CAMPAIGN 2012: A LOOK THROUGH THE ARMENIAN-AMERICAN LENS

Armenian News Network / Groong
January 8, 2012

By Taniel Koushakjian


We are now less than a year away from the 2012 elections and the campaign
trail is already heating up. The race for the white house has catapulted
various GOP candidates to the top of the mountain, only to see them tumble
from its peak. So far we have seen some historic debate gaffes, incredibly
bold policy proposals and unorthodox candidates try to distinguish
themselves from each other, all in an effort to be the anti-Romney; the
presumptive GOP nominee. But this election season is going to be unlike any
other. Fresh campaign tactics, new technologies, redistricting and the
latest player in the political arena, the SuperPAC, are all poised to
dramatically change the way Americans vote in 2012. And these factors will
impact not only the presidential race.  What we see in the presidential
contest will be evident in congressional races as well.

So what does this all mean for the Armenian-American community? Let's take
a look.

In congressional elections, for decades Armenian-Americans have been active
in raising Armenian issues and concerns, upon which politicians compete for
our vote. In recent years, the small but growing Turkish-American community
has followed suit. From its peak in the 110th Congress, the Congressional
Armenian Caucus boasted over 160 Members of Congress. Today it stands at
135 Members strong. At the same time, the Congressional Turkish Caucus grew
its ranks from just over 60 in 2006, to 126 Members today, a 200% growth
rate.

So far this year, 17 House Democrats and 9 House Republicans have announced
their retirement or will not be seeking re-election in their present seat.
The number of outright retirements can be attributed in large part to the
redistricting process, a once a decade phenomenon. The announced retirement
of Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), a strong leader on Armenian issues, is a prime
example. Additional retirement announcements can be expected in the coming
weeks.

As of this writing, the Armenian Caucus is set to lose 9 Members:
Representatives Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), Jerry Costello
(D-IL), John Olver (D-MA), Barney Frank (D-MA) and Dale Kildee (D-MI) have
all announced retirement. Congressman Kildee's nephew, Dan Kildee, is a
candidate for his uncle's seat. In addition, three Armenian Caucus Members
are running for other office: Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) is running for mayor
of San Diego, Rep. Chris Murphy (D-CT) is running to replace Joe Lieberman
(I-CT) in the Senate and Rep. Shelly Berkeley (D-NV) is also running for
the Senate. As of this writing, the Congressional Turkish Caucus is set to
lose 7 Members: Reps. Mike Ross (D-AR), Dan Boren (D-OK) and Geoff Davis
(R-KY) are retiring outright, while Reps. Connie Mack (R-FL), Denny Rehberg
(R-MT) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) are all running for the Senate. Rep. Mike
Pence (R-IN) is running for Governor. Mack, Flake and Pence all sit on the
House Foreign Affairs Committee where they voted against the Armenian
Genocide resolution in 2007 and 2010.

Redistricting has resulted in some of the above retirements, but it is also
putting pro-Armenian incumbents in head-to-head battles and making
re-election much more difficult for others. Looking at congressional
champions of Armenian issues, Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone, Jr.
(D-NJ) and Armenian Genocide resolution sponsor Adam Schiff (D-CA) have not
been adversely affected by redistricting. However, Armenian Caucus Co-Chair
Ed Royce (R-CA) and Armenian Genocide resolution sponsor Robert Dold (R-IL)
are not as fortunate. Redistricting has made Dold's seat bluer, and given
his narrow victory in 2010, he is a top target for Democrats in 2012.
Congressman Ed Royce has also been victimized by redistricting, putting him
in a dual-incumbent battle with Armenian Caucus Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA). In
New Jersey, reports indicate that Armenian Caucus Member Steven Rothman
(D-NJ) has decided to challenge his colleague, fellow Armenian Caucus
member Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) in the redrawn 9th Congressional district,
setting up a costly dual-incumbent primary.

The most prominent tete-a-tete battle to result from redistricting has put
two pro-Armenian (and pro-Israel) incumbents in the same district: House
Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Howard Berman (D-CA) and House
Foreign Affairs member Brad Sherman (D-CA), both champions on Armenian
issues. Rep. Berman has a decades-long record on Armenian issues,
particularly the Armenian Genocide. Congressman Berman has a similarly
strong record and as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in 2010,
ensured the successful passage of H. Res. 252, the Armenian Genocide
resolution. While Sherman has ratcheted up over 30 endorsements from House
colleagues, Berman has the backing of three SuperPACs. A product of the
2010 Citizens United vs. FEC Supreme Court ruling, SuperPACs are
independent expenditure only committee's that can raise and spend unlimited
amounts of money.

