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Colorado Senate Candidates Go on the Record for Armenian Genocide Affirmation
asbarez
Friday, July 16th, 2010
WASHINGTON - With less than a month remaining to the Colorado primaries,
each of the four candidates in the state's highly-competitive Senate
race have publicly staked out their stance in support of U.S.
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).
Colorado's Senate seat, currently in contention, is held by Michael
Bennet (D-CO), formerly Denver's Schools Superintendent, who was
appointed by Colorado's governor to fill the post after Senator Ken
Salazar (D-CO) left to become the Obama Administration's Secretary of
the Interior. The winner of this race, which is currently being
contested by two Democrats and two Republicans, will be elected to a
full six-year term.
The Centennial State's other Senator, Mark Udall, who has pledged
publicly and repeatedly as a candidate to work for Armenian Genocide
recognition, has, since his election, stated that he will not
cosponsor the Armenian Genocide Resolution. He will be up for
reelection in 2014.
Colorado Armenian Americans have made U.S. affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide a key factor in their support for Congressional candidates,
with Rocky Mountain Hye Advocates (RMHA) activists Pamela Barsam Brown
and Vi Bashian Cooper leading the charge in circulating candidate
questionnaires in the 2008 and 2010 election seasons.
The positions articulated by the four Senate candidates are provided below.
Democrats:
*Andrew Romanoff
Romanoff was the first candidate to release his Armenian Genocide
statement and pledge to serve as a cosponsor of legislation condemning
and commemorating this crime. His October 2009 statement was released
as he declared his candidacy, and reaffirmed in a May 20th statement
posted on his campaign website:
`From the outset of my political career I have stood firm with the
human rights community in advocating recognition of past genocides and
urging strong action against those societies seeking to perpetrate
ethnic cleansing.'
`Last November, I vowed to be an original co-sponsor of an Armenian
genocide affirmation resolution. This would bring unequivocal clarity
to America's moral position on the Armenian genocide, which resulted
in the deaths of two-thirds of Armenians residing in their ancient
historic homeland - the Ottoman Empire.'
`Colorado has clearly spoken on this issue. The state's Armenian
community was joined in its April 2010 memorial with an outpouring of
bi-partisan support that included a General Assembly resolution and
proclamations from Governor Ritter and Mayor Hickenlooper.'
`Efforts in Congress, however, to similarly stand together, have
languished. So I am renewing my pledge to vigorously work for the
Senate adoption of an Armenian Genocide resolution, and I am proud to
do so.' [signed] Andrew Romanoff
*Michael Bennet
Bennet is seeking a full six-year term in the seat he was appointed to
fill last year.
In February of 2010, he cosponsored the Armenian Genocide Resolution
(S.Res. 316), and also issued a statement in which he said, `I also
pledge to support similar legislation in the 2010-2011 Congress.' His
term, if elected, would extend through January of 2017. In making
this commitment, Bennet noted that, `the lessons of ignoring a
travesty such as this have been made all too clear.' Rocky Mountain
Hye Advocates (RMHA) has asked Senator Bennet to clarify that his
commitment to this human rights issue will extend throughout his
service in the U.S. Senate.
Republicans:
*Ken Buck
Buck issued his first Armenian Genocide co-sponsorship pledge
statement in February of 2010 and reaffirmed his stand in a June 2nd
press release stating:
`As global leaders, we as Americans are charged with the
responsibility of perpetuating statements and policies that respect
the inalienable rights of every person. As the next U.S. Senator from
Colorado, I will proudly co-sponsor a resolution that will finally
acknowledge the brutality against the Armenians for what it was:
genocide.'
Buck's public announcement of his pledge has been reported in the
Greeley Tribune and is available on his campaign website:
*Jane Norton
Norton, a former Lieutenant Governor, issued her campaign pledge in
January of 2010:
`I am honored to pledge that if elected to serve the citizens of
Colorado as their Senator, I will co-sponsor an Armenian Genocide
Resolution until our nation affirms this tragic historical event.'
