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A Friend in Need in New Jersey Can Make The Difference
http://asbarez.com/112657/a-friend-in-need-in-new-jersey-can-make-the-difference/
Friday, August 9th, 2013
Rep. Frank J. Pallone Jr. (D-NJ)
BY ARDASHES `ARDY' KASSAKHIAN
Last week I wrote about an important race for Congress taking place in
Massachusetts's 5th district with Middlesex County Sheriff Pete
Koutoujian as a very viable likely frontrunner for the seat vacated by
Ed Markey when he was elected to the Senate. This week we move south
along the coast to another important showdown and one that could have
great importance for the future of Armenian-American issues but also
for the state of New Jersey where there is one of the largest
populations of Armenian Americans outside of California and
Massachusetts.
New Jersey boasts one of the largest and most active concentrations of
Armenian-Americans in the U.S. and it has even experienced a recent
resurgence as more Armenians from the former USSR have moved to New
Jersey and nearby metropolis New York. So this can end up being
another key race where Armenian-American voters can play a critical
role in the outcome of the election sending a strong message to
Washington DC insiders who are already planning their strategy for the
2016 Presidential Election.
What makes New Jersey particularly interesting and important on a
national scale is that it was an unplanned Senate election in the wake
of Democrat U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg's death a few months ago.
When Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts passed away, many referred
him to the Lion of the Senate. If anyone was worthy of inheriting
that title after Kennedy's passing, it certainly was Lautenberg. A
World War II veteran who was born and bred in New Jersey, he was first
elected to the U.S. Senate in 1981 and was always a stalwart supporter
of Armenian issues such as the proper reaffirmation of the Armenian
Genocide. But he was also a fighter for the rights of working class
American families. Lautenberg was the oldest serving member of the
U.S. Senate who had come out of his 2001 retirement to take the seat
that was vacated by the US Senator from New Jersey who was caught up
in an ethics scandal. No, not Corzine - but that's an excellent
guess. This was to replace Robert Toricelli who resigned after it
came to light that he had received illegal campaign contributions
including a very expensive watch as a gift.
Now, the 11th largest state in the U.S. (by population) is facing a
critical Senate race to see who will inherit the mantle of the fighter
from New Jersey. Early from the onset, way before Lautenberg had even
announced that he was thinking of retiring, Newark Mayor and media
darling Corey Booker had made his intentions to run for Lautenberg's
seat publically known. Of course, that's not very hard since Corey
Booker is a prolific user of social media tweeting everything from
what he has for dinner to challenges and bets to members of the public
who follow him on the Internet. Booker doesn't have a track record on
issues such as a position on the Armenian Genocide or aid to Artsakh
that I could find or dig up. But lucky for many Armenian voters in
New Jersey, another person announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate
and is a familiar name to many in the community - Congressman Frank
Pallone, Jr. Many recognize the Pallone name because along with
retired Republican John Porter of Illinois, he co-founded the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian issues and grew it to become one of
the largest ethnic issue caucuses on the Hill.
Pallone is facing a tough challenge. Most of the polls have him in
second place behind the Newark Mayor. But there are some twists that
can make this race interesting not the least of which is the
underestimated Armenian-American vote in New Jersey. Some figures put
the population of Armenians in the Garden State anywhere between
50-150,000. I think that figure is probably closer to the 100,000 mark
but that's just anecdotally based on my experiences in NJ and knowing
how active the community is through the Prelacy and Diocese churches.
Armenian-Americans are not known to voting in great numbers but New
Jersey has some history of Armenians in public office and even the
notorious case of Chuck Haytaian, the former Republican Speaker of the
Assembly who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate seat against - you
guessed it- Frank Lautenberg.
Pallone has to raise money and doesn't have the national base that
Corey Booker has developed by speaking at the Democratic National
Convention in 2012 and by being all but sworn in by the media as the
next Senator. But Pallone earned the official endorsement of the
Lautenberg family who compared the veteran Congressman from Long
Branch to the late Senator in their work ethic and commitment to
Democratic party values.
