US CONGRESS ELECTIONS SETBACK FOR ARMENIANS
AzerNews Weekly
Nov 12 2008
Azerbaijan
Elections held in the US Congress on November 4 have turned out
unsuccessful for Armenians, as several pro-Armenian lawmakers lost
their race for the Senate and the House of Representatives, the two
chambers of the US legislature. These include a co-chair of the US
congressional taskforce on Armenian issues, Joe Knollenberg, North
Carolina Senator Elizabeth Dole and New Hampshire Senator John Sununu.
Jack Kevorkian, the Michigan pathologist who became internationally
known for assisting in suicides and nicknamed Dr. Death, also lost
the election race after gaining only 2.7% of the votes cast in his
district. Democrat Harry Peters was victorious in this constituency.
The 80-year-old Kevorkian pledged not to stand in elections again,
claiming the US political system is corrupt.
Unlike pro-Armenian lawmakers, a number of Congressmen adhering to a
friendly stance toward Azerbaijan have managed to retain their seats
in the legislature. These include Virginia Senator Mark Warner,
who beat another former governor, Republican Jim Gilmore; Jeanne
Shaheen, who became New Hampshire`s first female senator by defeating
Republican Sen. John Sununu; Democrat Kay Hagan from North Carolina;
Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina; and Senator John Cornyn
from Texas. Activists of the Taskforce On Azerbaijan in the House
of Representatives – Congressmen Solomon Ortiz and Bill Shuster –
also claimed victory at the polls.