Photo Caption: Senator Barack Obama in Oregon
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ANC-PAC Urges Armenian American Voters In Oregon To Back Obama
May 20, 2007
Los Angeles, CA - The Armenian National Committee - Political Action Committee (ANC-PAC) is urging Armenian American voters in Oregon to vote for Senator Barack Obama on May 20th in their state's Democratic Presidential Primary.
"I urge all Armenian Americans, whether they live in Portland, Beaverton or elsewhere across Oregon, to vote for Senator Obama this Tuesday," remarked Armenians for Obama Chairperson Nora Hovesepian. "We continue to be very pleased that, according to our polling, a large percentage of Armenian Americans have been casting their votes for Senator Obama in the presidential primaries held to date. Clearly, we expect this trend to continue on Tuesday in Oregon," Hovsepian added.
The latest presidential primary poll taken in Oregon by the Portland Tribune shows Senator Obama leading Senator Clinton by a margin of 20 points (55% to 35%). The poll was taken from 400 registered Democrats and has a margin of error of 4.8 points. A compilation of recent polls in Oregon by the political website www.realclearpolitics.com shows Obama leading Clinton by an average 14.3%.
In a departure from other states, Oregon conducts its elections by mail. Registered voters across the state received ballots two to three weeks ago. Voters are also able to vote at a ballot box on May 20th. According to a political analysis from the Reuters news organization, Oregon is politically split between liberal voters in large cities like Portland and conservatives in the rural east and south. Democrat Al Gore narrowly carried the state in the 2000 presidential election, while Democrat John Kerry defeated Republican President George W. Bush 51 percent to 47 percent in 2004.
This February the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) announced its endorsement for U.S. Senator Barack Obama to serve as America's next commander in chief. The ANCA endorsement has energized tens of thousands of Armenian Americans to vote for the Senator and helped to propel him to secure 11 straight primary victories.
On January 19th, Senator Obama released a powerful statement on the importance of US-Armenia relations stating, "I am a strong supporter of U.S.-Armenian relationship that advances our common security and strengthens Armenian democracy." Unlike other Democratic candidates, he also pledged to "promote Armenian security by seeking an end to the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, and by working for a lasting and durable settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict that is agreeable to all parties, and based upon America's founding commitment to the principles of democracy and self-determination." The full statement may be found on Senator Obama's campaign website: http://www.barackobama.com
Armenian Americans throughout the country have been working around the clock to promote Obama's campaign. Communities have sent e-mails and updates, supporting and updating the Facebook "Armenians for Obama" page, as well as participating in phone banking to over 75,000 Armenian Americans nationwide.
Most recently, on April 28th Senator Obama pledged to continue his efforts to press Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, in a strongly worded statement submitted to the Congressional Record marking this crime against humanity. The text of his statement can be read in full at the conclusion of this press release.
The ANC-PAC is a non-partisan federally registered political action committee established to support campaign committees for Members of Congress who share the values of the Armenian American community. The ANC-PAC is at the forefront of efforts to ensure that the voice of the Armenian American community is clearly heard in our nation's capital. The ANC-PAC continues a century old tradition of Armenian Americans engagement on the public policy issues facing national political leaders, both in the U.S. Congress and the White House.
Statement by Sen. Barack Obama Commemorating the Armenian Genocide
April 28, 2008
Mr. President, last week, we paused in remembrance of the Armenian genocide, which was carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923. Nearly 2 million Armenians were deported, and approximately 1.5 million of those deported were killed.
It is imperative that we recognize the horrific acts carried out against the Armenian people as genocide and I will continue to stand with the Armenian American community in calling for the Government of Turkey to acknowledge it as such. The occurrence of the Armenian genocide is a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming collection of historical evidence.
I was deeply disturbed 2 years ago when the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia was fired after he used the term "genocide" to describe the mass slaughter of Armenians. I called for Secretary Rice to closely examine what I believe is an untenable position taken by the U.S. Government.
I will continue to push for the acknowledgement of the Armenian genocide, and I offer the Armenian people my condolences.
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