By Sevan Kolejian
When it comes to the U.S. Congress, the Armenian American community—a constituency as politically diverse as any in America—has been by and large a steady backer of Democrats, since the days of FDR and the New Deal.
That’s not to say that the Armenian community doesn’t have its full share of Republicans. It does, and they are active, and effective, and eloquent, just like their Democratic brothers and sisters.
On one election day after another, however, Armenian American voters have cast their ballots for a Pallone or a Pelosi, a Sherman or a Schiff, a Bonior or a Kennedy, a Coelho or an O’Neill. The list goes on. And for good cause. These powerful leaders and Democrats generally, by any measure, have been the overwhelming majority of active champions and reliable foot-soldiers on Armenian issues, from Armenian Genocide recognition and support for Artsakh to aid to Armenia and a full range of other community priorities. Republicans have been very helpful, often decisively so, but any honest observer would agree that the Armenian lobby on Capitol Hill is primarily driven by the Democrats, a fact that has been widely recognized and steadily rewarded at the ballot box.
Here, it gets more interesting.
Against this backdrop of Armenian community appreciation for Democratic Congressional leadership, we’ve seen a steady demographic shift, as many Armenian Americans—like so many other ethnic groups—migrate, from generation to generation, rightward politically on economic and social issues. This pro-Republican shift is clearly evident—as any dinner-table conversation in an Armenian home will prove—but has yet, until very recently, begun to translate into changing voting patterns on Congressional races. The reason is simple: An Armenian American voter, who might otherwise vote his pocket book or social issues for a Republican, ends up voting his identity—keeping faith with his community and cause—by pulling the lever for a Democrat.
All that’s about to change.
The Democrats are about to lose another traditionally solid constituency.
Why?
Well, the first prize for this rightward shift goes to President Obama, who ran a campaign of high promises and higher expectations on Armenian issues, only to break every one of his pledges—most notably his commitment to recognize the Armenian Genocide. In so openly and offensively breaking faith with an entire community, on the most sensitive of issues, he destroyed the credibility of all who went to bat for him during his campaign, denying his re-election effort and, more importantly, other Democrats’ moral standing or credible community allies. He personally—and remarkably quickly—squandered generations of good will fostered by the hard work of Democrats dating back decades.
The damage done by President Obama’s betrayal is compounded by the unwillingness of Congressional Democratic leaders to act on their own long history of promises to the Armenian American community. Today, with a bi-partisan majority supporting the Armenian Genocide Resolution and Turkey on the defensive like never before, the House leadership—with a large majority of their own—has failed to act on its golden opportunity to pass this human rights legislation. They’ve got an endless series of excuses, but the fact remains that getting this measure adopted on the floor—a promise that has proven to be a solid vote-getter since the 1970s—is well within their power.
It’s not about what the Democrats have the power to do, it is really about what they want to do. And it does not seem that they want to pass the Armenian Genocide Resolution.
That makes them, well, just like the Republicans.
And, if there’s no difference on Armenian issues, the question for the Armenian American voter becomes: “What’s holding me back from going Republican?”
As a Democrat myself, I find this sad but painfully true.
The Democrats in the White House and Congress have made their decision. And now Armenian American voters will make theirs.
We’ll see the results on Election Day.
Sevan Kolejian is a Democrat from Gaithersburg, Md.
Guest Contributor
As an Armenian American who was unconvinced by Barack Obama’s hollow promise to recognize the Armenian Genocide, and who spoke out against the blind following of a candidate based on one statement, I find this article mildly offensive.
While the Armenian Genocide is certainly a big issue, I don’t feel that we, as an Armenian American community, should choose the leader of our 300 million person nation based solely on his stance on a single issue.
As more and more of Barack Obama’s strategies fail – from the poorly planned and highly ineffective stimulus bill to the endless giveaways to those who don’t work – I continue to pray that Armenians can see the larger picture without forgetting our goal of Genocide recognition.
So please, don’t think as if a republican is the worst thing that an Armenian could possibly be. Maybe I didn’t vote for the candidate who promised recognition, but I also didn’t vote for the candidate who lied to the faces of the 2 million Armenian Americans and who has thrown us into a seemingly endless downward economic spiral.
As if Bush Sr. , Clinton & Bush Jr. didn’t all promise the Armenians proper recognition to only cave to the Zionist run state department, the ever so powerful Israel lobby and the major corporations on the Turkish payroll side? Sure, it doesn’t excuse Obama but what makes you think that when push comes to shove that the Republicans will not do the same as him?
