Chill, People! It Was Just a Campaign Promise!
By SusanUnPC on April 25, 2009 at 4:50 PM in Armenian Genocide, Obama's Broken Promises, Turkey
Lyn just e-mailed me to ask if anyone is tracking the number of campaign promises that Obama has broken. Do you know of such a list? I realize it would be rather long, and difficult to keep up. But one would hope. Here’s one of the latest, via Lyn, and from Political Punch blog at ABC News in “Despite Campaign Pledge, President Obama Refuses to Use Word ‘Genocide’ When Describing Slaughter of Armenians“:
Despite a campaign promise that he would boldly use the word “genocide” as president when describing the Ottoman Empire’s slaughter of up to 1.5 million Armenians in the early part of the last century, President Obama deliberately avoided use of that word in his statement today on Armenian Remembrance Day.
“We’re profoundly disappointed,” Aram Hamparian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America, told ABC News. “All the more so because his statements on this in his record before he became president nailed it in terms the facts, the practical side and the moral dimension. He repeatedly talked about this during the campaign, and he was really harsh on President Bush, he said it was inexcusable that Bush refused to acknowledge that this was genocide.”
Hamparian says President Obama “finds himself doing exactly the thing he so sharply criticized the Bush administration for, which is being euphemistic and evasive. It’s a bitter thing for Armenian-Americans who really believed him and really worked hard.”
In a July 28, 2006, letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, President Obama protested her decision to recall U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John for using the G-word.
“That the invocation of a historical fact by a State Department employee could constitute an act of insubordination is deeply troubling,” then-Sen. Obama wrote. “When State Department instructions are such that an ambassador must engage in strained reasoning — or even an outright falsehood — that defies of common sense interpretation of events in order to follow orders, then it is time to revisit the State Department’s policy guidance on that issue.”
Obama told Secretary Rice that the “occurrence of the Armenian genocide in 1915 is not an ‘allegation,’ a ‘personal opinion,’ or a ‘point of view.’ Supported by an overwhelmingly amount of historical evidence, it is a widely documented fact.”
But Mr. Obama’s statement today does not use the word. He calls the genocide “one of the great atrocities of the 20th century” and mentions the “1.5 million Armenians who were subsequently massacred or marched to their death in the final days of the Ottoman Empire.” He uses the Armenian term for “The Great Atrocity” — The Meds Yeghern -– and he calls for “a full, frank and just acknowledgment of the facts.”
But he does not use the word.
“He made it so clear throughout the campaign that that word mattered,” the ANCA’s Hamparian says.
That is indisputable. Mr. Obama said that “America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that president.”
[...]
Read all of “Despite Campaign Pledge, President Obama Refuses to Use Word ‘Genocide’ When Describing Slaughter of Armenians.”
Thank god for Jake Tapper and crew.
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it wasn’t him that made all those promises.it was totus.lol
Next thing, Hussein Obama will be saying that the 6 million Jewish holocaust victims is a myth and the facts should be revisited!
What a dumb ass! 1.5 million Armenians killed. It’s not just them but an additional million plus of Jewish and Greek families who met their tragic end in the hands of the brutal Turkish Army hordes.
You must akcnowledge History’s blunders and cruelty to go past it! It’s the AMERICAN thing to do ain’t it???
You can keep track of Obama’s pledges with the Obameter Scorecard. Link here:
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/
To date: 26 promises kept [he got a point on the puppy], 6 broken, 7 compromised and 3 stalled, 63 in the works. Also gives you a rundown on the promies themselves.
Thanks, Peggy Sue. I went and checked it out.
Interesting that there is no section for “women.” One has to dig around… WTH–I’m not complaining–actually grateful for the work these people have done.
Susan–I put it in the comments April 16th that I had found a link where Obama’s campaign promises were being tracked. Other sources of broken promises may be found in addition to mine, and I hope will be linked here also:
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/
I was running for president. There you go!
