Genocide and Invasion denier Michael McMahon defeated

Once again, congratulations to the Hellenes and the Armenians grassroots activists for this amazing coordination of action. United we can achieve a lot! Our warmest regards to the Cyprus Action Network of America and the Armenian National Council of America. Keep up the good work! Genocide and Invasion denial shall not go unchallenged!

PS - Shame on PSEKA and CFA, we can add nothing more. There actions are a disgrace to the Hellenic Diaspora. Shame on them for supporting the neo-apartheid constitution of the "Bizonal Bicommunal Federation" a racist and anti-Hellenic "solution" to the Cyprus problem.

Cyprus Action Network of America
Press Release, 04 November 2010

The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) is pleased to announce that Armenian Genocide denier and Turkish invasion denier Michael McMahon was defeated in the Congressional elections for District 13 in New York by Republican challenger Michael Grimm. In March of this year McMahon as Congressman voted against the Armenian Genocide resolution and received funding from Turkish foreign sources three weeks after this vote.

The Greek American community of Brooklyn and Staten Island and throughout the greater New York area was mobilized against McMahon thanks to early initiatives and hard work by CANA and the ANCA Armenian National Committee of America. Eleni Kostopoulos, a Bay Ridge Brooklyn resident and lead writer for community issues for the National Herald wrote a series of articles about Genocide denial and McMahon following press releases issued by CANA to the community. In the (March 12-March 19, 2010) weekly edition of The National Herald Eleni Kostopoulos wrote about McMahon’s vote against the Armenian Genocide in Congress ““I was particularly bothered by this narrow margin victory when I was informed that the congressman who represents my district (a district comprised of an estimated 20,000 Greek Americans) was one of those 22 voters against the resolution. Michael McMahon is a congressman I will not vote for come congressional elections.”

In the weeks following the McMahon’s vote, Greek American and Armenian American community activists protested a fundraiser at Ali Baba’s Turkish restaurant in Manhattan, where McMahon went to receive Turkish government funding for his genocide denial in Congress. This was covered by the community press and recorded on you tube:

ANCA PRESS RELEASE: ARMENIAN AND GREEK AMERICAN ACTIVISTS PROTEST MCMAHON'S EFFORT TO CASH IN ON ANTI-ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VOTE: http://anca.org/press_releases/press_releases.php?prid=1846

Armenian and Greek American activists protest NY Rep. McMahon: Greek Reporter USA
http://usa.greekreporter.com/2010/04/05/armenian-and-greek-american-activists-protest-ny-rep-mcmahon/

Activists Protest McMahon Effort to Cash-In on Anti-Armenian Genocide Vote ANCA grassroots YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOSA6ZORjJ0

Distinguished Greek-Cypriot researcher and journalist Fanoulla Argyrou also reported on this in Greek, in a report widely disseminated to Greek and Greek-Cypriot media

Τα «30 αργύρια» του Michael McMahon Για άμεση κυκλοφορία: 30 Μάρτιος, 2010
http://cyprusactionnetwork.org/michael_mcmahon

Despite bitter protests to the representatives of the Cypriot government controlled lobby –PSEKA and “National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes” and Cyprus Federation of America CFA.—the so-called “lobby” continued their support of McMahon , the genocide denier, based on his support of the Turkish-British bizonal bicommunal federation, --Panicos Papanicolaou , Nikos Mouyiaris, and Philip Christopher (all of whom are immigrants from Cyprus and make up the majority of the leadership of the National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes) continued to organize fundraisers for McMahon—as reported by marginal Astoria-based newspaper “Greek News” (whose publisher has family ties to the Cypriot government) Panicos Papanicolaou went so far as to say McMahon “has Cyprus in his heart” sure Panicos can now discuss this at length with the loser McMahon over an Irish Guinness….
 http://www.greeknewsonline.com/?p=13058

McMahon was so fond of this one “Greek” article that he posted it on his own loser website:
http://www.mikemcmahonforcongress.com/InTheNews/IntheNewsReadMore12.html