If Pallone is elected to the U.S. Senate, and that can happen if he
wins the primary in the Democrat leaning state, he will become a
champion in the U.S. Senate for issues of concern to
Armenian-Americans the likes of which have not been seen since Senator
Bob Dole of Kansas retired. But that can only happen if the Armenian
vote can come out in full force this coming week and help him keep
this race close, within striking distance and help overcome the
perceived Corey Booker momentum.
In politics, there are no guarantees. I know this from the races I've
worked on and the candidates I've supported, but in politics, it's
important to show support to your friends. Frank Pallone has been a
friend from the very beginning. At a time when it wasn't so vogue to
stand alongside Armenians against the powerful oil lobby, military
industrial complex, the State Department and other interests that saw
Azerbaijan and Turkey as a closer ally than the tiny republic of
Armenia, Pallone did not waiver and held firm. He has secured key
earmarks for aid that helped Armenian through tough economic times and
illegal Turkish border blockades. He visited Artsakh and walked along
the trenches where young Armenian men defend a tough border under a
tenuous cease fire. If he can get elected to the Senate, he will be a
game changer for Armenian-Americans and for Trans-Caucasus policy
issues.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I have to admit that I'm biased. I
interned for Congressman Frank Pallone's office in 1997 when I was
still a student at UCLA. I worked on issues to raise awareness about
the corruption of American academia by Turkish deniers of the
Genocide. I've helped fundraise for him, consider him a friend and
mentor. But it is not by coincidence that I have come to know him so
well. There is a saying in Armenian as there is in many other
cultures. It says `Show me who your friends are, and I will show you
who you are.' Frank Pallone reflects this statement by having held
true to his convictions and never having abandoned the causes
important to the Armenian community in New Jersey, in America, abroad
or in Armenia. We could use a friend like that in the Senate today.
Ardashes `Ardy' Kassakhian is the elected City Clerk of Glendale. He
is involved in numerous community based organizations and has been
involved in many political campaigns for local, state and national
office. He can be reached at [email protected].
http://asbarez.com/112657/a-friend-in-need-in-new-jersey-can-make-the-difference/
Friday, August 9th, 2013
Rep. Frank J. Pallone Jr. (D-NJ)
BY ARDASHES `ARDY' KASSAKHIAN
Last week I wrote about an important race for Congress taking place in
Massachusetts's 5th district with Middlesex County Sheriff Pete
Koutoujian as a very viable likely frontrunner for the seat vacated by
Ed Markey when he was elected to the Senate. This week we move south
along the coast to another important showdown and one that could have
great importance for the future of Armenian-American issues but also
for the state of New Jersey where there is one of the largest
populations of Armenian Americans outside of California and
Massachusetts.
New Jersey boasts one of the largest and most active concentrations of
Armenian-Americans in the U.S. and it has even experienced a recent
resurgence as more Armenians from the former USSR have moved to New
Jersey and nearby metropolis New York. So this can end up being
another key race where Armenian-American voters can play a critical
role in the outcome of the election sending a strong message to
Washington DC insiders who are already planning their strategy for the
2016 Presidential Election.
What makes New Jersey particularly interesting and important on a
national scale is that it was an unplanned Senate election in the wake
of Democrat U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg's death a few months ago.
When Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts passed away, many referred
him to the Lion of the Senate. If anyone was worthy of inheriting
that title after Kennedy's passing, it certainly was Lautenberg. A
World War II veteran who was born and bred in New Jersey, he was first
elected to the U.S. Senate in 1981 and was always a stalwart supporter
of Armenian issues such as the proper reaffirmation of the Armenian
Genocide. But he was also a fighter for the rights of working class
American families. Lautenberg was the oldest serving member of the
U.S. Senate who had come out of his 2001 retirement to take the seat
that was vacated by the US Senator from New Jersey who was caught up
in an ethics scandal. No, not Corzine - but that's an excellent
guess. This was to replace Robert Toricelli who resigned after it
came to light that he had received illegal campaign contributions
including a very expensive watch as a gift.
