Monday, August 8, 2022
No Result
View All Result
Asbarez.com
NEWSLETTER
ՀԱՅ
  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • Community
  • Arts & Culture
    • Art
    • Books
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Critics’ Forum
  • Op-Ed
    • Editorial
    • Opinon
    • Letters
  • Columns
    • By Any Means
    • My Turn
    • Three Apples
    • Community Links
    • Critics’ Forum
    • My Name is Armen
    • Living in Armenia
  • Videos
  • Sports
  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • Community
  • Arts & Culture
    • Art
    • Books
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Critics’ Forum
  • Op-Ed
    • Editorial
    • Opinon
    • Letters
  • Columns
    • By Any Means
    • My Turn
    • Three Apples
    • Community Links
    • Critics’ Forum
    • My Name is Armen
    • Living in Armenia
  • Videos
  • Sports
No Result
View All Result
Asbarez.com
ՀԱՅ
No Result
View All Result

The Armenian Vote: The Democrats Are Losing Solid Constituency

by Asbarez Staff
September 10, 2010
in Op-Ed, Opinon
3
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

BY SEVAN KOLEJIAN
When it comes to the U.S. Congress, the Armenian American community—a constituency as politically diverse as any in America—has been, by and large a steady backer of Democrats, since the days of FDR and the New Deal.
That’s not to say that the Armenian community doesn’t have its full share of Republicans. It does, and they are active, and effective, and eloquent, just like their Democratic brothers and sisters.
On one election day after another, however, Armenian American voters have cast their ballots, time and again, for a Pallone or a Pelosi, a Sherman or a Schiff, a Bonior or a Kennedy, a Coelho or an O’Neill. The list goes on. And for good cause. These powerful leaders and Democrats generally, by any measure, have been the overwhelming majority of active champions and reliable foot-soldiers on Armenian issues, from Armenian Genocide recognition and support for Artsakh to aid to Armenia and the full range of other community priorities. Republicans have been very helpful, often decisively so, but any honest observer would agree that the Armenian Lobby on Capitol Hill is primarily driven by the Democrats, a fact that has been widely recognized and steadily rewarded at the ballot box.
Here, it gets more interesting.
Against this backdrop of Armenian community appreciation for Democratic Congressional leadership, we’ve seen a steady demographic shift, as many Armenian American—like so many other ethnic groups—migrate, from generation to generation, rightward politically on economic and social issues. This pro-Republican shift is clearly evident—as any dinner-table conversation in an Armenian home will prove—but has yet—until very recently—begun to translate into changing voting patterns on Congressional races. The reason is simple, an Armenian American voter, who might otherwise vote his pocket book or social issues for a Republican, ends up voting his identity—keeping faith with his community and cause—by pulling the lever for a Democrat.
All that’s about to change.
The Democrats are about to lose another traditionally solid constituency.
Why?
Well, the first prize for this rightward shift goes to President Obama, who ran a campaign of high promises and higher expectations on Armenian issues, only to break every one of his pledges—most notably his commitment to recognize the Armenian Genocide. In so openly and offensively breaking faith with an entire community, on the most sensitive of issues, he destroyed the credibility of all who went to bat for him during his campaign, denying his reelection effort and, more importantly, other Democrats moral standing or credible community allies. He personally—and remarkably quickly—squandered generations of good will fostered by the hard work of Democrats dating back decades.
The damage done by President Obama’s betrayal is compounded by the unwillingness of Congressional Democratic leaders to act on their own long history of promises to the Armenian American community. Today, with a bipartisan majority supporting the Armenian Genocide Resolution and Turkey on the defensive like never before, the House leadership—with a large majority of their own—has failed to act on its golden opportunity to pass this human rights legislation. They’ve got an endless series of excuses, but the fact remains that getting this measure adopted on the floor—a promise that has proven to be a solid vote-getter since the 1970s—is well within their power.
It’s not about what the Democrats have the power to do, it is really about what they want to do. And it does not seem that they want to pass the Armenian Genocide resolution.
That makes them, well, just like the Republicans.
And, if there’s no difference on Armenian issues, the question for Armenian American voters becomes: “What’s holding me back from going Republican?”
As a Democrat myself, I find this sad but painfully true.
The Democrats in the White House and Congress have made their decision. And now Armenian American voters will make theirs.
We’ll see the results on Election Day.
Sevan Kolejian is a Democrat from Gaithersburg, Md.

