ANC-PAC endorses Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords
armradio.am
25.07.2008 11:45
The Grand Canyon State’s growing Armenian American community has placed
its stamp of approval on freshman Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords
(D-AZ) in her bid to be re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
this fall. Giffords, who represents the state’s 8th Congressional
District, is slated to face former Arizona State Senate President Tim
Bee in a race that CQ Politics has rated "Leans Democratic."
As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congresswoman
Giffords voted last October for the Armenian Genocide resolution
(H.Res. 106) during a marathon committee markup. Urged by her Armenian
American constituents to support the human rights legislation marking
the wanton murder of over 1.5 million Armenian Christians, the
Congresswoman did just that. The Republic of Turkey paid registered
foreign agents, including former Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt, to
urge the Congresswoman to oppose the genocide bill. The effort by
Turkey to have Congresswoman Giffords deny the truth of the Armenian
Genocide has and will continue to fail.
In responding to a press inquiry about her vote on the Armenian
Genocide resolution, Giffords explained, "I am Jewish. I have both a
moral and personal obligation to condemn all acts of genocide no matter
where or when they occur. Our nation’s relationship with Turkey is
important. Our relationships with all other countries are important.
But our relationship with humanity matters as well. I cannot vote to
deny that the horrific actions of the Armenian Genocide occurred," she
added.
Constituent Sevag Boyadjian of Tucson, Arizona praised Congresswoman
Giffords by sharing that, "she showed great moral fiber in support of
House Resolution 106." He added that, "by basing her decision in
support of this human rights legislation on the founding principles of
America rather then being intimidated by a foreign government, she
clearly reaffirmed that our nation’s foreign policy should be based on
the truth."
Giffords represents the 8th Congressional District in Arizona, which
comprises much of the state’s southeast corner. Cochise County
comprises the majority of the district geography, but most constituents
in the 8th Congressional District live in the Tucson area (Pima
County). According to an analysis by Congressional Quarterly, border
security issues are of increasing concern to voters in the district. In
the last Presidential contest, George W. Bush carried the district with
53 percent of the vote. As of June 30, 2008 Giffords had raised
approximately $2.4 million with her opponent Tim Bee collecting
approximately $1.1 million in campaign funds.