Americans are fickle. It was the Republicans who basically ran this country to the ground from 2000-2008 and now after 18 months of total Democratic control, all the democratic policies are bad? Why did the GOP get swept out of office in the first place? How soon we forget. What republican has ever balanced a budget? Not one! It was the republicans who bailed out the banks and ironically blame the Democrats for that bailout and the economic ruin. The GOP fought to stop unemployment benefits yet have a good base of supporters who ARE UNEMPLOYED. How stupid. The republicans have a gift of somehow blaming others for their true short comings and intention: help the wealthy at all costs even to sacrifice the middle class and ALL social programs. What is amazing is the amount of middle class and poor Americans who vote Republican at their own demise.
Wake up Armenians: yes we must hold all the politicians accountable for campaign promises whether Democrat or Republican.
Mike, what specific policies are “causing the endless economic downward spiral”? Lets be truthful here, Obama inherited this mess from the worst run years of our history. Also 18 months isn’t long enough to recover as all economist agree. The stimulus was effective in my industry, and that is a fact yet not large enough as ALL ECONOMIST think it wasn’t big enough to tackle the sink hole left for him. Republicans amaze me how soon they forget why the GOP got voted out. Also amazing is the idea that all “gifts” to the wealthy is somehow great and helping the middle class recover from the worst GOP debackle is “giving it away to lazy people”. Sorry I don’t watch Fox news or listen to Limballs.
I disagree, Armenians tend to be Republican at least in Fresno, CA. I try to vote for the strongest of the candidates which is getting more challenging considering the pool of candidates are weak and weaker. Not to many are in the pockets of the corrupt Turkish lobbying in America as financed and directed by the Gulen Mafia who has inflitrated our education, politics and media. Cohen, Schmidt and McMahon are a perfect example of corrupt politicians that need to go, all have documented ties and bribes from the Turkish lobbying and have influence on the way they vote.
I voted for Obama as I felt he was more intelligent than McCain, I know of his past friendship with Samatha Power who is an advocate for victims of genocide. I was fooled, I don’t believe Obama with his support of the 9/11 mosque has a chance for 2012. Sadly we have voter apathy and barely 30% of people show up to vote. Don’t know what is more pathetic the lack of good candidates or voter apathy.
In response to Mike. It is true that Obama broke his promise, but he is not the only one. Republican as well as Democrat presidents have done so, again and again. I don’t see anyone getting mad at them. You will also have to accept the fact that Obama without actually mentioning the word “Genocide” is the president who came the closest to recognizing it. Why are we so fixated on the G word? From people’s reaction, I sometimes wonder, did they actually listen to his speech?
I do agree with the second paragraph of your statement. Yes, let’s hope Armenians have a good memory. It seems the only issue they are willing to remember is the Genocide.
I agree whole-hearted with Mike’s comment above. Yes, genocide recognition is an absolutely important cause to work toward. However, as Armenians, we must also be aware of the root causes of the denial expressed by Turkey and the US.
Why should we, as Armenians, shift allegiance to any particular party[Democrat or Republican] that has provided near unanimous support for every useless war of the last 50 years? Why should we support the leaders that have enabled the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians and our own soldiers? Why should we sell ourselves for a temporary political gain and allow the same crimes that were committed against us to to be executed across the globe? Let us learn from our own past…
That said, it is clear that many of the leaders of the current Democrat party are much more committed to social justice than their GOP counterparts [just read the newspaper]…It would be foolish to vote for the GOP because the Dems failed to lived up to their promises. As bad as the Dems may be, the GOP will be ten times worse…
I’m sorry but you’re doing a disservice to your people by suggesting that Armenians can only vote Republican or Democrat. Based on the single issue of only the Armenian Genocide Recognition, all Armenians should make it a point to NOT vote either Republican or Democrat. Both parties have not only betrayed their Armenian constituency but also the very Republic and the Constitution they swore to uphold and protect. Most of the Democrats or Republicans do not deserve to be walk in the hallowed halls of Congress. They belong in jail.
Vote anything but either of the two wings of the War Party!
If the US goes downhill, so will Armenian Americans.
So vote for people who won’t drag us down, whoever that may be, and of course the choices that we make will from one Armenian American to the next.
Even so, don’t so much worry about whom you vote for. Be more concerned about how active you are in working for and against the issues you care about.
The truth is that many, perhaps nearly all, elected officials lie and make promises they can’t keep. Look at their commercials on TV. How many times are you going to fall for their lies?