The article was written by Apostolos Zoupaniotis, the publisher of the marginal “Greek News”, earlier in the year he also posted a series of pro-McMahon screeds on his newspaper’s websites attempting the “kill the messenger” that brought the news out that McMahon is a Genocide denier and gets Turkish funding, here’s one in English that is almost as bad as Christofias’ was at the Brookings Institution:
http://www.greeknewsonline.com/?p=12111#more-12111

 

"The loser McMahon with his characteristic "I smell something bad" smile poses with Panicos Papanicolaou at a recent barbacue fundraiser in Papanicolaou's Brooklyn Mansion. Panicos says McMahon "has Cyprus in his heart" ,sure Panicos can discuss it with loser McMahon over an Irish Guinness now." (comment by CANA)

Christofias’ bizonal ideology was not lost on McMahon, who repeatedly said he supported bizonality. And Christofias’ support of McMahon runs deep, in this picture we see McMahon with his characteristic “I smell something bad smile” alongside Christofias.

What this lesson teaches us is that the so-called “lobby” (or Cypriot government controlled lobby”) has failed, that despite its feet stomping that would make a three year old proud, the Greek American community when shown the evidence will NEVER side with Genocide denial and those who take Turkish blood money.

The age of the internet has given CANA the wide coverage that dwarfs little marginal newspapers like “Greek News” We at CANA are happy that the people won this time, McMahon is defeated.

It’s time that the Greek American community starts being run by the Greek Americans and not by foreign controlled lobbies, this defeat of McMahon show how our people united can never be defeated.

It’s sad that the well-funded so-called “lobby” failed to organize at the grass-roots and we are left in this election with only 2 full-blooded Greeks in Congress, Bilirakis and Sarbanes. Meanwhile, grassroots power has won this election, the ANCA Press Release this morning reads, OVER 90% OF ANCA BACKED CANDIDATES WIN: “Each of the six non-incumbents endorsed and backed by the ANCA won their elections, including, most notably Michael Grimm, who, with the energetic support of ANCA activists in New York, unseated Armenian Genocide Resolution opponent Rep. Michael McMahon (D-NY). Grimm has been vocal about his support for Armenian Genocide legislation and the need to end Turkey’s occupation of Cyprus in meetings with Armenian and Greek American activists, who volunteered with the Republican challenger’s campaign.”

Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Nikolaos Taneris, Press Officer, Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA)

Over 90% of ANCA backed candidates win

Armenian National Committee of America
Press Release, 03 November 2010
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian ~ Tel: (202) 775-1918

OVER 90% OF ANCA BACKED CANDIDATES WIN


Key Senate Victories include Reid, Kirk, Boxer, Schumer, and Mikulski; ANCA Played Key Role in Defeat of McMahon and Shea-Porter


WASHINGTON, DC – Over 90% of the Congressional candidates backed by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) prevailed in yesterday’s hard-fought mid-term elections.

“We join with Armenian Americans from across the country in congratulating the winners of these elections from both parties, and look forward to working constructively with the new members and leaders of Congress,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We are especially proud of our community’s pivotal role in the outcome of several key races, including Mark Kirk’s victory in Illinois, Barbara Boxer’s win in California, Harry Reid’s triumph in Nevada, and, of course, Mike Grimm’s defeat of Representative Michael McMahon.”

A complete list of ANCA endorsed candidates and how they fared in the 2010 Congressional elections is provided below.

Five out of the six Senators endorsed by the ANCA emerged victorious, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD). The only ANCA backed Senate candidate to lose was Russ Feingold (D-WI), a perennial cosponsor of Armenian Genocide legislation.

On the House side, the ANCA endorsed 158 candidates in 31 states. Of this total, 152 were incumbents, of which, only nine were reported to have lost their re-election bids, with two races still pending. Each of the six non-incumbents endorsed and backed by the ANCA won their elections, including, most notably Michael Grimm, who, with the energetic support of ANCA activists in New York, unseated Armenian Genocide Resolution opponent Rep. Michael McMahon (D-NY). Grimm has been vocal about his support for Armenian Genocide legislation and the need to end Turkey’s occupation of Cyprus in meetings with Armenian and Greek American activists, who volunteered with the Republican challenger’s campaign.