It is hard for many of us to comprehend how important this official declaration of genocide is to Armenians around the world. And, it is also hard to comprehend how adamant Turkish resistance is to this declaration.
On this issue, of all things, there is no room to be wishy-washy. Neither side will respect weakness. In my opinion, the use of the plain word “genocide” for what was done to the Armenians is long overdue. Don’t try to play politics with this one, Mr. President!
yea! you remembered! :OD
“I was running for president. There you go!”
This is supposed to be the “wink, wink” understanding “between politicians”. Not that I agree with politicians lying, but by saying it out loud, it’s like he thinks that WE’RE going to find it acceptable, too.
Well, we don’t.
I do so hope that every single voter in the 2008 election has learned not to listen to promises of change. Please, Oh, please, people, I beg of you, check the person out thoroughly before you just believe. It is the person, not the party. If a man has no character, he is not going to be a good leader. Please bots, please, wake the hell up!!!!
My Armenian neighbors/friends will be PISSED!
Lyn,
The broken Armenian promise is at the top of what I call
THE ASSHOLEMETER
Did you see they gave Sarah a liar pants on firs for “Obama would “experiment with socialism.” ?
He’s socialist and fascist (authoritarian/corporatist). Mainly, he’s an asshole on crack.
General characteristics of fascist economies
Fourteen Defining Characteristics Of Fascism
So when do you think they will appoligize to Sarah for calling her a liar about him?
Never. I didn’t find that on the website.
He’s everything and nothing at all. Socialist, neo-liberal, neo-con, fascist, totalitarian. What a mess.
Donna:
If you think about the political continuum being a straight line from hard right to hard left and then put each end together, That One is at the junction between the two ends. He’s represents a new type of autocrat.
That should say, “He represents….”
Ferd, if you read the definition of fascist economics above, he fits the description:
He’s exactly what PUMAs said he was. A totalitarian.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/04252009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/100_days__100_mistakes_166177.htm?&page=0
Sarah Palin smacks him for breaking his promise of bipartisanship:
Obama soared to victory on the hopeful promise of a new era of bipartisanship. During his inaugural address he even promised an ‘end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.’
Too bad it took all of three days for the promise to ring hollow.
Start with Obama’s big meeting with top congressional leaders on his signature legislation — the stimulus — on the Friday after his inauguration. Listening to Republican concerns about overspending was a nice gesture — until he shut down any hopes of real dialogue by crassly telling Republican leaders: ‘I won.’ Even the White House’s leaking of the comment was a slap at the Republican leadership, who’d expected Obama to adhere to the custom of keeping private meetings with congressional leadership, well, private.
It’s only gone downhill from there. The stimulus included zero Republican recommendations, and failed to get a single House Republican vote.
It’s not just the tactic of using Republicans for bipartisan photo-ops, and then cutting them loose before partisan decisions, that irks Obama’s opponents. The new president wasted no time rushing forward with policies and legislation guaranteed to drive Republicans nuts. The first bill he signed into law was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act — a partisan hot-button that drew all of eight Republican supporters in the entire Congress. Then there was the swift reversal of Bush policies on abortion and embryonic-stem-cell research — issues dear to the Republican base.
And when Obama and the Democrats in Congress took up SCHIP — the children’s health-insurance bill that Republicans say vastly expands government’s role in health care — they had an easy chance for real bipartisanship. After all, the bill had been hashed out in the previous Congress, and a bipartisan accord was reached before President Bush responded with a veto. Did the Obama team push for the compromise version in the 111th Congress? Nope. They went back to the drawing board, ramming through the Democrats’ dream version.
Of course, the lack of bipartisanship isn’t limited to Capitol Hill. Obama has taken gratuitous swipes at the Republicans who recently decamped Washington, blaming President Bush for everything from the economy and the war to the lack of sufficient puppies and rainbows. And who could forget the Rush Limbaugh flap — in which Obama’s top advisers, including chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, orchestrated a public relations campaign meant to undermine the Republican National Committee chairman, Michael Steele, by framing talk-radio personality Limbaugh as the real head of the Republican Party.