I am amazed at the number of Americans who are 25, 35, 40, 50, 60, or 80 who have not realized this yet. Frankly, they make fools of themselves every 2 or 4 years by convincing themselves that if we all just voted for their favorite candidate, things will turn out fine. How many election cycles do you have to go through to realize that the system does not work that way?
So, no matter who wins, you have to be prepared to be disappointed. But if you work on issues and in organizations that care about those issues, you will be ready to deal with whomever gets elected. Pulling a lever on electioni day really is not very effective.
If I had to classify myself it would have to be as a Republican. However I am not an ultra right winger. It is ashame that Dems and Reps alike are many times labelled with the fringe element of their party. I do believe in the philosophy of limited government, individual risk and reward and self reliance. I believe that too much government and too many social programs can lead to a ‘Nanny’ state where everyone becomes dependent upon the government. Once the government gets you hooked on their special social program drugs you become a junkie and cannot live without their fix – that’s what they want.
I believe that both parties are equally responsible for the economic fix that we are in. This problem has been coming since the mid 1960’s. Too much social spending, relying on self regulation, deficit spending etc. Both parties are equally culpable. The problem is that our citizens do not have the intestinal fortitude to bite the bullet and do what it takes to get our financial house in order. That would mean sacrifice. People talk a good game but in the end they want someone else to pay the price – not them. Until we are ready as a country to truly do what it takes the problem will go merrily along.
As far Genocide recognition is concerned both parties have paid lip service to this sensitive Armenian issue. Armenians who voted for Obama because they thought he was a Washington outsider and a different type of politician were Naive. Unfortunately in this country Money Talks and B_______T walks. That is not to say it is right – but it is the way our system works. As a voting block the Armenians represent a decimal point. I’m afraid that unless the Armenians really get together and put their collective money where there mouth is we will just get more of the same.
@ Dave,
You speak like the Fifth Column of the establishment parties. You are telling the people that they should not expect their government to serve their interests and the interests of their nation. You are in effect rationalizing TREASON!
In a democracy, the actions of their government represent the will of the people. So, As above, so below.
No excuses!
I disagree with this article. You don’t cast a vote or choose a party based on only one issue. Yes, Armenian Genocide Recognition is important, however our values and morals as Armenians are important as well. I am not going to side with a bunch of right-wing, evangelical fundamentalist war mongers just because they suddenly care about the Armenian Genocide. Many of these Republicans support for Genocide Recognition comes only from their hatred of Muslims (since Turkey happens to be majority Muslim), and the ones who suddenly discovered the Genocide as a result of Turkey and Israel having issues. These same Republicans initiated wars in Iraq and are responsible for the murders of many Armenian-Iraqis. They label Lebanon and Syria as “terrorist” countries because their Zionist masters tell them too. They do not care about human rights, they do not care about justice. They care about playing dirty politics and using the Armenian Genocide as a pawn to hold over Turkey (for Israels sake) and a way to demonize Muslims.
I, as an Armenian who maintains my morals, and as an Armenian who remembers that is was the ARAB community that opened their arms to my ancestors after the Genocide, will not lose my morals for dirty politics. Armenians are not an ungrateful race. We do not forget which people welcomed us into their lands and allowed us to build up communities there. And we will not betray our friends and values to hop on the right wing Republican fundamentalist bus of whackos.
Obama double crossed and stabbed us in the back politically. The behavior of Democrat Gerry Connolly of the 11th District of VA was just as bad. Connelly is from Massachusetts and is thorughly familiar with the Armenian community and the Genocide issue. I attended a fund raiser on his behalf and contributed to his campaign based on his professed solidarity with Armenian Americans. So what does he do? He spearheads the opposition to the Genocide Resolution.
I do not care what others have done. For this kind of bad faith dealing, Obama, Connelly and all other bad faith Democrats must be thrown out of office. I have been a life long Democrat as was my father before me. I will be voting Republican this November.
If this article was written to somehow scare the democratic leadership that they are losing their Armenian constituents, it was poor at best…….elementary thinking.
democrat & republican party presidential candidates and elected presidents have gone back on their promise to recognize the Armenian genocide……., so what’s your point???????
unfortunately the republican & democrat parties have changed in the last 10 to 15 years, and its not getting any better…….so on this subject, I am for none of the above.
kOKO
It’s amazing that we still have Armenians who think there is a thing called “democracy”, a system where supposedly the government serves the “people”…
“Democracy”, “free elections”, “government by the people” or “government for the people” does not exist in any developed, developing or third world nation on earth. In politics, the name of the game has always been “interests”, the self-serving interests of the political/financial elite. If it’s in Washington’s geopolitical/economic interests to recognize the Armenian Genocide it will, if it is not it won’t. It’s that simple. A tiny, poor, barren and landlocked nation surrounded by enemies (enemies which Washington considers strategic friends) Armenia will never in a million years be taken seriously by Washington officials. All you Hay Dat yahoos are wasting your time and money in Washington.