In addition to working with our friends in Congress, electing
Armenian-Americans is long overdue. This year we saw a new face emerge,
Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian who sought the Democratic nomination
for the 1st Congressional district. Although unsuccessful, he was able to
garner 22% of the vote in the primary, no small feat. As of this writing,
only one Armenian-American has officially filed papers to run for Congress,
while another is preparing to jump in: David Krikorian and Danny Tarkanian,
respectively.

David Krikorian is no stranger to Armenians, having unsuccessfully
challenged Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH) in 2008 and 2010. Schmidt, the top
recipient of Turkish PAC money, filed a complaint against Krikorian with
the Ohio Elections Commission (OEC) after Krikorian accused her of taking
Turkish `blood money' on campaign advertisements in the 2010 race. The OEC
ruled in Schmidt's favor. However, following the election, the House Ethics
Committee began an investigation into the free legal services provided to
Rep. Schmidt by the Turkish American Legal Defense Fund and the Turkish
Coalition of American. Although the House Ethics Committee found no wrong
doing on Schmidt's part, she was ordered to repay the $500,000 legal bill
and amend her financial forms to reflect this in-kind contribution.
According to a December report in Roll Call, Schmidt `has yet to amend her
financial disclosures or begin repaying the debt.'

Danny Tarkanian, the son of University of Las Vegas basketball coach Jerry
Tarkanian, is preparing to run in the new 4th district of Nevada. According
to a December poll by the conservative Pubic Opinion Strategies, Tarkanian
overwhelmingly leads his primary challenger (73% to 9%) and when matched up
with the Democratic front-runner, he holds an 11-point advantage. Tarkanian
has not officially filed and has stated that he will announce his
intentions in January.

Turning to the presidential race, we have President Obama, whose record on
Armenian issues is not unfamiliar. Obama deserves acknowledgement for his
audacity to speak about the Armenian Genocide inside the Turkish
Parliament, something no U.S President has ever dared, and for overseeing
the signing of historic Protocols by Turkey and Armenia. However, his
broken promise of employing the proper term, Armenian Genocide, in the
annual April 24 statement, as well his policies toward Azerbaijan, from
disproportionate military funding to Ambassador Bryza's recess appointment,
leaves many Armenian-Americans skeptical.

Looking at the GOP field today, we have two front-runners: Mitt Romney and
Newt Gingrich. Neither can be viewed as favorable through the
Armenian-American lens. During Clinton's second term, then-Speaker Gingrich
built a leadership team that consisted of Dick Armey, Robert Livingston,
and Dennis Hastert; all of who went on to lobby on behalf of Turkey against
U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide. Turning to Mitt Romney, it was
positive to see pro-Armenian officials, such as former Senator Robert Dole
(R-KS), Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) and former Congresswoman Susan Molinari
(R-NY), endorse Romney for the GOP nomination. However, from a legislative
standpoint, it is cause for concern that Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) is his
Congressional liaison. In 2007, Blunt, then-House Republic Whip, was
appointed by President Bush to the Foreign Affairs Committee the day before
a vote on the Armenian Genocide resolution, in order to whip his Republican
colleagues to vote against the bill. Recently, Senator Blunt won a top
post, securing his position within the Republican Senate leadership, and is
working to rake up Congressional support for Romney.

It's definitely too early to say what is going to happen between now and
November 6, especially in the race to the White House. While the focus is
on the Republican primaries, Democrats are activating their grassroots in
what is likely to become one of the nastiest and most expensive campaign
seasons ever. In politics, anything is possible and there is certainly a
long road ahead. In the meantime, it is critical that Armenian-Americans
know where our elected officials stand, with whom they are associated, and
their record in support or opposition to Armenian issues.


--
Taniel Koushakjian is an independent political commentator for Florida
Armenians (www.flarmenians.com). He received his bachelor's degree in
political science from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida
and is currently enrolled at the George Washington University Graduate
School of Political Management in Washington, D.C.