OH-02: TURKS, ANGRY ARMENIANS, AND CONGRESS
by Matt Hurley

Sept 16 2008

Oh, where to start…

Well, this answers a question that BizzyBlogger Tom Blumer and I
had during an off-the-air discussion about the Enquirer: Malia Rulon
still has a job. For some reason.

I really have a difficult time understanding why a cash-strapped news
organization would waste time on the political ramifications of a
grand total of 549 (297 Turks and 252 Armenians) people in the 2nd
District, but you know the Enquirer…they like to throw everything
but the kitchen sink at Republicans out of desperation.

Wow…for once Wulsin mouthpiece Kevin Franck makes a good point…:

"The conflict between Turks and Armenians is serious and deserves
discussion, but I think families in Southern Ohio care more about
lowering gas prices, fixing our economy and making health care more
affordable," spokesman Kevin Frank said.

…which I note because that will never happen again…

But since the Angry Armenian is what this piece is really about,
let’s bring on David’s failure to take his latest chance to say,
"No comment."

"How can you deny a historical fact? She does it simply to get bought
off," he said. "It has nothing to do with why I am running for office,
but it does speak volumes about her. … She’s a scary lady."

Oh, David… My advice is to stop saying things like this if you
ever want to be taken seriously. This is the kind of stuff that real
politicans don’t get caught up in because it makes them look bad. Did
you not learn a lesson from the fallout of Jean Schmidt’s comments
regarding Rep. Murtha? Character assassination is not a good way to
win friends and influence people.

Anyway, let’s finally get to what this is all about…

[T]he Miami Township Republican has praised the founding of Turkey on
the House floor, marched as grand marshal in the Turkish Day Parade,
opposed legislation recognizing the Armenian genocide, joined the
Caucus on U.S.-Turkish Relations, lunched with a group of Turks at
Cafe Istanbul in Newport, Ky., and raised nearly $20,000 in campaign
contributions from Turkish sources.

And apparently, in certain corners, that makes a person "scary."

What’s so scary, you might be asking yourself…

"Congresswoman Schmidt is one of the few members of Congress who
actually read Guenter Lewy’s book about the genocide and is one of
the few members of Congress who actually doesn’t believe that it was
genocide," the e-mail said. "We have a member of Congress from Ohio
who is willing to stand up to the Armenian lobby and it is important
for the Turkish American community to support her."

G. Lincoln McCurdy, who is treasurer of the Turkish Coalition USA
PAC, said Schmidt first appeared on the PAC’s radar after she was
criticized by Armenian groups for opposing a House resolution that
recognizes the Armenian genocide.

"The Turkish community thought we should support her, because of this
harassment. … that’s the primary reason why the Turkish-Americans
have been supporting her," McMurdy said.

I don’t know about you, but I’m prtty frightened by all of this…

Pfaff said Schmidt read books about the Turkish-Armenian history,
met with the Turkish ambassador, an Armenian group and an official
from the State Department before making up her mind on the issue.

"She believes that there were certain atrocities committed but that
they were committed on both sides," Pfaff said. "She just doesn’t
believe that it was a state-sponsored act, which is the definition
of genocide."

Beyond that, Schmidt "doesn’t believe that we should slap an ally like
Turkey in the face with this type of resolution," Pfaff said. "It’s
not good for our national foreign policy."

Rep. Schmidt has actually read up on this stuff and has made an
informed decision! If only all of our elected officials would do so…

By the way, when will Malia and the Enquirer be doing full exposes
on Republican Leader, my Congressman and a Great American — John
Boehner — and his colleagues Steve Chabot and Geoff Davis?

Again, Wulsin mouth Kevin was right: This stuff is a waste of time…of
course, I just killed more time retelling it… God help me, I want
this election to be over…..