I don’t know when we Armenians are finally going to wake up from our dreams…
Well.. as I suspected this article brought many views out of ARmenians…and as suspected they are diverse in their approach..
I for one was a Democrate for a long time.. however having politicians breaking their promises on ARmenian Causes.. yes i am very heavily on the side of those politicians who care and will fight for any and all Armenian causes, i lost faith in Dems.. however, not to say Reps are angels because they are as bad as those corrupt and bought out Dems…which is why I don’t support either parties.. as both are equally good and bad..
What NEEDS TO happen in order for us to succeed in this country and with potentially better success rate than we had in the past is to SUPPORT and BACK our own ARMENIAN politicians both financially and other means .. as MANY AS POSSIBLE… our money should be spend on electing our own in the govt.. why can’t we take lessons from Jews and Muslims… look how they promote, hire, support, vote, and back their own knowing very well their issues will be handled quickly if they have the numbers.. we need to do the same… and when that happens who cares if he or she is a Republican or Democrate…at least we know for sure we have a supporter of all ARmenian matters.. at least I hope that will be the case…..
I started out a Democrat because that’s what everyone was in the old neighborhood. When i moved to the suburbs i became a Republican. After growing white hair and having experienced decades of politicians I am now a Libertarian. I want the government to do as little as possible and stay the hell out of my life! Everything they do costs entirely too much, temporary programs become institutionalized, and the corruption of all of the politicians is pervasive and omnipresent. I did vote for Obama this last time because I was duped into believing he was going to bring some real change to Wash DC — boy was I wrong! I was also duped into believing him about finally calling for recognition of the Armenian Genocide. He, or through the State Dept., not only has not kept his promise but has done everything to screw the Republic of Armenia. Note the inequal funding given to Armenia vs. Azerbajian. The have even held back on the funding that was already approved by Congress — what can we possibly interpret from that? I can’t vote for Obama next time unless he reverses himself in the next two years. Bush was no bargain— he was a disaster! But I can’t reward Obama with my vote for breaking too many promises to the Armenian people and the Republic of Armenia. Turkey more strategic and important for you? Good, maybe they’ll vote for you! As for me, I’ve had enough!
The GOP was voted out primarily because of what was all over the news – its policies overseas. If you ask the average American on the anti-republican bandwagon why they don’t like George W, I am willing to bet that the only reason that he would be able to muster up would be that of the poor judgement exercised during the “War on Terror.” The singular positive thing that I have seen so far during the Obama administration is the ending of our combat role in Iraq.
Regardless, the GOP did not cause this recession. Everyone says that it was seen coming from so far away, well what did the new administration do to stop it?
Aside from all of that, I want anyone reading this to get one valuable takeaway from my posts – PLEASE, Armenian Americans, DO NOT vote solely based on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. While I understand that it is a very important issue in the world today, it is not the MOST important. Please, vote primarily for whichever candidate you believe will do the best job running the country that so willingly took you in.
Vote 3rd party.
Anyone who thinks there is a real difference between dems and reps is fooling themselves.
Mike the GOP got swept out because of their dismal job. Bush inherited the Clinton Surplus which he squandered in tax cuts to the wealthy and a totally useless war in Iraq which created the largest deficit in history. Hardly “conservative”. Also during his tenure we were losing hundreds of thousands of jobs per month and the worst bank and housing collapse in history. This was not media created unlike the Obama demonizing which started by the right as soon as he said he was going to run for office. The right did the same to Clinton: remember spending 100 million on Ken Star who found nothing. I’m not excusing Obama and his short comings however in order to make America better we have to be honest to what really is working and what we need to avoid in the future. That includes both parties.
Armenians vote for the best candidate, NOT THE PARTY! We must also make an effort to counter the true worst anti-Armenians like Cohen, Schmidt etc.
NO President, either Democrat or Republican, will recognize the Armenian Genocide anyways, even if they want to. The State Department will make sure they shut down any legislation. Why don’t you look into who is controlling the State Department and the Presidency?
