by Gov. Jerry Brown (D-CA) and Gov. Deval Patrick
(D-MA), both strongly supported by the Armenian-American community.
Although many incumbents lost their seats, 95% of the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues and over 90% of cosponsors of the
congressional resolution on the Armenian Genocide were re-elected.
Overall, Armenian-Americans fared well in these elections, mostly
because they voted on the basis of the individual record of each
member of Congress rather than his or her party affiliation.
Otherwise, more of their supporters would have lost and more of their
opponents would have won.
How will these elections impact Armenian issues? We must remember that
the term of the current members of Congress runs until January 2011,
at which time those elected on Nov. 2 will take their seats. Whatever
unfinished business Congress had before the election remains on its
agenda until January when all pending nominations, resolutions and
bills have to be reintroduced.
The first order of business for both Houses of the current Congress
is passage of the Armenian Genocide resolution. In the Senate, this
bill has yet to be taken up by the Foreign Relations Committee, while
awaiting consideration by the full House, ever since its adoption
last March by the Committee on Foreign Affairs. As the Democrats lost
their majority in the House, this is Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (Dem.-CA)
last chance to redeem herself by keeping her own promise on passing
this resolution before she steps down as Speaker in January. If no
action is taken by then, the Genocide resolution would have to be
resubmitted to the House. Even though the next Speaker, Cong. John
Boehner (Rep.-Ohio), has opposed the resolution in the past, he may
well change his views given the Republicans' utter displeasure with
Turkey's anti-western policies.
Also of interest to the Armenian-American community are the nominations
of Matthew Bryza as US Ambassador to Azerbaijan - vacant since
September 2009, and Francis Ricciardone as US Ambassador to Turkey -
vacant since July 2010.
Bryza's nomination has been blocked by a double "hold" from Senators
Barbara Boxer (Dem.- CA) and Robert Menendez (Dem.-N.J.). It is
highly unlikely that they would lift their hold during "the lame duck"
session. The wisest choice for Pres. Obama at this time would be to
submit a new nominee to the Senate, thus speeding up the appointment
of an Ambassador to Azerbaijan. However, if Pres. Obama insists on
resubmitting Bryza's name in January, he could be delaying the posting
of a US Ambassador in Azerbaijan for many months.
Ricciardone, on the other hand, has a better chance of becoming
Ambassador to Turkey, as Sen. Sam Brownback (Rep.-Kansas), who had
placed a hold on his nomination, has just been elected Governor
of Kansas. If Sen. Brownback relinquishes his Senate seat before
January, and no other Senator places a hold on Ricciardone, he could
be confirmed before the New Year. Otherwise, Pres. Obama could either
re-submit his name or nominate a new candidate in January, when the
newly elected Congress convenes for its first session. However, if
another Senator places a hold on Ricciardone, Turkey would then be
deprived of a US Ambassador for several more months.
Regardless of Ricciardone's fate, it is anticipated that Turkey
would have a rough sailing in the new Congress, because most of
the recently-elected Republicans are not too pleased with Ankara's
Islamist regime and its pro-Iranian and anti-Israeli policies.
From: A. Papazian