Dear Editor,
I think there’s a tidal wave coming that’s going to engulf the Armenian community in the United States. But don’t worry, it’s not going to drown us, it’s going to lift all our boats. Danny Tarkanian (R) was in Watertown on Sunday evening, Dec. 13, for a fundraiser to support his campaign for the Nevada seat in the U.S. Senate now occupied by Harry Reid (D). Because of his track record and platform, I helped the sponsors.
I’ve heard a fair amount of political oratory over the years, very little of which was either inspirational, informative, entertaining, or impressive. On this night, I was happily impressed by the man and his message. I’m not going to report on anything that he said, because it’s not the point of this commentary. The point I want to make here is that he struck me as being authentic, sincere, and honest. The guy’s unusually bright, third in his class at law school, but frankly, I’m not looking for brains as a significant qualifier. I know lots of brainy guys who don’t know enough to come in out of the rain. So do you. I want my elected officials to be genuine, endowed with common sense, and I want character and integrity from him, not adherence to a party line that makes him a political hack. He has a rap. I identified with it. When he fielded questions from the audience, his responses were decisive and substantive. He knows his stuff and he speaks from the heart, and I believed everything he said. For sure, he isn’t teflon or plastic. He’s confident without being glib. He’s courteous and respectful, and it’s authentic. He’s clean but he’s not polished. We don’t need polished. That’ll come in time. He has an edge. I like that. No, I love that. It’s one of the characteristics that makes him a winner, and win he’ll do more often than not. I’ve told my kids throughout their lives that the single most important ingredient essential to having a happy, successful life is mental toughness. Danny has it in spades; it’s the source of that edge. Once he gets to Washington, no one’s going to push him around, freshman or not. He’s the kind of guy who’ll stand up for what he thinks is right, popular or not. He’s a credit to old-fashioned American values and to the Armenian community everywhere. I think he’s going places. But, what’s right for me may not be right for you. Put him under your own microscope.
You may wonder whether this is a paid endorsement. No, but it’s an endorsement. In fact, I paid to hear him. For the sake of my children and grandchildren, I’m concerned about moral decay in society and the trend of our formerly dominant country in the global power structure. Make no mistake, there’s a structural change in the direction in which we’re moving and it isn’t forward or up. The only way that’s going to change is by electing better representatives locally and nationally. If I’m wrong about Danny, I’ll have egg on my face and I’ll help you elect his replacement. Meanwhile, let’s support him and let him do his stuff. Incidentally, John and Michelle Simourian are having a fundraising reception for Danny at John’s home in Dover on Thurs., March 25 (hint, hint.) Contact John at (781) 449-8811, ext. 355.
Frank Nahigian
Belmont, Mass.
Excellent article. I agree with Mr. Nahigian 100%. We need politicians who have integrity and common sense. We need politicians who work for the people of this country and not for special interests. We don’t need career politicians whose only purpose in life is to get elected and re-elected. Lets elect Danny not because he is Armenian-American, lets elect him because he has all the atributes of a caring and humane person and not lying, teflon politician.