xxxx Gephardt and Genocide Denial

[Joseph]

http://www.yerkir.am/eng/index.php?sub=news_arm&id=30481

Turkey pays money for denial of Armenian Genocide in U.S.

01.06.2007 17:11

YEREVAN (YERKIR) - U.S. Department of Justice files obtained this week by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) reveal details about Turkey’s new lobbying contract with DLA Piper, including a controversial - although not entirely surprising - provision that seeks to prevent even "debate" in the United States on legislation "that harms Turkey’s interests or image."

According to the contract, Turkey is to pay DLA Piper $1.2 million for the year and an additional $750,000 to The Livingston Group, headed by Robert Livingston, a former Congressional leader who resigned in 1998 after a personal scandal.

"These new Department of Justice filings reveal just how deeply xxxx Gephardt has sunk, compromising his integrity by turning against a human rights issue he energetically supported as an elected Member of Congress," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

"We are especially troubled by the provision in the contract that seeks to export Turkey’s Criminal Code Article 301 to the United States by requiring DLA Piper to prevent even ‘debate’ on issues Turkey considers harmful to its image. This requirement, which falls far outside the American democratic tradition, is, sadly, entirely consistent with Turkish government’s efforts to suppress freedom of expression by criminalizing speech that ‘insults Turkishness.’"

As a member of the House, Gephardt cosponsored legislation recognizing the Armenian Genocide, as recently as H.Res.193 in 2003, and dating all the way back to H.J.Res.192, more than 20 years ago, during the 99th Congress, ANCA reported.

[Gavur]

http://armeniangenocide.com/showthread.php?t=2599&highlight=Gephardt

[SoulD]

Gephardt’s turn of face is alarming, but not surprising. If you follow the money trail, especially of those who funded him during his times of office, things do become clear. Most political offices that are held, get money through large corporations from their area, and this is collected through a fund. The people who actually own the fund organization keep most of the money, and give the rest to the campaigner. They are also the ones that hold the power over such a person. I found that a few years ago, this so called fund organizer family, has recently married into a Turkish business owner. And they have opened up several businesses in (Missouri), all of who got their money (loans) through the same people who give Gephardt his money.
This might just be a random circumstance, but the people who own this massive fund organization, are very powerful politically, and it seems that only recently, that they married into this Turkish family. Granted I can’t prove they are the ones behind such a pull, but money talks, and the money trail speaks for itself, even if he has retired some what. It can explain why such a random change of heart is at question.
Also you have to take into account, the two companies above, Lawyers and people who collect data and help business owners get going. They all tie into this equation, which is basically out of greed & power.

[SoulD]

I should note, I started my search with his arrival in politics in the 70's. The main person supplying his money has been Joyce Aboussie and Fam through funds. They are the money backers of Gephardt, and they have ties with almost everyone, including the Clinton's http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...021901030.html. Though they are behind the scenes when it comes to news, they are the ones that dictate this man for the most part. And their ties with businessess goes very deep, including the two above (DLA Piper &The Livingston Group, has family members of the Aboussie's tied to them as well.

[Joseph]

I should note, I started my search with his arrival in politics in the 70's. The main person supplying his money has been Joyce Aboussie and Fam through funds. They are the money backers of Gephardt, and they have ties with almost everyone, including the Clinton's http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...021901030.html. Though they are behind the scenes when it comes to news, they are the ones that dictate this man for the most part. And their ties with businessess goes very deep, including the two above (DLA Piper &The Livingston Group, has family members of the Aboussie's tied to them as well.

Thanks for the info, SoulD. If you currently have or find anything more worthwhile regarding Gephardt, I would encourage you to contact both the Armenian National Committee and the Armenian Assembly of America.

[Gavur]

xxxx Gephardt is an Unbelievable Bastard

Wednesday, July 18, 2007
xxxx Gephardt is an Unbelievable Bastard


Be sure to emphasize those "e" sounds when reading that title--he deserves it. That is because xxxx is truly a Shining Beacon to Bastardom, an example that will be studied for years to come.


Those who know me might find it odd that as a lifelong Democrat that I would come out against the former House Majority Leader (I guess the time as Majority Leader triumphs over the years as Minority Leader). Yes, I'm talking about THAT Richard Gephardt, the one known for his stands for the working man, etc. I agreed with him on a lot of issues, so why would I be taking this position now?