For now, Obama’s back-pedal on the bipartisanship promise just makes him look insincere. But the real consequences of the mistake will be felt soon enough. As Presidents Bush and Clinton could tell him, congressional majorities do change — and at some point, Obama will need Republicans on his side. He’d be smart to spend his second 100 days making up for the serious snubs of his first.
A 100 Days, 100 Mistakes.
17: SARAH PALIN ON: “I WON” AND THE DEATH OF BIPARTISANSHIP
“Obama soared to victory on the hopeful promise of a new era of bipartisanship. During his inaugural address he even promised an ‘end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.’
“Too bad it took all of three days for the promise to ring hollow.
“Start with Obama’s big meeting with top congressional leaders on his signature legislation — the stimulus — on the Friday after his inauguration. Listening to Republican concerns about overspending was a nice gesture — until he shut down any hopes of real dialogue by crassly telling Republican leaders: ‘I won.’ Even the White House’s leaking of the comment was a slap at the Republican leadership, who’d expected Obama to adhere to the custom of keeping private meetings with congressional leadership, well, private.
“It’s only gone downhill from there. The stimulus included zero Republican recommendations, and failed to get a single House Republican vote.
“It’s not just the tactic of using Republicans for bipartisan photo-ops, and then cutting them loose before partisan decisions, that irks Obama’s opponents. The new president wasted no time rushing forward with policies and legislation guaranteed to drive Republicans nuts. The first bill he signed into law was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act — a partisan hot-button that drew all of eight Republican supporters in the entire Congress. Then there was the swift reversal of Bush policies on abortion and embryonic-stem-cell research — issues dear to the Republican base.
“And when Obama and the Democrats in Congress took up SCHIP — the children’s health-insurance bill that Republicans say vastly expands government’s role in health care — they had an easy chance for real bipartisanship. After all, the bill had been hashed out in the previous Congress, and a bipartisan accord was reached before President Bush responded with a veto. Did the Obama team push for the compromise version in the 111th Congress? Nope. They went back to the drawing board, ramming through the Democrats’ dream version.
“Of course, the lack of bipartisanship isn’t limited to Capitol Hill. Obama has taken gratuitous swipes at the Republicans who recently decamped Washington, blaming President Bush for everything from the economy and the war to the lack of sufficient puppies and rainbows. And who could forget the Rush Limbaugh flap — in which Obama’s top advisers, including chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, orchestrated a public relations campaign meant to undermine the Republican National Committee chairman, Michael Steele, by framing talk-radio personality Limbaugh as the real head of the Republican Party.
“For now, Obama’s back-pedal on the bipartisanship promise just makes him look insincere. But the real consequences of the mistake will be felt soon enough. As Presidents Bush and Clinton could tell him, congressional majorities do change — and at some point, Obama will need Republicans on his side. He’d be smart to spend his second 100 days making up for the serious snubs of his first.”
Words, just Words, Mr. President and THEY DO MATTER.
Being of Armenian descent, I can tell you that by making statements to Armenians during a contested Presidential primary “IT WAS GENOCIDE”, then to hedge on that not to get the Turks mad (due to our needing their land to move troops out of Iraq at some time, and to help resupply the troops)is a total FRAUD to get Armenian support over Hillary and it worked. The Armenian newspapers endorsed Obama over Hillary (I complained loudly). Now here’s what the TURKS are saying today via AP. They are mad at President Obama for not mentioning how many Turks the Armenians killed (what gall):
That’s why President Obama’s going back on on his promise to the Armenian People is such a slam. Never Forget. We never forget.
The Armenian population will never forgive President Obama for not following through on his pledge of recognizing the Armenian Genocide at the hands of the Turkish government. Being of Armenian descent, I can tell you he has crossed the wrong minority, politically.