@ Rita: Goodness, some people do nothing but complain about this country. If you hate the country and its government that much, move somewhere else. If you think somewhere else would be that much better for you, then move on out. It will be that much better for the rest of us.
I’m not suggesting that people should sit by and let the world happen around them. but there’s a difference between being constructively critical and actually just hating the country.
Avetis,
You’re right. Armenians are stupid to give any money to the Dems or the Reps. Invest the money in Armenia. Even if you just go on vacation there, you’ll be doing something for Armenia’s economy instead of feeding Democrats and Republicans.
Good point Rita.
Hye, re the last national elections… Obama/Biden and McCain/Palin. McCain spoke up and said he was not for recognition of the Turkish Genocide of the Armenians. Obama, politician to the core, lied and said he’d “be THE US president who would recognize the Turkish Genocude of Armenians.” Then, a Hilary, who was seeking presidency, well, we see where she is even now in the USA State Department cozying up to a Turkey. So, as Armenians, even as Americans, the choices were not sterling… None to stand up for the Armenian Genocide recognition. And, come to think of it, I chose Obama, since I didn’t want a Palin in the office of the presidency should McCain win – possibly be incapacitated – and a Palin shall have become the president of the USA… Picture the USA with a Palin as president… Oh my, what choices did any of us have – and the issue of ending the cycle of Genocides doesn’t even appear on either party’s to-do list – sadly, innocents are slaughtered, tortured and worse… and Genocides unending. Manooshag
P.S. Perhaps for the next elections mayhap we shall see members of US Congress who lead in their efforts for the recognition of the Turkish Genocide of the Armenians – leaderships who will lead the world to end the cycle of Genocides. M
I think another poster called it correctly. politics in a superpower like America can only be run by serious and longterm political interests. i also think we are wasting our money and time in Washington. when the politics of the Middle East drastically changes in a way that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide becomes a beneficial political tool in washington against turkey that is when our corrupt-to-the-core washintonians will take our hai-tad seriously. until then they will be only bluffing us. i think Armenians need a different approach to tackle this problem. and we shouldn’t expect the traditional structures like the ANC and the Armenian Assembly to help in the matter. they know whats going on and they are only interested in cleverly keeping their archaic infrastructures intact by keeping their constituency constantly guessing and hopeful. it just bothers me that we Armenians dont seem to get it.
Neither party is interested in making good on their promises once they got the power. They are only effective when they are in opposition. At that time they need you and will do everything they can but not once they got the power. Also, once in minority they will try to cause problems for the side that has the power and our issue will create problems for the ruling side. So, if you want Dems to be more effective and keep the promises put them out of power. But at the end of the day we cant expect that one day conscience will prevail over expediency. If Jews didn’t have sizable constituency, didn’t own the media, didn’t have the most powerful lobby and didn’t hold 15 seats in the Senate they’d probably be fighting for holocaust recognition too. Assuming of course Germans were denying it. Having said that, I don’t think we should give up. Besides, that this issue brings are all together and unifies it also raises awareness of the fact. I beleive if it wasn’t for turkey’s resistance and if U.S. government recognized it we would all move on and forget about it. The struggle keeps the issue alive and keeps people involved. So, I try to be positive and actually grateful for all those deniers that inadvertently helped me to learn more as I had to argue them.
You are mistaken, Lilly. President Reagan used the term, “genocide,” to describe what happened to the Armenians between the years 1915-1923. Check it out.
Mike K….our govt is two faced and simple hypocrites..to preach and stand for freedom, justice for all, human rights and liberty but yet turn around and do everything opposite.. especially when it comes to Armenians..is outright wrong…this is not to say that they may end up doing few good things…
It is not hate we are displaying.. it is the truth on how fake, two faced and liars our govt is that we are pointing out….we are pointing out that no matter what, no matter how democratic this country is, power always succeeds over justice, truth and human rights..it is absolutely disturbing…
I don’t respect such a govt… do you?
True! Reagan was the best and from Ca.!!!!!!!
I can’t believe there still are people that bring up Reagan’s comments about the Armenian Genocide… I ask you people to use your brains and take your thought’s to their logical conclusions: what effect or impact did Reagan’s isolated comment have on our Hay Dat? The answer is a resounding none! Recognition needs to be done by a government, not by an individual speaking his mind and recognition needs to have political and financial consequences, not merely be words. Is this what you people are reduced to, getting all orgasmic when corrupt politicians give you shallow and useless lip service?