The reason lies in an article found in the latest edition of The New Republic. It discusses the controversy surrounding the various attempts by Congress to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide, a process that has taken decades. The thrust of this article is to show the impact of lobbyists on this seemingly unimportant issue, at least in terms of the average American's priorities.



The thing that struck me most was the incredible about-face that Gephardt took on the issue. He was a vocal proponent of getting the resolution passed while as a member of Congress, taking the time to co-sign a letter to the Speaker to urge speedy passage of the bill. Less than 10 years later, Gephardt is pushing the exact opposite line, now shilling for the Turks as he distributes pamphlets claiming that the we must research the real history.

I believe that this 180 is the absolute most unscrupulous thing I have seen from a Congressman in my lifetime. It's one thing to pull a Billy Tauzin, and go to work for the pharmaceutical industry the second you leave office after heading the Committee that regulates the industry, but it's another thing when we're dealing with Genocide. Of course, to those familiar with the issue, historical research or accuracy never really enters the discussion, as the Turkish claims range from the disingenuous to the shameful to the hysterical (the Armenians were fighting back, they died only in transit that was a normal part of war, Turks were killed as well (though in not nearly as great numbers), bad weather). They talk a big game, but when it comes down to actual exchange of ideas with other historians, the Turks never offer the proof and deny any chance to do otherwise. And it's clear Gephardt's interest isn't in searching for truth--it's in pushing the party line of his new benefactors.

http://waynediego.blogspot.com/2007/07/xxxx-gephardt-is-unbelievable-bastard.html

I hope this makes you at least one-tenth as upset as it made me.

[Joseph]

Wednesday, July 18, 2007
xxxx Gephardt is an Unbelievable Bastard


Be sure to emphasize those "e" sounds when reading that title--he deserves it. That is because xxxx is truly a Shining Beacon to Bastardom, an example that will be studied for years to come.


Those who know me might find it odd that as a lifelong Democrat that I would come out against the former House Majority Leader (I guess the time as Majority Leader triumphs over the years as Minority Leader). Yes, I'm talking about THAT Richard Gephardt, the one known for his stands for the working man, etc. I agreed with him on a lot of issues, so why would I be taking this position now?

The reason lies in an article found in the latest edition of The New Republic. It discusses the controversy surrounding the various attempts by Congress to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide, a process that has taken decades. The thrust of this article is to show the impact of lobbyists on this seemingly unimportant issue, at least in terms of the average American's priorities.



The thing that struck me most was the incredible about-face that Gephardt took on the issue. He was a vocal proponent of getting the resolution passed while as a member of Congress, taking the time to co-sign a letter to the Speaker to urge speedy passage of the bill. Less than 10 years later, Gephardt is pushing the exact opposite line, now shilling for the Turks as he distributes pamphlets claiming that the we must research the real history.

I believe that this 180 is the absolute most unscrupulous thing I have seen from a Congressman in my lifetime. It's one thing to pull a Billy Tauzin, and go to work for the pharmaceutical industry the second you leave office after heading the Committee that regulates the industry, but it's another thing when we're dealing with Genocide. Of course, to those familiar with the issue, historical research or accuracy never really enters the discussion, as the Turkish claims range from the disingenuous to the shameful to the hysterical (the Armenians were fighting back, they died only in transit that was a normal part of war, Turks were killed as well (though in not nearly as great numbers), bad weather). They talk a big game, but when it comes down to actual exchange of ideas with other historians, the Turks never offer the proof and deny any chance to do otherwise. And it's clear Gephardt's interest isn't in searching for truth--it's in pushing the party line of his new benefactors.

http://waynediego.blogspot.com/2007/07/xxxx-gephardt-is-unbelievable-bastard.html

I hope this makes you at least one-tenth as upset as it made me.

Interestingly enough, back in the 1980's when Steve Solarz was a Congress member from New York, he backed the Armenian Genocide resolution and supported Armenian rights in the Soviet Union.

Due to his corrupt nature, the Turks started pumping money into his reelection coffers and offering all expense paid junkets to Turkey for Solarz and his wife (who would later get into trouble for syphoning off money from a US-Turkish organization) and his views suddenly changed. He became the self-proclaimed "Congressman from Istanbul".

The Turks have used the lowest and most base methods to recruit lobbyists...money, feeding off the greed of weak men and women. In this way they have signed up a large cadre of ex-generals, morally bankrupt lawyers and lobby merchants, neocons, etc. I do believe that what we can when we connect the dots, identify the individuals and the collusion with the Turkish Gov't, what we will see is a grouping of some of the sleaziest people you could ever gather together.