On top of “Words, just Words”, Mr. President, here’s what AP is reporting today. The Turks are pissed at the Pres. Read on:
We will NEVER FORGET. YOU LIED TO THE WRONG MINORITY, Mr. President.
JohnnyB, I sympathize with your rage and your grief, though I am not Armenian. Nor am I Jewish–and of all other ethnic groups, I would assume the Jews should most directly understand the rage of the Armenians. Imagine, if the world refused to use the term “genocide” in relation to the Holocaust!
Johnny B
Thank you for your article. Over 2 million Armenians and Greeks (1922) were slaughtered by the blood-thirsty Turkish hordes and Obama’s nerdy FLIP-FLOP on this significant issue should cost him votes. I viewed a film with Jewish holocaust survivor friends and members of the Armenian and Greek communities entitled 1922. It was incredibly beautiful and horrific. No one but no one can equal the TURKS for their woman-hating and brutal rape-and-pillage tactics.
No other army was so brutal so as to have the Nazis admit that the Turks were far worse than they were to JEWISH, ARMENIAN and GREEK familieis in WWI and WWII. Hundreds of Arrmenians and Greeks were uprooted from Constaninople, Smyrna and the Asia Minor coast in l922 and had their hands, legs and heads cut off. You can visit the museum of horrors of the Turkish Army’s brutal legacy. Millions not thousands. To date it is approximately 2.6 million Armenian, Greek and Jewish victims of Turkish brutality, rape and pillaging in Asia Minor (Ephesus,Smyrna, etc.)
HUSSEIN OBAMA is making a big mistake by reversing his stand on the GENOCIDE of ARMENIANS, GREEKS AND JEWS by TURKISH BRUTES.
Pres. Sarkozy’s family (grandfather) is from the Northern Greek City of SALONICA. The Nazis and the Turks decimated the city’s Greek, Armenian and Jewish citizens…many fleeing south where their lives were saved by Athenians under the Nazis’ noses.. 6 million Jews, and 2.5 million Armenians and Greeks…too much blood on Turkish hands….and their desecreation of St. Sophia’s Byzantine Orthodox Church in Istanbul (Constaninople). Who can forget their ATROCITIES?
No, Hussein’s flip-flop will not be forgotten!
In both WWI and WWII Turkey fought on the side of the Nazis and Japan! Did Hussein Obama ever study or learn from History? Of course he flunked Geography…57 states and all….what a racist, misogynist Flip-Flopper-in-Chief!
Susan, after I read the title of this post, I could not help saying, ‘Well, there you go.’ For all of the women and Jews and gays and Armenians who voted for BO, what on earth were you thinking!
they weren’t thinking apparently. Perhaps an attitude that this about the entire country and not one group would help.
Why is any special interest group able to influence our politicians? Oh, I forgot, the almighty dollar!
I, for one, am GLAD Obama broke this promise. Obama is NOT a historian. (We’ve pretty much established that he’s not much of anything except a liar and cheater.) His gal-pal Samantha Power is not a historian either. She is a journalist, lawyer, and politician with, as I recall, questionable judgment. Nancy Pelosi is a certified idiot, but hey, she’s got lots of Armenians in her district–think that has anything to do with her support of this resolution? (She loves to get her wheels greased.)
Here are some academic historians: http://www.atmg.org/AcademicResponse.html
Our government works for the American people, not lobbyists, and our politicians should stop attempting to legislate history, no matter where it comes from–leave writing history to the real historians.
Dear Sonic:
If you would read the history, our Ambassador Morgenthau (sp) reported the Genocide of the Armenian population by the Turks as it was happening. Lobbyists you mention are all TURKISH.
