Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Conniving Gatto Should Be Punished; Reliable Ramani Should Be Suppor

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Conniving Gatto Should Be Punished; Reliable Ramani Should Be Suppor

    CONNIVING GATTO SHOULD BE PUNISHED; RELIABLE RAMANI SHOULD BE SUPPORTED
    Appo Jabarian

    CA 43rd Assembly
    District Primary Election:

    USA Armenian Life Magazine
    Issue #1209 May 28, 2010

    On May 25, in answer to a question regarding his position on Armenian
    demands for justice and the Armenian Genocide, and ending the
    occupation of Western Armenia and Cilicia by Turkey, Sunder Ramani,
    Republican candidate for CA 43rd Assembly District declared to USA
    Armenian Life Magazine: "Justice and consequences for wrongs that
    have been committed, I am principally in support of. I wholeheartedly
    support all efforts to ensure the rightful return to the Republic
    of Armenia all lost or illegally acquired property. This includes,
    but is not limited to, the return of all illegally seized property by
    Turkish Government in Western Armenia and the ending of its illegal
    blockade; and occupation of Western Armenia and Cilicia."

    Given the fact that Mr. Ramani has developed and maintained
    close co-operation with the local Armenian-American community,
    the upcoming June 8 CA 43rd Assembly District Primary Election can
    become a ground-breaking political event both for the district and
    for Armenian-Americans in general.

    The election, pitting Republican Ramani against Democrat Mike Gatto,
    may prove to be politically very costly for local un-Democratic
    leaders. Why? Gatto and his group not only have awakened a sleeping
    political voting block -- the 43rd district's Armenian-American
    community, but also antagonized it.

    Back in April, during the Special Primary Election, Gatto and his
    allies used underhanded tactics against his main Armenian-American
    opponent, fellow Democrat Nayiri Nahabedian. They used a second
    Democrat Armenian-American, Chahe Keuroghelian as a spoiler who
    took away crucial votes from Nahabedian. The result: A tainted Gatto
    victory against Nahabedian by little over 3,000 votes.

    In that Democratic special primary, Gatto received 11,954 votes or
    31.96%; Nahabedian received 8,358 votes or 22.34% and Keuroghelian
    merely received 14.60% or 5,462 votes.

    Gatto became the beneficiary of Keuroghelian's back-stabbing of his
    own community. Gatto also received pre-election help from Keuroghelian
    who forced Nahabedian to lead multi-front battle which caused her to
    waste her valuable time, energy, and financial resources.

    After the election, while Gatto's "Trojan Horse" Keuroghelian was
    basking under the sun of a Gatto victory, his fellow Armenian Americans
    were left bleeding with an unjust defeat.

    It's important to note that in that same special primary, the lone
    Republican Ramani received 11,634 votes or 31.10 % positioning himself
    well-within a striking distance from victory over Gatto.

    On April 18, in a post-election article, I had written: "Armenian
    Americans now should look carefully at the candidacy of Mr. Ramani
    and compare his platform to Mr. Gatto's. Based on 1) The merit
    of the candidates; 2) On their own disappointment with the local
    Democratic party machine's conniving tactic to "divide and conquer"
    against their community; 3) On their deep disappointment and even
    anger at the Obama administration for reneging on Pres. Obama's and
    his Secretary of State "Oil Lady" Hilary Clinton's campaign promises
    to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide, should consider casting
    their votes in favor of the republican Ramani. ... The numbers clearly
    show that Nahabedian's support base holds the political wild card
    and can be used to punish Gatto's self-serving Democratic allies'
    dirty politics, by swinging their vote in favor of the Republican
    candidate Ramani; and by continuing the same practice in every local
    and regional election until these dark forces give up on their heinous
    acts of dividing others in order to 'conquer' them. ... Let the local
    and state Democratic leaders wake up and reconsider their antagonistic
    policy against their fellow Democrats of Armenian American ancestry."