Ultimately the truth is not on the Turks side and they have retained their corrupt mannerisms of the Ottoman Empire; their character has changed very little.

There is not much to do to counter this effective strategy but we can gain the support of honest men and women and build a sound structure, a structure built upon a rock, not sand.

Wishful thinking? Perhaps.

[Joseph]

Millions Spent Against Genocide
Recognition Backfire on Turkey



By Harut Sassounian

Publisher, The California Courier

In recent years, the Turkish government has spent hundreds of millions of
dollars on lobbying against the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

It can be safely concluded that these millions of dollars have not only been
largely wasted, but have negatively reflected on Turkey's image as a
denialist state, at a time when it is desperately trying to present itself as an
acceptable candidate for European Union membership.

Besides lining up the pockets of unscrupulous former U.S. politicians, now
turned lobbyists, the Turks have very little to show for their massive
expenditures in trying to cover up the genocide committed by Ottoman Turkish leaders
over 90 years ago.

Interestingly, no one in Turkey seems to question why the country's leaders
are wasting such huge sums of money on perpetuating a lie instead of spending
it on improving the health, education and welfare of millions of Turkish
citizens who live in abject poverty.

If Turkey were a true democracy and the people had a say in how their tax
dollars were spent, its leaders would be hard pressed to explain the rationale
for spending millions of dollars to block a resolution that has already passed
twice through the House of Representatives.

Turkish lobbying efforts, besides wasting valuable funds, have had the
unintended consequence of publicizing the Armenian Genocide worldwide. The meager
attempts of Armenian organizations for genocide recognition would not have
attracted much attention were it not for the publicity generated by Turkish
leaders and their hired guns. It is indeed difficult to find countries whose leaders
would work so hard for so long and spent so much money in order to undermine
their own interests and give themselves a black eye in the process. The slick
Washington lobbyists, on the other hand, happily pocket the money lavishly
doled out to them in return for the promise of curing the Turks of their genocide
complex.

The most recent such lobbyists are former congressmen Bob Livingston and
Richard Gephardt who are now being ridiculed by highly respectable U.S.
publications for cashing in on the denial of the Armenian Genocide. An article
published in the July 23 issue of the influential New Republic magazine, bysenior
editor Michael Crowley, exposes both of these scoundrels who apparently are
willing to do anything for the right price. Excerpts from this significant article
were reprinted in last Sunday's New York Times and posted on dozens of
websites. This is yet another example of how the Turkish government pays a fortune to
hired guns to lobby for its denialist agenda and ends up shooting itself in
the foot. Here is what Turkey got for the millions of dollars it paid to
Gephardt and Livingston.

Cong. Gephardt, the former Democratic minority leader in the House of
Representatives, now works at the lobbying firm of DLA Piper which receives$100,000
a month to represent Turkey with the aim of trying to defeat the pending
congressional resolution on the Armenian Genocide.

Crowley reported that "thus far, Gephardt's achievements have included
arranging high-level meetings for Turkish dignitaries, among them one between
members of the Turkish parliament and House Democratic leaders James Clyburn and
Rahm Emanuel; helping Turkey's U.S. ambassador win an audience with a skeptical
Nancy Pelosi; and, finally, circulating a slim paperback volume, titled 'An
Appeal to Reason,' that denies the existence of the Armenian genocide of 1915."

Crowley wrote that "while the Turks and Armenians have a long historical
memory, Gephardt has an exceedingly short one. A few years ago, he was a
working-class populist who cast himself as a tribune of the underdog --including the
Armenians. Back in 1998, Gephardt attended a memorial event hosted by the
Armenian National Committee of America at which, according to a spokeswomanfor the
group, 'he spoke about the importance of recognizing the genocide.' Two years
later, Gephardt was one of three House Democrats who co-signed a letter to
then House Speaker Dennis Hastert urging Hastert to schedule an immediate vote
on a genocide resolution=80¦. Today, few people are doing more than Gephardt to
ensure that the genocide bill goes nowhere."

The second scoundrel covered by Crowley is Cong. Livingston, a Republican,
who resigned from the House due to an extra-marital affair on the eve of
becoming House Speaker. He was paid $700,000 back in 2000 to block the approval of
the then pending congressional resolution on the Armenian Genocide. Livingston
came through with the help of Speaker Dennis Hastert and Pres. Clinton.