From: A. Papazian
asbarez
Friday, July 16th, 2010
WASHINGTON - With less than a month remaining to the Colorado primaries,
each of the four candidates in the state's highly-competitive Senate
race have publicly staked out their stance in support of U.S.
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).
Colorado's Senate seat, currently in contention, is held by Michael
Bennet (D-CO), formerly Denver's Schools Superintendent, who was
appointed by Colorado's governor to fill the post after Senator Ken
Salazar (D-CO) left to become the Obama Administration's Secretary of
the Interior. The winner of this race, which is currently being
contested by two Democrats and two Republicans, will be elected to a
full six-year term.
The Centennial State's other Senator, Mark Udall, who has pledged
publicly and repeatedly as a candidate to work for Armenian Genocide
recognition, has, since his election, stated that he will not
cosponsor the Armenian Genocide Resolution. He will be up for
reelection in 2014.
Colorado Armenian Americans have made U.S. affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide a key factor in their support for Congressional candidates,
with Rocky Mountain Hye Advocates (RMHA) activists Pamela Barsam Brown
and Vi Bashian Cooper leading the charge in circulating candidate
questionnaires in the 2008 and 2010 election seasons.
The positions articulated by the four Senate candidates are provided below.
Democrats:
*Andrew Romanoff
Romanoff was the first candidate to release his Armenian Genocide
statement and pledge to serve as a cosponsor of legislation condemning
and commemorating this crime. His October 2009 statement was released
as he declared his candidacy, and reaffirmed in a May 20th statement
posted on his campaign website:
`From the outset of my political career I have stood firm with the
human rights community in advocating recognition of past genocides and
urging strong action against those societies seeking to perpetrate
ethnic cleansing.'
`Last November, I vowed to be an original co-sponsor of an Armenian
genocide affirmation resolution. This would bring unequivocal clarity
to America's moral position on the Armenian genocide, which resulted
in the deaths of two-thirds of Armenians residing in their ancient
historic homeland - the Ottoman Empire.'
`Colorado has clearly spoken on this issue. The state's Armenian
community was joined in its April 2010 memorial with an outpouring of
bi-partisan support that included a General Assembly resolution and
proclamations from Governor Ritter and Mayor Hickenlooper.'
`Efforts in Congress, however, to similarly stand together, have
languished. So I am renewing my pledge to vigorously work for the
Senate adoption of an Armenian Genocide resolution, and I am proud to
do so.' [signed] Andrew Romanoff
*Michael Bennet
Bennet is seeking a full six-year term in the seat he was appointed to
fill last year.
In February of 2010, he cosponsored the Armenian Genocide Resolution
(S.Res. 316), and also issued a statement in which he said, `I also
pledge to support similar legislation in the 2010-2011 Congress.' His
term, if elected, would extend through January of 2017. In making
this commitment, Bennet noted that, `the lessons of ignoring a
travesty such as this have been made all too clear.' Rocky Mountain
Hye Advocates (RMHA) has asked Senator Bennet to clarify that his
commitment to this human rights issue will extend throughout his
service in the U.S. Senate.
Republicans:
*Ken Buck
Buck issued his first Armenian Genocide co-sponsorship pledge
statement in February of 2010 and reaffirmed his stand in a June 2nd
press release stating:
`As global leaders, we as Americans are charged with the
responsibility of perpetuating statements and policies that respect
the inalienable rights of every person. As the next U.S. Senator from
Colorado, I will proudly co-sponsor a resolution that will finally
acknowledge the brutality against the Armenians for what it was:
genocide.'
Buck's public announcement of his pledge has been reported in the
Greeley Tribune and is available on his campaign website:
*Jane Norton
Norton, a former Lieutenant Governor, issued her campaign pledge in
January of 2010:
`I am honored to pledge that if elected to serve the citizens of
Colorado as their Senator, I will co-sponsor an Armenian Genocide
Resolution until our nation affirms this tragic historical event.'
From: A. Papazian