    Mr. Ramani's campaign platform and his character make him a good
    representative for all constituents - Republicans, Democrats and
    independents, of the 43rd district.

    Last week the 35th Governor of California, George Deukmejian, endorsed
    Ramani's candidacy. Deukmejian served as the first Armenian American
    Governor and understands that Ramani would best represent and work
    with the constituents of this district. "Sunder Ramani is an American
    success story. He is a job creator and problem solver. Sunder's
    business experience and his common sense approach will help fix the
    mess in Sacramento. He is simply the best candidate to represent this
    district. We need more citizens like Sunder in public office today,"
    declared Governor Deukmejian.

    In accepting the Governor's support, Mr. Ramani said, "To have the
    support and endorsement of former Governor George Deukmejian means a
    tremendous amount to me and my campaign to become the next Assembly
    Member of the 43rd District. Deukmejian's leadership and dedication
    to California is admirable. I am honored to have earned his support."

    If elected, he would be the first Indian-American to serve in the
    California State Legislature, much like his predecessor Paul Krekorian
    who is now the first Armenian-American to serve on the LA City Council.

    Over the course of his 25 + years of service throughout the 43rd AD,
    Mr. Ramani has contributed significantly to the advancement of the
    community. His traditional values, views and positions on various
    issues are more aligned with those of the Armenian-American community.

    His business sense and community activism make him the most appealing
    and most identifiable candidate.

    That's the primary reason why Ramani's endorsement list of other
    prominent Armenian American leaders includes: Glendale Mayor Ara
    Najarian, former Glendale Mayor Rafi Manoukian, former Glendale Mayor
    Bob Yousefian, Presidential advisor Ken Khachigian, Glendale School
    Board President Greg Krikorian, former LA County DA Robert Philibosian,
    Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian.

    Mr. Ramani is also officially endorsed by the English-language USA
    Armenian Life Magazine and the Armenian-language Hye Kiank Armenian
    Weekly.

    Yes, local Armenian-Americans are deeply hurt by Gatto. But more
    importantly, they are entitled to have political aspirations just
    like their fellow Americans. They are also entitled to practice the
    high ideal once expressed by Gov. Deukmejian, "Don't get mad, don't
    get even, just get ahead!"

    By contributing to a Sunder victory, the Armenian-American community
    will send a clear message to "The Powers that be" or Party Leadership
    on both side of the isle that: - The divide-and-conquer strategy will
    not be a tactically viable mechanism for them to use against the
    Armenian-American community, ramming their self-interests through,
    underlined a local activist. No dirty tricks should be employed for
    any purpose let alone the mean-spirited one -- "The end justifies
    the means;" - Armenian-American voters, who have traditionally
    voted as and for Democrats, throw out that party because they now
    realize that it manipulates, exploits and takes them for granted; -
    They are mobilized enough, as a viable voting block, to do a complete
    about face and elect a candidate -- in this case, a Republican, like
    Sunder Ramani -- from the opposing party to ensure that its needs and
    objectives are indeed met and that the aforementioned transgressions
    do not become institutionalized and that those relationships are based
    on mutual respect for one another and an expectation of reasonable,
    reciprocity-based relationship, between the Armenian-American community
    and the Leadership of both Parties within the Legislature.

    The Armenian-American vote will be pivotal on June 8th. Since the
    April election, a very aggressive Armenian Voter outreach Program
    has been carried out by the community itself.

    Another local activist stated that the 43rd district's
    Armenian-Americans are not in the least bit pleased with the fact that,
    they as a people, lost a seat, which based on population projections
    rightfully belongs to them.

    So the opportunity to consolidate the local Armenian-American voting
    block is right around the corner. And in order to achieve that
    objective, no resources should be spared.

    Equally important is the political objective of punishing Gatto
    for his poor campaign tactics while remunerating Ramani for his
    constructive campaign platform and for his clear position on issues
    that are important for the community.




    From: A. Papazian
Working...
X