NEW MCCAIN OUTREACH TO ARMENIAN AMERICAN VOTERS FAILS TO OUTLINE POLICY POSITIONS

armradio.am
30.09.2008 11:24

Senator John McCain issued an open letter to Armenian American voters,
seeking their support for his presidential campaign, but failing to
outline his stands on core Armenian American issues, reported the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The letter, released by the McCain-Palin campaign, echoed the
same themes as Senator McCain’s correspondence this February to
the ANCA. Using nearly identical language, the Arizona Senator
praised the Armenian American contribution to American society,
and Armenia’s contribution to Coalition operations in Iraq and NATO
peacekeeping in Kosovo. While remaining silent on Nagorno Karabakh,
the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, U.S. aid to Armenia, and the
broader issue of U.S.-Armenia relations, he did, in euphemistic
language typically employed by the Administration, mention the
"terrible tragedy" suffered by the Armenians, although, notably,
without using the proper term genocide or even mentioning the Ottoman
Empire or the Republic of Turkey.

"We had hoped that, during the course of the campaign, Senator McCain’s
outreach to Armenian American voters would have evolved beyond the
respectful but substantially non-policy oriented letter he sent to
us earlier this year, by outlining his positions on our community’s
core issues," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "Armenian
Americans are issue voters, and look to the candidates seeking their
support to be clear about their views and values – particularly
on issues related to the Armenian Genocide, Nagorno Karabakh, the
strengthening of Armenia, and the growth of U.S.-Armenia relations."