They spend many dollars and have the Israel lobby helping them block the Resolutions that are introduced each year in Congress to recognize the Armenian Massacre/Genocide at the hands of the Turkish government. You either work for the Turks, or you are not very well informed. I don’t wish to insult you, but please read the history before making such statements.
http://www.atmg.org/AcademicResponse.html
69 professors
What’s wrong with wanting to leave history to historians? Nancy Pelosi has many Armenians in her district. Cha-ching. I’m sure there are Turkish lobbyists working against it, too. I have a problem with all lobbyists. Whose country is this anyway?
I read a lot, thank you.
MY Problem with him not using the word genocide is he SAID he would over and over and criticized others who didn’t use the word. IF he didn’t campaign on this, then I wouldn’t have an issue with it, BUT he said he WOULD use the word genocide as POTUS to get votes (altho why anyone would believe anything he said, since we knew he didn’t care about the people he lied to in his district as a State senator. is beyond me)and once again he lied.
He should not have said it in the first place–especially since he likely has zero idea of what he’s talking about–from either side of the argument. And he is an American government official–not a professor of history.
I agree that he lies for votes. It just turns out that this reversal puts him in the correct position.
You mean he is IGNORANT OF HISTORY? I agree.
Sonic Ninja
But you surely don’t imply that you have to be an Historian to appreciate that this GENOCIDE by the Turkish Army brutes did not occur! There are 1.5 million graves and names are dug up.
Or, Ninja, you think that 6 million Jews did not endure the Holocaust. After all, you and I are not historians, right?
What’s your point in defending Obama’s reversal? Agreeing with official Turkish government propaganda that Turkish atrocities against Armenians did not occur does not make the GENOCIDE’s well-recorded documents non-existent!!!!
Are Armenians just another ‘interest group’ for you? And the Jewish community…and the Greek Community?
All 3 were brutalized by the Turkish hordes.
There are mini-holocaust (in comparison with the 6 million Jews in WWII) but really, do you want to play comparison games with Genocide? What are you protecting…
sonic Ninja’s
link is absolutely Turkish propaganda! Same propaganda that Turks have used to cover up their Salonica atrocities where they were responsible for decapitating, raping and pillaging villages with Jewish, Greek or Armenian inhabitants.
This piece of Turkish Propaganda by ‘HISTORIANS FOR HIRE’ is laughable. Get your sources checked up. You are doing a disservice to History by refusing to face the ugly facts.
Thank god Sarkozy’s France does not want to admit 50 milllion Turks into Europe! He should know…his family suffered enough in WWII
Which History facts are you looking at?
do some digging sonic turtle - the truth is barely scratched on surface. The GENOCIDE is close to 2.5 million and not 1.5. They forgot
1922 - see the movie. I saw it with the Haddasah Chapter 20 years ago. It’s still relevnat. Lest we forget…Turkish atrocities!
Sonic Ninja
You are making a rather serious error here. That is precisely what the Armenians are saying. Leave this to the Historians! It is historians that have recorded the brutal rapes, decapitations, dismberments, live burnings and atrocities of the TURKISH BRUTAL ARMY. The figure of 1.5 million is way too low when you count the Armenians and Greeks in Asia Minor and the Jewish families of Salonica in northern Greece.
I agree. Leave this to the Historians. Not Hussein Obummer! And make Hussein accountable for his words. Action gives words meaning. Right now, it looks like a well-greased Teleprompter is Commander-in-Chief. No brains, no morals, no sense of history, geography. Just a keen sense of Marketing his sorry self…
If you forget History, then you’re likely to repeat it with dire consequences Ninja! The holocaust is over. But the trauma and memories live on. Don’t let B.H. Obama fool you.
Lest we forget….
Here we are, potentially heading into a public health crises, and the Barky SAdministration has no Health and Human Service Secretary, no Surgeon General, no Centers for Disease Control Director, and no Food and Drug Administration Director. Way to go Barky - great way to protect our health like you promised. On second thought, it is probably a GOOD thing these posts are filled with career public servants in acting positions at this time rather than Barky’s political pay-back appointees.
Susan
THANK you for this important post…We must NEVER FORGET, so history will not be allowed to repeat itself!