Get Out the Vote - S.F. Bay Area ANC

Dear Friends,

Please vote on Tuesday! The more Armenian-American citizens vote, the stronger our collective voice in persuading elected officials of the value of our issues. With a crucial presidential election and so many Congressional races being closely contested, we encourage all Armenian Americans to go to the polls

Young Armenian-American eligible voters - Check out I Vote U Vote Hye Vote, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVRmsLAvVzQ, produced by Haig Hovsepian and Arman Margarian.

Following is a resource from the ANCA to help Bay Area Armenian-American voters make informed decisions at the ballot box this Tuesday. The ANCA endorsements are based primarily on the ANCA Congressional Report Card, a detailed review of each incumbent's record across a broad range of Armenian American issues. These Report Cards, prepared in consultation with local ANCA chapters across the country, cover issues ranging from securing a just resolution of the Armenian Genocide and the strengthening U.S.-Armenia relations

to defending Nagorno Karabagh's independence and increasing U.S. aid and trade levels. The ANCA Congressional Report Cards are posted on the ANCA website at: http://www.anca.org/legislative_center/election_reportcards.php

2008 ANCA CONGRESSIONAL ENDORSEMENTS FOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA:

District #1: Mike Thompson (D)

District #3: Dan Lungren (R)

District #5: Doris Matsui (D)

District #6: Lynn Woolsey (D)

District #7: George Miller (D)

District #8: Nancy Pelosi (D)

District #9: Barbara Lee (D)

District #10: Ellen Tauscher (D)

District #11: Jerry McNerney (D)

District #12: Jackie Speier (D)

District #13: Pete Stark (D)

District #14: Anna Eshoo (D)

District #15: Michael Honda (D)

District #16: Zoe Lofgren (D)

District #17: Sam Farr (D)

California's Proposition 9 would change the existing procedures for granting parole to convicted individuals. If adopted, it will raise the waiting period for parole hearings up to fifteen years. This change will directly affect Hampig Sassounian's case. Hampig Sassounian has been in prison since 1982. His conviction was overturned by the United States Court of Appeal in 2001, based on major prosecutorial and jury misconduct. Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley planned to re-try the case in 2002, and Hampig took a plea bargain entitling him to parole. He is currently entitled to a parole hearing ever 2 years, but if Proposition 9 were to pass, Hampig would only be eligible for a hearing every 15 YEARS, essentially returning him to a life imprisonment sentence.

OBAMA REAFFIRMS PLEDGE TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Washington, DC, October 31, 2008 - With just days left to the crucial November 4th presidential elections, the Obama-Biden campaign reaffirmed its commitment to Armenian Genocide recognition and a strong U.S.-Armenia relationship, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

A statement titled "Barack Obama: Supporting U.S.-Armenia Relations," relayed to Armenians for Obama Chairman Areen Ibranossian earlier today as well as the ANCA, affirms that "The Armenian Genocide, carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, resulted in the deportation of nearly 2 million Armenians, and approximately 1.5 million of those deported were killed. Barack Obama believes we must recognize this tragic reality and strongly supports a U.S.-Armenian relationship that advances our common security and strengthens Armenian democracy." The statement goes on to note "Barack Obama strongly supports passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106 and S.Res.106) and will recognize the Armenian Genocide."

"The ANCA welcomes further reaffirmation of Barack Obama's strong commitment to issues of concern to the Armenian American community, including proper recognition of the Armenian Genocide and fostering a strong U.S.-Armenia relationship," stated ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "ANCA chapters and activists across the U.S. will continue, in these last days, to work hard for the Obama-Biden ticket and the candidacies of the large number of Senators and Representatives who have supported Armenian American concerns."

The Obama-Biden statement comes amid a flurry of reports in the Turkish press regarding a meeting that supposedly took place over the last several days between a senior Turkish official, Ahmet Davuto・lu, and a representative of the Obama-Biden Campaign, after which Davutoglu called into question Obama's commitment to this core human rights issue.

Full Obama Statement:

BARACK OBAMA: SUPPORTING U.S.-ARMENIA RELATIONS

The Armenian Genocide, carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, resulted in the deportation of nearly 2 million Armenians, and approximately 1.5 million of those deported were killed. Barack Obama believes we must recognize this tragic reality and strongly supports a U.S.-Armenian relationship that advances our common security and strengthens Armenian democracy.

Recognition of the Armenian Genocide: Barack Obama shares with Armenian Americans a principled commitment to ending genocide. That starts with acknowledging the tragic instances of genocide in world history. As a senator, Obama has stood with the Armenian American community in calling for Turkey's acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide. He criticized the Secretary of State two years ago for the firing of the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, after he used the term "genocide" to describe Turkey's slaughter of thousands of Armenians starting in 1915. Obama wrote that the Armenian Genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence.

Barack Obama strongly supports passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106 and S.Res.106) and will recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Genocide Prevention: The U.S. and the entire global community must remember the past and learn from these crimes against humanity to make sure that they never happen again. Sadly, genocide persists today and threatens our common security and common humanity. In Sudan, we are witnessing many of the same brutal tactics - displacement, starvation, and mass slaughter - that were used by the Ottoman authorities against Armenians in 1915. Obama has been a leading voice urging the Bush administration to take stronger steps to end the genocide in Sudan. He traveled to the United Nations to meet with Sudanese officials, visited refugee camps on the Chad-Sudan border, pushed for the deployment of a robust multinational force for Darfur, and urged divestment from companies doing business in Sudan.

Commitment to Armenian Americans: Barack Obama has a strong record on issues of concern to the 1.5 million Americans of Armenian heritage in the United States. As president, Obama will maintain our assistance to Armenia, which has been a reliable partner in the fight against terrorism and extremism. An Obama administration will help foster Armenia's growth and development through expanded trade and targeted aid. He will also strengthen the commercial, political, military, developmental, and cultural relationships between the U.S. and Armenian governments. Obama will continue his active engagement with Armenian American leaders on the full range of issues of concern to the Armenian American community to build upon the enduring ties and shared values that have bound together the American and Armenian peoples for more than a century.

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Armenian National Committee
San Francisco - Bay Area
51 Commonwealth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118
Tel: 415-387-3433
Fax: 415-751-0617
mail@ancsf.org
www.ancsf.org

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