ANCA activists in New Hampshire, and from across New England, played a pivotal role in helping Republican Frank Guinta successfully unseat Congresswoman Carol Shea Porter (D-NH). Porter, who has actively opposed a number Armenian American legislative initiatives, including the adoption of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, was defeated by Guinta, 46% to 39%, with the active support of Armenian American voters and a coalition of others committed to human rights and humanitarian issues. In addition to Congressional Report Cards (Shea-Porter received an ANCA rating of "C" in 2010 and "F" in 2008) and the Congressional Candidate Questionnaires, which Guinta completed, the ANCA endorsed Guinta and rallied local voters with a 72-hour get-out-the vote-campaign that featured phone banking and targeted emails.

Other challengers securing victories on Tuesday night included Robert Dold, who will succeed Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Mark Kirk in Illinois’ 10th district; Marlin Stutzman, elected to the seat vacated by Rep. Mark Souder in Indiana’s 3rd district; Hansen Clarke, who beat incumbent Representative Carolyn Kilpatrick Cheeks in the Democratic primary in Michigan’s 13th district; and David Cicilline, who will succeed retiring Congressman Patrick Kennedy in Rhode Island’s first Congressional District. ANCA activists in each of these states worked closely with the individual campaigns, volunteering for phone banks, emailing constituents and joining in a variety of “get-out-the-vote” activities.

Among the key ANCA endorsed incumbent winners were Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA), who will likely be the House Majority Leader, and Thaddeus McCotter, who is also set to remain in the Republican leadership. House Armenian Caucus CoChair Frank Pallone (D-NJ), who received an A+ rating and was endorsed by the ANCA, survived a strong challenge by Republican Anna Little. Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.252) lead sponsor Adam Schiff (D-CA) won reelection by a broad margin, along with House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA), who played a critical role in securing his Committee's passage of this human rights measure in March, 2010. Other supporter of Armenian American concerns did not fare as well, with Florida Democrat Ron Klein losing his re-election bid and Central Valley Congressman Jim Costa battling in a race that is still too close to call.

Members of Congress who have worked against Armenian American priorities and were defeated included Reps. Ike Skelton (D-MO) and Solomon Ortiz (D-TX), who spearheaded a Congressional letter to Speaker Pelosi in 2007 opposing House consideration of the Armenian Genocide Resolution. Other House members who received poor grades on the ANCA rating system and who lost their re-election bids were: Earl Pomeroy (D-ND), Melissa Bean (D-IL), Chris Carney (D-PA), Chet Edwards (D-TX), Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX), Patrick Murphy (D-PA) and John Spratt (D-SC). Rep. Gerry Connolly, who voted and spoke against the Armenian Genocide Resolution in committee this past March, remains in a tight race that appears headed for a recount.

As a result of these elections, the Democratic majority in the Senate will narrow, and the U.S. House will shift from Democratic to Republican control, moving leadership of key committees, including Foreign Affairs and Appropriations, into the hands of GOP chairmen.

Unprecedented Armenian American Community and Campaign Outreach:

In dozens of states and hundreds of Congressional Districts across the United States in which ANCA endorsed candidates ran, the ANCA sent tens of thousands of customized email messages to Armenian American voters. These messages featured the ANCA grade for each candidate, news about whether the ANCA has endorsed their campaign, and a listing of ANCA records and ratings for their state's full Congressional delegation.

The ANCA's email campaign was complemented by tens of thousands of phone calls by both volunteers and automated phone systems to Armenian American voters, each with individualized messages about the importance of voting for ANCA-endorsed candidates.

The ANCA's final push built upon months of voter registration campaigns and community education and empowerment programs. ANCA regional and local activists volunteered on campaigns and encouraged candidates to fill out the ANCA Candidate questionnaire.

A key element of this effort, as in years past, has been ANCA Congressional Report Cards, a detailed review and rating of the records of each Congressional incumbent on more than a dozen individual legislative initiatives of special concern to Armenian American voters.