Obama/Biden Message to Greek-Americans

The following message to Greek-Americans was issued by the Obama/Biden campaign today; unfortunately, no parallel exists from the McCain/Palin ticket.

While it is best interpreted after reading it in its entirety, the following is particularly striking:
- Definite language about Turkish occupation in Cyprus
- Support of UN resolution about FYROM, which as of late supports Greek point of view, but could change
- Defense of Patriarchate not seen from McCain in past efforts
- Recognition that economics are Greek-American topics too

BARACK OBAMA AND JOE BIDEN: SUPPORTING GREEK AMERICANS

Barack Obama and Joe Biden have been true friends of the Greek American community throughout their careers in public service. Obama has worked closely with this community, especially the large constituency in Chicago, Illinois, and always supported the Greek community’s participation in the American political process. Obama and Biden greatly respect the major contributions Greek Americans have made to so many aspects of the American experience. They will continue to work closely with Greek Americans at home and reestablish America’s strong partnership with Greece and our other European allies abroad.

A Just and Lasting Political Settlement on Cyprus:

As president, Barack Obama will show U.S. leadership in seeking to negotiate a political settlement on Cyprus. He believes strongly that Cyprus should remain a single, sovereign country in which each of the two communities on the island is able to exercise substantial political authority within a bi-zonal, bicommunal federation. There must be a just and mutually agreed settlement of difficult issues like property, refugees, land, and security. A negotiated political settlement on Cyprus would end the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus and repair the island’s tragic division while paving the way to prosperity and peace throughout the entire region. It would also give Cypriots a firm foundation on which to build their future after many years of division and uncertainty. It would help foster better Greek-Turkish relations, strengthen Turkish democracy, reduce the risk of military conflict, and remove a major obstacle to Turkish membership in the EU.

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia:

Barack Obama was one of three original lead co-sponsors of Senate Resolution 300, which urged that the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia work with Greece within the framework of the United Nations process to reach a mutually-acceptable official name for that country and achieve longstanding United States and United Nations policy goals. Obama supports the UN-led negotiations and believes that there can and should be an agreement between Skopje and Athens on a mutually-acceptable name that leads to greater stability in the Balkans.

Ecumenical Patriarchate:

Barack Obama was one of 73 Senators who signed a letter to President Bush in 2006 urging him to press Turkey to restore the full rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Orthodox Christian Church in Istanbul. He has sent Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice a personal letter on the same matter. Senator Obama calls on Turkey to respect the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s rights and freedoms, including its property rights. Turkey should allow the reopening of the Patriarchate’s school of theology on Halki Island and guarantee the right to train clergy of all nationalities, not just Turkish nationals.

The U.S. Economy:

Despite their hard work, American families are finding it harder and harder each day to make ends meet. Barack Obama supports an immediate $50 billion emergency stimulus plan that would provide immediate assistance to help struggling local governments, continue needed infrastructure projects and protect jobs. Barack Obama will restore fairness to the tax code and provide 95 percent of American workers with a tax credit of up to $500 per person, or $1,000 per working family. Obama will fight for trade agreements that support American jobs and enforce good labor and environmental standards.

Affordable, Accessible Health Care to All:

There are 45.5 million uninsured Americans today. Obama will sign legislation by the end of his first term in office that will provide affordable, accessible health coverage to all Americans. His plan will save a typical family up to $2,500 every year on medical costs by modernizing our health care system.

Mac's Foreign Policy Man on FYRO-Macedonia

As part of my promise to continue to search for the candidates position on what most deem Greek-related matters, I stumbled upon this piece originally posted on Hellenic News of America. If it is true, it not only brings McCain's foreign policy stance in to question, but also the notion that he is somehow a maverick candidate who despises DC's corrupt systems. I say this because Scheunemann's antics are a bit reminiscent of Tom Delay's inner circle around the time of the 2000 election.

Obviously this type of information is important to those that think it is important to know where America's next President stands on issues related to Greece, in addition to their stance on vital domestic issues.

