Meltemb <meltem@earthlink.net>
DO NOT VOTE FOLLOWING PERSONS ON NOVEMBER 4
You all should keep this document, to see on which reps you should work on in the future in your respective states..
Support our friends running for the House of Representatives
The Armenian Reporter and the U.S.-Armenia Public Affairs Committee (USAPAC) jointly urge Armenian-Americans to support our friends running for the House of Representatives. Last week, we focused on the California delegation. This week we consider the rest of the nation.
In our endorsements, as always we have given special consideration to members of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues. We have considered candidates’ interest in and support of Armenian-American issues, including co-sponsorship and support of H. Res. 106, which affirms the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide. We have also noted where members have taken additional steps to support the Armenian-American agenda in Congress.
In several cases, we urge Armenian-Americans to oppose members who have opposed or withdrawn their support of House Resolution 106. The House Foreign Affairs Committee adopted the resolution in October 2007 over the very strong opposition of the Bush administration and the Turkish lobby. That led to an even more intense effort to kill the resolution on the floor of the full House. The administration and the Turkish lobby mobilized their resources across the country, making the fight for the resolution a top story for most news organizations for a few days.
This was a seminal matter. Members of Congress were being asked by the administration and a foreign state to suppress a proud chapter of American history – the efforts of the State Department, Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, and U.S. consuls in the Ottoman provinces in 1915-17 to save the Armenians, and the broad response of the American people to appeals for help. Why? Because an American ally, Turkey, was blackmailing the United States: If the resolution was adopted, the Turkish prime minister wrote ominously in the Wall Street Journal for October 19, 2007, Turkey, would take action that would “not be in the interests of either the U.S. or Turkey.”
We could not and cannot accept that the appropriate U.S. response to such a threat would be to coddle the Turkish government.
On Election Day, November 4, let the Armenian-American voice be heard loud and clear at the polls.
(See the print version of this editorial in pdf form=
We support
Alabama
Artur Davis (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
American Samoa
Eni F. H. Faleomavaega (D.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, voted in favor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Arizona
Ed Pastor (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Gabrielle Giffords (D.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, voted in favor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Raul Grijalva (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Colorado
Diana DeGette (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Ed Perlmutter (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
John Salazar (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Marilyn Musgrave (R.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Connecticut
Chris Murphy (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Chris Shays (R.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Joe Courtney (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
John Larson (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Rosa DeLauro (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
District of Columbia
Eleonor Holmes Norton (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Florida
Gus Bilirakis (R.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, voted in favor of the Armenian Genocide resolution. A member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues, he spoke at the September 2008 Capitol Hill Karabakh event
Kendrick Meek (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Mario Diaz-Balart (R.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Ron Klein (D.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, voted in favor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Georgia
Jack Kingston (R.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Jim Marshall (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
John Barrow (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
John Lewis (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Guam
Madeleine Bordallo (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Hawaii
Mazie Hirono (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Neil Abercrombie (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Illinois
Bobby Rush (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Dan Lipinski (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Danny Davis (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Donald Manzullo (R.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, voted in favor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Janice Schakowsky (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Jerry Costello (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Jesse Jackson (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Luis Gutierrez (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Mark Kirk (R.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution. He supported Rep. Knollenberg’s July 2008 amendment to eliminate a $3.9 million allocation of military aid to Azerbaijan.)
Melissa Bean (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Peter Roskam (R.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Phil Hare (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Indiana
Mark Souder (R.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Peter Visclosky (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Iowa
Bruce Braley (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Kentucky
John Yarmuth (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Louisiana
Charlie Melancon (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Maine
Michael Michaud (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Maryland
Steny Hoyer of Maryland
The House majority leader, Mr. Hoyer stood firmly for the Armenian Genocide resolution in the face of vitriolic attacks jointly orchestrated last October by the Bush administration and the Turkish lobby.
Chris Van Hollen of Maryland
Mr. Van Hollen is one of the members of the House Democratic leadership who stood on principle and rejected pressure to forsake the Armenian Genocide resolution last October.
John Sarbanes (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Massachusetts
Barney Frank of Massachusetts
A member of the House Democratic leadership, Mr. Frank spoke at the September 2008 Capitol Hill Karabakh event and co-signed a letter asking for extra aid to Armenia in the wake of the war in Georgia.
Ed Markey (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution. Mr. Markey co-signed a letter asking for extra aid to Armenia in the wake of the war in Georgia.
James McGovern (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution. Mr. McGovern attended the 2008 Congressional commemoration of the Genocide and co-signed a letter asking for extra aid to Armenia in the wake of the war in Georgia.
John Olver (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
John Tierney (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Michael Capuano (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Niki Tsongas (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Richard Neal (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Steve Lynch (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution. Mr. Lynch co-signed a letter asking for extra aid to Armenia in the wake of the war in Georgia.
William Delahunt (D.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, voted in favor of the Armenian Genocide resolution. He is a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues.
Michigan
Joe Knollenberg of Michigan
A co-chair of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues – in a competitive race – Mr. Knollenberg, a Republican, has tirelessly led efforts to move the Armenian-American agenda forward in Congress. This summer he fought to eliminate a $3.9 million allocation of military aid to Azerbaijan. (He had heralded his intentions in an article for the Armenian Reporter, “Enough is enough, Azerbaijan,” June 21, p. 22.)
Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan
The chair of the GOP Policy Committee, Mr. McCotter co-signed a letter asking for extra aid to Armenia in the wake of the war in Georgia.
Candice Miller (R.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Dale Kildee (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Dave Camp (R.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
John Conyers (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Mike Rogers (R.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Sander Levin (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Tim Walberg (R.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Minnesota
Tim Walz of Minnesota
A leader among first-term members of Congress, Mr. Walz, a Democrat, has been an outspoken supporter of the Armenian-American agenda. He spoke at the September 2008 Capitol Hill Karabakh event.
Ashwin Madia of Minnesota
Mr. Madia, a Democrat, is running for an open seat. In meetings with Armenian-Americans, he has spoken clearly of his support for Armenian-American issues.
Betty McCollum (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution. Ms. McCollum attended the 2008 Congressional commemoration of the Genocide.
Collin Peterson (D.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution. Mr. Peterson co-signed a letter asking for extra aid to Armenia in the wake of the war in Georgia.
Keith Ellison (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Michele Bachmann (R.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Mississippi
Bennie Tompson (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Missouri
Emanuel Cleaver (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Wm. Lacy Clay (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
North Carolina
G.K. Butterfield (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Melvin Watt (D.), a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Nevada
Shelley Berkley of Nevada
Ms. Berkley, a supporter of the Armenian Genocide resolution, spoke at the September 2008 Capitol Hill Karabakh event. She is a Democrat.
Jon Porter (R.), a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
We oppose
Arizona
Jeff Flake (R.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, he voted against the Armenian Genocide resolution in October 2007 and was publicly dismissive of Armenian-American concerns during the debate.
Florida
Illeana Ros-Lehtinen (R.), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee – and of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues — she voted against the Armenian Genocide resolution in October 2007.
Robert Wexler (D.), co-chair of the Turkish Caucus and an outspoken opponent of Armenian-American concerns. A member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, he voted against the Armenian Genocide resolution in October 2007.
Illinois
Rahm Emanuel (D.) worked against the Armenian Genocide resolution in October 2007.
Indiana
Dan Burton (R.), an outspoken opponent of Armenian-American concerns. A member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, he voted against the Armenian Genocide resolution in October 2007.
Kentucky
Ed Whitfield (R.) worked against the Armenian Genocide resolution in October 2007. He is a co-chair of the Turkish Caucus.
Missouri
Russ Carnahan (D.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, he voted against the Armenian Genocide resolution in October 2007. He was a co-sponsor of the resolution but withdrew his co-sponsorship.
North Carolina
Virginia Foxx (R.) worked against the Armenian Genocide resolution in October 2007. She is active in the Azerbaijani and Turkish caucuses.
New York
Gregory Meeks (D.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee – and of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues, he voted against the Armenian Genocide resolution in October 2007.
Puerto Rico
Luis Fortuno (R.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee – and of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues – he voted against the Armenian Genocide resolution in October 2007 – after a call from President Bush. He was a co-sponsor of the resolution but withdrew his co-sponsorship.
Pennsylvania
Bill Shuster (R.) worked against the Armenian Genocide resolution in October 2007. He is co-chair of the Azerbaijani Caucus.
John Murtha (D.), a member of the Democratic leadership, broke with Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer on the issue of the Armenian Genocide resolution; he co-organized a press conference against the resolution.
Tennessee
Steve Cohen (D.) worked against the Armenian Genocide resolution in October 2007. He co-organized a press conference against the resolution.
Texas
Kay Granger (R.) worked against the Armenian Genocide resolution in October 2007. She is a co-chair of the Turkish Caucus.
Ruben Hinojosa (D.) a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee – and a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution — he voted against the resolution in October 2007.
Solomon Ortiz (D.) worked against the Armenian Genocide resolution in October 2007. He is a co-chair of the Azerbaijani Caucus.
Ted Poe (R.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, he voted against the Armenian Genocide resolution in October 2007. He is an outspoken opponent of Armenian-American concerns.
Washington
Adam Smith (D.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee – and of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues — he voted against the Armenian Genocide resolution in October 2007.
A word of thanks
We also take this opportunity to thank the following members of Congress for their service:
Martin Meehan (D.-Mass.), who retired in 2007, was an active member of the House Caucus for Armenian Issues.
Mike Ferguson (D.-N,J.), who is retiring, was a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Michael McNulty (D.-N.Y.), who is retiring, spoke on the record in February 2008 in support of the independence of Karabakh and co-signed a letter asking for extra aid to Armenia in the wake of the war in Georgia.
Tom Allen (D.-Maine), a member of the House Caucus for Armenian Issues, is running for the Senate.
Al Wynn (D.-Md.), who is retiring, co-sponsored the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Ray LaHood (Ill.), who is retiring, co-sponsored the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Jerry Weller (R.-Ill.), who is retiring, is a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsored the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D.-Ohio), who died on August 20, was a member of the House Caucus on Armenian Issues and co-sponsored the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Mark Udall (D.-Colo.), is running for the Senate and received our endorsement on October 11.
Tom Udall (D,-N.M.), co-sponsored the Armenian Genocide resolution and is running for the Senate.
Rick Renzi (R.-Ariz.), who is retiring, co-sponsored the Armenian Genocide resolution.