Crowley explained how overzealous Turkish lobbying efforts sometimes
backfire. "Not long ago, one lobbyist invited a senior congressional aide to dinner
at his suburban mansion. When he arrived, the aide was surprised to find
himself surrounded by Turks keenly interested in his views on the genocide bill.
(This time, the hard sell backfired; the staffer indignantly retorted that he
believed a genocide had taken place, causing the lobbyist's face to go 'ashen')."

Crowley reported that "Turkey currently maintains expensive contracts with
at least four different Washington lobbying and p.r. firms. =80¦Turkeycontracts
the services of David Mercer, a connected Democratic fund-raiser and protégé of
the late Democratic Party chairman Ron Brown. The Turks also pay $50,000
monthly to the Glover Park Group, a powerhouse Democratic firm stocked with
connected former Clinton White House aides Joe Lockhart and Joel Johnson, for p.r.
services. That work included advice on shaping an April full-page New York
Times advertisement, which called for a new historical commission (which the
Armenians call a sham) and urged Washington to 'support efforts to examine history,
not legislate it.'"

Cong. Livingston's lobbying firm, the Livingston Group, made almost $13
million from the Turks in the past six years. "Back in 2000, Livingston's team
personally contacted 141 different members of Congress in the five-week run-up to
the aborted vote. And on October 19, the day the vote was canceled,
Livingston met personally with Hastert to ensure its demise. Mission accomplished,"
Crowley reported.

Besides Livingston and Gephardt, another contender for the biggest hypocrite
prize is former Democratic representative Steve Solarz of New York. Crowley
described Solarz as "one of the first backers of a genocide resolution way back
in 1975. By 2000, he was working with Livingston to defeat it, raking in
$400,000 for his efforts."

Crowley also criticized "Washington's Jewish-American lobby" which he says
earns "a special commendation for dubious behavior=80¦. In February, Turkey's
foreign minister convened a meeting at a Washington hotel with more than a dozen
leaders of major Jewish groups=80¦. The issue 'belongs to historians and not a
resolution in Congress,' explains Anti-Defamation League director Abe Foxman, who
outright opposes the resolution. 'It will resolve nothing.' But it's also
clear that Turkey's status as Israel's lone Muslim ally counts for a lot, too. 'I
think a lot of Israelis agree,' Foxman told me," Crowley wrote.

Besides enlisting the help of several Jewish American groups, "the Turks
have also conspicuously hired some lobbyists with strong Jewish ties. Their
payroll includes a Washington firm called Southfive Strategies, which billsitself
as 'a Washington D.C. consulting boutique with access to the White House,
congressional leadership, and influential media organizations.' Southfive is run
by Jason Epstein, a former Capitol Hill lobbyist for B'nai B'rith, and Lenny
Ben-David, an Israeli-born former deputy chief of mission at Israel's Washington
embassy and a longtime AIPAC staffer whose previous firm, IsraelConsult, also
worked for Turkey," Crowley revealed.

When Congress returns from its summer recess, we shall see whether lobbying
fueled by political prostitution for money will prevail over the solemn quest
of the Armenian-American community to reaffirm the historical facts of the
genocide.

[Joseph]

http://www.boomantribune.com/?op=displaystory;sid=2007/7/23/8259/48539

[Gavur]

Mr. Gephardt for Hire

Mr. Gephardt for Hire
Tuesday, August 7, 2007; Page A12


In The Loop columnist Jeffrey H. Birnbaum didn't quite complete his research for his July 31 paean to Richard A. Gephardt ["For Gephardt, a New Career in Lobbying -- and a Lot More," July 31]. In glossing over the $100,000 a month the government of Turkey pays the firm DLA Piper to have Mr. Gephardt lobby on its behalf, Mr. Birnbaum failed to note a defining feature of the "new" Gephardt: a repudiation of his seemingly passionately held belief that Turkey ought publicly to recognize the Armenian genocide of 1915.

Mr. Gephardt's clients require him to fight vigorously against the same resolution calling for Turkish recognition of the genocide that he fought so hard for while in Congress. What was thought by his colleagues in Congress, by Armenian Americans and by others interested in human rights to be a principled stand for truth seems in hindsight to have been a calculated move to gain political support from a key constituency in his district.





Mr. Gephardt was quoted as saying that he enjoys his new life and that "it would be a very bad mistake to go back into government." Is it any wonder?

SYLVIA PARSONS

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/06/AR2007080601457.html