Asbarez Staff

Asbarez Staff

Next Post

Akhtamar: Wrong Church, Wrong Pew!

Comments 3

  1. john papazian says:
    12 years ago

    Hows that old song “Baba O’Riely” go? “We don’t get fooled again”. Sad thing is that we get suckered in every time with promisses we know they will never keep. I gave Obama the benifit of the doubt and was disapointed yet again. I will not be voting Democrat at all in the mid terms or in 2012 wich will make my conservitive republican brother happy.

    Reply
  2. Hye says:
    12 years ago

    I consider myself solidly republican and yet have voted for the democratic candidate the vast majority of the time for exactly the reasons you stated. However President Obama’s broken promises were the last straw for me, not only did he break promises to take up more pro-Armenian positions but he actually took up many things that would have been bad for Armenia (like promising to raise aid and then actually suggesting an amount much lower then previous administrations). I hope the democrats enjoyed our support while it lasted because there will certainly never be a “blank check” mentality again.

    Reply
  3. sebouh from australia says:
    12 years ago

    Thats true Mr papazian and Hye, but most US Armenians are only concerned about the car they drive, whether its better than their fellow armenians, and who smokes the bigger cigar….they will get fooled….time and time again…sucker born every day, but twice as many in the US Armenians

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Hye Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended

As Ankara Warns Yerevan, Erdogan Declares Artsakh Part of Azerbaijan

As Ankara Warns Yerevan, Erdogan Declares Artsakh Part of Azerbaijan

7 hours ago
Massis Kabob to Open First Standalone Restaurant in Glendale

Massis Kabob to Open First Standalone Restaurant in Glendale

7 hours ago

Connect with us

  • About
  • Advertising
  • Subscribe
  • Contact

© 2021 Asbarez | All Rights Reserved | Powered By MSDN Solutions Inc.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • Community
  • Arts & Culture
    • Art
    • Books
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Critics’ Forum
  • Op-Ed
    • Editorial
    • Opinon
    • Letters
  • Columns
    • By Any Means
    • My Turn
    • Three Apples
    • Community Links
    • Critics’ Forum
    • My Name is Armen
    • Living in Armenia
  • Videos
  • Sports

© 2021 Asbarez | All Rights Reserved | Powered By MSDN Solutions Inc.

Accessibility

Accessibility modes

Epilepsy Safe Mode
Dampens color and removes blinks
This mode enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode
Improves website's visuals
This mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode
Helps to focus on specific content
This mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode
Reduces distractions and improve focus
This mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode
Allows using the site with your screen-reader
This mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.

Online Dictionary

    Readable Experience

    Content Scaling
    Default
    Text Magnifier
    Readable Font
    Dyslexia Friendly
    Highlight Titles
    Highlight Links
    Font Sizing
    Default
    Line Height
    Default
    Letter Spacing
    Default
    Left Aligned
    Center Aligned
    Right Aligned

    Visually Pleasing Experience

    Dark Contrast
    Light Contrast
    Monochrome
    High Contrast
    High Saturation
    Low Saturation
    Adjust Text Colors
    Adjust Title Colors
    Adjust Background Colors

    Easy Orientation

    Mute Sounds
    Hide Images
    Virtual Keyboard
    Reading Guide
    Stop Animations
    Reading Mask
    Highlight Hover
    Highlight Focus
    Big Dark Cursor
    Big Light Cursor
    Navigation Keys

    Asbarez.com Accessibility Statement

    Accessibility Statement

    • asbarez.com
    • August 8, 2022

    Compliance status

    We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of circumstance and ability.

    To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level. These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.

    This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.

    Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML, adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.

    If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email

    Screen-reader and keyboard navigation

    Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements, alongside console screenshots of code examples:

    1. Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website. In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels; descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups), and others. Additionally, the background process scans all of the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology. To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on as soon as they enter the website.

      These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.

    2. Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside of it.

      Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.

    Disability profiles supported in our website

    • Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
    • Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
    • Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
    • ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
    • Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
    • Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.

    Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments

    1. Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
    2. Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over 7 different coloring options.
    3. Animations – epileptic users can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
    4. Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
    5. Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
    6. Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
    7. Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.

    Browser and assistive technology compatibility

    We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers), both for Windows and for MAC users.

    Notes, comments, and feedback

    Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs, there may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to