Now, the 11th largest state in the U.S. (by population) is facing a
critical Senate race to see who will inherit the mantle of the fighter
from New Jersey. Early from the onset, way before Lautenberg had even
announced that he was thinking of retiring, Newark Mayor and media
darling Corey Booker had made his intentions to run for Lautenberg's
seat publically known. Of course, that's not very hard since Corey
Booker is a prolific user of social media tweeting everything from
what he has for dinner to challenges and bets to members of the public
who follow him on the Internet. Booker doesn't have a track record on
issues such as a position on the Armenian Genocide or aid to Artsakh
that I could find or dig up. But lucky for many Armenian voters in
New Jersey, another person announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate
and is a familiar name to many in the community - Congressman Frank
Pallone, Jr. Many recognize the Pallone name because along with
retired Republican John Porter of Illinois, he co-founded the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian issues and grew it to become one of
the largest ethnic issue caucuses on the Hill.
Pallone is facing a tough challenge. Most of the polls have him in
second place behind the Newark Mayor. But there are some twists that
can make this race interesting not the least of which is the
underestimated Armenian-American vote in New Jersey. Some figures put
the population of Armenians in the Garden State anywhere between
50-150,000. I think that figure is probably closer to the 100,000 mark
but that's just anecdotally based on my experiences in NJ and knowing
how active the community is through the Prelacy and Diocese churches.
Armenian-Americans are not known to voting in great numbers but New
Jersey has some history of Armenians in public office and even the
notorious case of Chuck Haytaian, the former Republican Speaker of the
Assembly who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate seat against - you
guessed it- Frank Lautenberg.
Pallone has to raise money and doesn't have the national base that
Corey Booker has developed by speaking at the Democratic National
Convention in 2012 and by being all but sworn in by the media as the
next Senator. But Pallone earned the official endorsement of the
Lautenberg family who compared the veteran Congressman from Long
Branch to the late Senator in their work ethic and commitment to
Democratic party values.
If Pallone is elected to the U.S. Senate, and that can happen if he
wins the primary in the Democrat leaning state, he will become a
champion in the U.S. Senate for issues of concern to
Armenian-Americans the likes of which have not been seen since Senator
Bob Dole of Kansas retired. But that can only happen if the Armenian
vote can come out in full force this coming week and help him keep
this race close, within striking distance and help overcome the
perceived Corey Booker momentum.
In politics, there are no guarantees. I know this from the races I've
worked on and the candidates I've supported, but in politics, it's
important to show support to your friends. Frank Pallone has been a
friend from the very beginning. At a time when it wasn't so vogue to
stand alongside Armenians against the powerful oil lobby, military
industrial complex, the State Department and other interests that saw
Azerbaijan and Turkey as a closer ally than the tiny republic of
Armenia, Pallone did not waiver and held firm. He has secured key
earmarks for aid that helped Armenian through tough economic times and
illegal Turkish border blockades. He visited Artsakh and walked along
the trenches where young Armenian men defend a tough border under a
tenuous cease fire. If he can get elected to the Senate, he will be a
game changer for Armenian-Americans and for Trans-Caucasus policy
issues.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I have to admit that I'm biased. I
interned for Congressman Frank Pallone's office in 1997 when I was
still a student at UCLA. I worked on issues to raise awareness about
the corruption of American academia by Turkish deniers of the
Genocide. I've helped fundraise for him, consider him a friend and
mentor. But it is not by coincidence that I have come to know him so
well. There is a saying in Armenian as there is in many other
cultures. It says `Show me who your friends are, and I will show you
who you are.' Frank Pallone reflects this statement by having held
true to his convictions and never having abandoned the causes
important to the Armenian community in New Jersey, in America, abroad
or in Armenia. We could use a friend like that in the Senate today.
Ardashes `Ardy' Kassakhian is the elected City Clerk of Glendale. He
is involved in numerous community based organizations and has been
involved in many political campaigns for local, state and national
office. He can be reached at [email protected].