We Need to Oust Robert Wexler

[phantom]

As Armenian-Americans, we have a golden opportunity in the next congressional elections to flex our political muscle. A well-known genocide denier and Co-chair of the Congressional Turkey Caucus, Rober Wexler, will be running in 2008 in the 19th District of Florida. He is one of the most open and virulent deniers of the Armenian-Genocide, and is extremely anti-Armenian in every one of his policies.

The man running against Wexler is Ben Graber. He has heavily criticized Wexler for his active denial of the Armenian Genocide. See here for more information about Graber's moral stand on this issue: http://www.graberforcongress.com/article.php?id=5

I'm not from Florida, but as an Armenia-American, I think it is crucial to our community that we send a message out to all politicians that denying the Genocide will lead to political suicide. This is how the Jewish community operates. They are small, but they put all of their weight against those who oppose their interests. We need to do the same. And we can start by flexing our political muscle against this well-known denier. If Armenians from all across the nation donate their time, money and votes to Graber and help him get elected, this will send an unmistakable message to politicians that denying the Genocide will end their career.

So, what should we do:

1. If you live in the 19th Congressional District of Florida, register to vote, and vote for Graber against Wexler.

2. If you don't live in the 19th Congressional District of Florida, then go to Graber's website and donate money to his campaign so that he can put up a strong and hopefully successful fight against Wexler: http://www.graberforcongress.com/index.php

I really believe we can make an example out of Wexler, and what a better person to make an example of! This guy really needs to go, and to be able to replace him with someone who appears to deeply believe in recognition of the Genocide is an added bonus, and making an example for other politicians to note, is icing on the cake. Let's do this thing! I've already donated to his campaign.

[Nick_A]

Thanks for the tip phantom and I'm beginning to write my representatives.

[Hovik]

e-mail campaign

Friends, simply cut the original post by phantom and paste it into your e-mails. Send it to everyone you know that may be interested and ask them to do the same. We can make this happen!

[Alexandros]

Armenian National Committee of Florida
931 NE 48th Street, Oakland Park, FL 33334


PRESS RELEASE


For Immediate Release ~ 2007-08-12
Contact: Mike Toumayan ~ 954-565-0462


ANC OF S. FLORIDA HOSTS GATHERING TO
EDUCATE COMMUNITY ON ARMENIAN ISSUES


Candidate Reaches Out to Armenians to Unseat Robert Wexler (D-FL-19)


FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Over one hundred South Florida activists rallied behind Ben Graber, the former Broward County Commissioner who will run against Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL-19), Chairman of the Congressional Turkish Caucus and fierce opponent of Armenian Genocide recognition, reported the Armenian National Committee of South Florida.



Photo 1: Left to Right ANC of S. Florida activist Michael Toumayan, ANCA ER Director Karine Birazian, Dr. Ben Graber, Sandy Graber, ACAF Chairman Bedros Der-Bedrossian, ANC of S. Florida Chairman Albert Mazmanian, Margaret Ajemian Ahnert (sitting)


The growing Armenian community in South Florida warmly welcomed Ben Graber and his family, Margaret Ajemian Ahnert, author of “The Knock at the Door,” and Karine Birazian, Executive Director of the ANCA Eastern Region.

“This was a wonderful opportunity for Armenian activists throughout the area to learn more about what the ANCA does and how they can get involved,” commented ANC of S. Florida Chairman Albert Mazmanian. “We plan to continue to have functions like this and invite all those interested to attend.”

During the function, Birazian updated the community on H. Res. 106, legislation recognizing the Armenian Genocide, as well as shared with them the recent victory of the withdrawal of the Hoagland nomination, which took place hours before.

The 19th district, running from West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale, boasts one of the largest concentrations of Armenians in the state of Florida. Ben Graber’s opposition to Wexler’s policies on the Armenian Genocide was well publicized by the local press and welcomed by the Armenian-American community prior to his meeting with community members and leaders.

During his speech, Graber proclaimed, “The American people cannot and should not allow any state that commits genocide to erase it from history, otherwise we will be setting the course for it to happen again.” Additionally, he stated, “Their horrific experience opened the door to the Jewish Holocaust and other genocides of that century.”
Although Rep. Robert Wexler, Jewish himself, has been a leading advocate against genocides such as Darfur, his opposition to the Armenian Genocide resolution pending in Congress has puzzled community leaders.



Photo 2: Challenger Ben Graber speaks to Armenian community


The second half of the night, the audience was honored with the presence of Margaret Anhert who wrote a book on the Armenian Genocide based on the accounts of her mother, a survivor of the genocide. Unlike other scholarly books, Anhert’s charm and conversation with her mother captivated and awed everyone.

Present at the function was community activist Hasmig Eskandarian who recently relocated to southern Florida from Washington, DC. Eskandarian commented: “The S. Florida ANC put together a very informative event. Having recently relocated to southern Florida from Washington, DC, I have been pleasantly surprised given the size of the local Armenian community at the quality and organization of the local ANC events. This proves that quality not quantity makes the difference.”

Every Friday night, the Armenian Cultural Association of Florida (ACAF) organizes a gathering at the Armenian Center in Deerfield Beach allowing for Armenians from all over to maintain their Armenian heritage through social and educational events. “The Armenian community is becoming quite active down in South Florida. We plan to have more gatherings like this in the near future,” commented Bedros Der-Bedrossian, ACAF Chairman.

The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest Armenian American grassroots political organization in Florida and nationwide. The ANCA actively advances a broad range of issues of concern to the Armenian American community.


source

[imported_crusader1492]

I was here and confronted Wexler myself...He was like a deer in the headlights.

http://www.ayf.org/Home/tabid/36/mid/424/newsid424/48/Default.aspx

[Alexandros]

Video: RALLY TO STOP REP. ROBERT WEXLER

Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) Consultant, John Bosnitch, at the Rally To Stop Congressman Wexler's Support of Turkey & Occupation of Cyprus on January 12, 2008 in Boca Rotan, Florida, support www.graberforcongress.com


RALLY TO STOP REP. ROBERT WEXLER ( Part 1)

RALLY TO STOP REP. ROBERT WEXLER ( Part 2)