I'd especially like to highlight that up until recently, I thought that the debate over the naming of FYROM was irrelevant; this changed when I saw propaganda masquerading as school textbooks that show FYROM's borders extending to the Aegean, including Thessaloniki. Under this olive tree, call yourself what you want, but don't go using that name to redraw maps or incite people to defend the concept that map defines.

We are all aware of the letters sent by FYROM Prime Minister Gruevski to Greek PM Karamanlis, to the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso,to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and many other world leaders regarding an artificial "Macedonian" ethnic minority in Greece. Following the veto to it's anticipated membership at the NATO Summit in Bucharest, FYROM's political leadership is in the process of transferring its dispute with Athens to the USA, with the objective of changing the breadth and the depth of the negotiations, which are currently being held under the auspices of the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations Matthew Nimetz, and of 'isolating' Greece as a country which severely violates human rights.The coordination of these activities, as well as the confrontation of the 'Greek Lobby' has been assigned to ORION Strategies, a company founded by Randy Scheunemann.Randy Scheunemann is the Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to John McCain and coordinator of the opposition to the 'Greek Lobby' and of the promotion of FYROM's propaganda, through ORION Strategies.

His relationship with the Republican Party's presidential candidate is an especially close one and they frequently travel together.

As a down payment, his company received US $300,000 from the organization United Macedonian Diaspora.

The aim of ORION Strategies is to establish a propaganda machine incorporating US government officials, operatives, diplomats and analysts.Randy Scheunemann was also instrumental in convincing President Bush to attack Iraq. And he almost succeeded in getting American troops involved in the Russia-Georgia conflict.

John McCain's current Senior Foreign Policy Advisor, Randy Scheunemann, is being paid by FYROM to lobby against Greece. He is coordinating Gruevski's letter writing campaign raising issues of an artificial "Macedonian" ethnic minority in Greece. Imagine what would happen if McCain becomes president.

Greeks for McCain? Like Iraqis for Bush

Last Saturday, I listened as esteemed Greek-American Charles Kapetanakis dialed into Aktina-FM to rally support for one of the organizations he chairs - Greeks for McCain. During the hour-long conversation, it became painfully clear that although Mr. Kapetanakis approached the broadcast with good intentions, he failed to bring with him little more than a few key messages available on the Arizona senator's website.

When it comes to an organization entitled "Greek for McCain," one would think that the chairperson would know or at least be able to refer to the candidates position on matters of importance to the Greek community. Would a group of Jewish faithful lobbying for a candidate not know his/her position on Israel? No, that would be considered an insult to collective intelligence.

Although given multiple opportunities, including a direct question from me, the chairman could not indicate the candidate's position on:
- Cyprus
- FYROM
- Turkey's treatment of the Ecumenical Patriarch
- Turkey's claim on oil in the Aegean

The only "key message" he repeated was that McCain stood for a strong war on terror (and that he was appreciate of the use of bases in Crete to fight that war) and for a strong NATO. And this is what is supposed to sway my Greek-American vote? Gimme a break!

As it turns out the show's host could shed a little light, which did not reflect well on the "heroic" candidate. It turns out that Senator McCain has not actively supported a single resolution proposed in Congress on behalf of issues important to many Greek-Americans. His only action on was to sign a single letter delivered to the President's cabinet. He's been in Congress since 1982! And before you point to a recent meeting the candidate had with leaders of the Orthodox church, know that days following this meeting McCain failed to lend his support to the same issues that had been discussed.

For any and every time, we've heard or uttered admiration for the Jews for sticking up for issues important to Israel, NOW is the time to show our strength for Greece.

Knowing that U.S. presidential elections can easily be decided by a few hundred votes in a few key states, now is the time to rally and to finally walk the walk we've been talking about for so long.

There are 3 million of us across the States who are able to impact this election in a way that is meaningful for the topics we hold dear.

Fellow Greeks in Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, California, Colorado and Connecticut.. are you listening?

Let's get out there and make some noise!