The Armenian Sentinel

Surviving Election 2000:
Bipartisan cooperation is a virtue not a vice

By Ardashes Kassakhian

Can the Armenian-American community in Southern California survive the November 2000 elections? Already there is a great deal of disagreement within the community as to which candidates to support for both state elections and federal. The key to furthering influence on both the state level and the federal level is to carefully involve our community in all races.

Too often disunity is characterized as a disadvantage in our community. The term “disunity” however cannot be used too loosely. There are many reasons why Armenian-Americans should get involved in politics but no sound compelling reasons why they should pick one party exclusively over another. Most Armenians that moved to Southern California prior to the eighties tend to lean towards the Republican party mainly because of Governor George Deukmedjian, a republican and 35th governor of the State of California during the eighties. However more and more recent Armenians that immigrated to the United States after the break up of the Soviet Union are leaning towards the Democratic Party because of the party’s record on government sponsored social programs. Despite the past presence of Armenian-Americans in Southern California and the great strides they made in business and politics, the community has only recently begun to mobilize on the grass roots level. However, these efforts are hampered by the bitter partisan politics that is making its presence felt on every level.

Groups such as the Armenian American Republican Council and the Armenian American Democratic Leadership Council issue regular press releases promoting their own party’s candidates. Each claim to be working on behalf of Armenian causes and there is no doubt each believes their approach is better than the other’s. By fighting against one another, these organizations become political tools and only turn off voters. The more respectable role of an Armenian American political group should be to reach out to as many voters as they possibly can and inform voters of the merits of their party’s platforms without lying or placing “spin” on the opposite side’s issues.

A clean debate on the issues would be a welcomed breath of fresh air in this election rather than bickering who has done more or less on Armenian issues. Both candidates in the 27th Congressional race have certain accomplishments and certain shortcomings. Each candidate realizes the importance of Armenian voter outreach and is focusing on the vote heavily. Currently there are commercials in the Armenian language on Armenian television programs on three different stations by four different candidates running for office in November. Both the incumbent congressman and his challenger have chosen to use traditional Armenian music in their commercials. Rather than sifting through Armenian music albums looking for the most appropriate upbeat music to play in their commercials both sides would be better off introducing legislation that would benefit the Armenian-American community’s needs as whole.

There are obvious differences in the platforms of each party. However this year’s election including the presidential, congressional, and statewide have focused on circular logic and tired rhetoric. Each side points to the same issues and claims to hold the key to solving the problems surrounding healthcare, education, and overall quality of life. Each side tries to validate its points by attacking the other side’s voting record or past shortcomings. What started off as a fairly clean race has rapidly degenerated to a bitter battle.

The Armenian community as a whole should not feel “obligated” to one party over another. Rather, it should follow the example of the well known Armenian-American advocacy groups ( The Armenian Assembly of America and the Armenian National Committee). Both organizations work in a bipartisan manner in Washington, DC and have used this method to successfully bring issues such as the reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide to the forefront of political discussions as well as secure foreign aid to Nagorno-Karabagh, the independent enclave not yet recognized officially by the United States. The fact remains that come November 8th, the Armenian-American community will have to work with whoever wins on election night. And conversely, whoever wins on election night will have to work with the community in order to fulfill their duty as an elected official and ensure support for the next run. Going to elaborate dinner parties, fundraisers, or voting in favor or issues when they come up should no longer be the litmus test of an official’s commitment to the issues. Proactive legislation speaks louder than a hundred mailers that highlight and focus on a few easily cast votes.