Los Angeles City Council candidate Christine Essel, who is facing a run-off election against Paul Krekorian on December 8, issued an appeal to the Armenian-American community after the Azeri press reported that she attended a fund-raiser by “Turkic-Americans.”
Below is the text of Essel’s appeal:
To My Friends in the Los Angeles Armenian-American Community:
It has recently come to my attention that reports are circulating which suggest that I have aligned myself with special interest groups from the Turkish and Azeri communities in my bid for election to the Los Angeles City Council. These reports are false and have mischaracterized my campaign efforts in an attempt to drive a wedge between the voters and myself, drawn along ethnic lines and deeply held feelings. Out of my deep respect for you as a community, your history and heritage, I wish to address these reports to answer any question you may have as to where I stand on issues I know are of the utmost importance to you.
While it is true that I was a guest at a gathering hosted by a Turkish-American, my stance on the Armenian Genocide is unwavering. It is, and always has been, my position that the genocide of the Armenians from 1915 to 1918, like other atrocities, must be recognized as historical fact. It is only through this recognition that we may be able to close these chapters in our human history and begin to heal the wounds caused by man’s inhumanity to man. As elected officials, we must always stand by the truth, and call for justice without compromise.
I pledge my support to the Armenian community in fighting for the recognition that your history so rightly deserves. As a candidate, I also seek to solve the problems that are facing the City of Los Angeles: joblessness, excessive taxation, community blight and an aging infrastructure, just to name a few.
I hope that you will join me in seeking a brighter future for all of us who call Los Angeles home, knowing that as we look to the future, we shall never forget the past. While Los Angeles is a city of many ethnicities, we are all Angelenos and we must stand united to solve the problems that affect our quality of life. As I continue my campaign, I look forward to meeting with all members of our community, to share my vision for Los Angeles and our future.
Essel’s campaign manager Tom Berman stressed to Asbarez that the event was a campaign “meet and greet,” adding that there were no funds raised at the event.
On October 17, LA-based millionaire and Turkish community leader Mike Mustafoglu and his wife, Demetra George hosted a champagne brunch at their Beverly Hills home. News reports following the event indicated that the event was sponsored by a “Pax Turcica,” an umbrella organization for Turkish groups that includes the Assembly of Turkish-American Associations, the Azerbaijani-American Council and Turkish Coalition of America, among others.
An invitation letter authored by Dr. Javid Huseynov of Pax Turcica read: “Turkic-American support for Chris Essel is of greatest importance, especially due to her runoff election against Assemblyman Paul Krekorian.”
“As a community, we must stand up in support of Chris Essel and not let the ethnophobic policies poison the Los Angeles City Council,” continued Huseynov in his letter, at the end of which he urges individuals who could not attend the event to contribute to Essel’s campaign.
I know that as a politician Essel can make speeches and write letters tailor-made for each constituency. As a politician she can tell anyone what they want to hear, and she did so in this letter to the Armenians. But I would really like to know what she said in the presence of those many Turks. Did she mention the Armenian Genocide in their presence? Would so many Turks flock to her as an anti Krekorian political refuge if she spoke about the Armenian Genocide? Would Javid Huseynov describe Turkic support for Essel as one of “greatest importance” if she speaks of the Armenian Genocide? I know the answer to all those questions is no. I also know that Essel is simply doing the same thing that McCain did in attempting to win favor in the Armenian voters, when he made an appeal to us in a letter, knowing we are mostly going to vote for Obama. Essel and McCain simply tried their hand so to speak…..who knows, maybe some votes would be salvaged in a letter appealing to the Armenians. Imagine a politician having a Hamas or Hezbollah fundraiser and then making an appeal to Jewish voters, saying “I am aware of your concerns and if I am elected, I will always work to represent you.” That would be a farce and what Essel did is just the same……meet with people calling for a renewed Pan-Turkic world, resembling their old empires, a resurgent and aggressive Turkey, which not only has no intention of taking responsibility for the Armenian Genocide of WW1, but in essence is repeating that Genocide with its adamant denials. Turkey wants to finish the job it started in World War I by having the worldwide Armenian Diaspora perish through amalgamation and inter-marriages, and finally bring the 5 million Diasporans to zero. That would be a great day for Pax-Turcica, because they would only deal with the 3 million Eastern Armenians, and they don’t elect candidates in Los Angeles, New York, Montreal, Buenos Aires or Paris. Turkey would gain the peace dividend of not having to wage an expensive, world-wide campaign to deny the Armenian Genocide.
This isn’t shocking in the slightest. The reality is that it is expected of the Turk and the Azerbaijani. Immoral acts are the norm for them, fundamental to them. All one has to do is review the history of these people.
I, for one, appreciate Candidate Essel’s clarification on the matter.
“I pledge my support to the Armenian community in fighting for the recognition that your history so rightly deserves. ”
We heard this gem of a quote not too long ago from another similar candidate that fell way short of his campaign promise once he was in office, his name was Barack Obama. The days of dangling the issue of Armenian Genocide recognition in exchange for votes are over, it will be recognized in due time. Candidates need to up the ante for Armenian community support and make it worthwhile for us to vote for them.
“As a community, we must stand up in support of Chris Essel and not let the ethnophobic policies poison the Los Angeles City Council,”
The irony behind this so called “Dr. Javid Huseynov’s” comments is that he declares the fundraiser/brunch in support of stamping out so called “ethnophobic policies” and yet the whole gathering itself is a compulsory reaction by a Turkish consortium in an attempt to stand vigil against Paul Krekorian merely because Paul is Armenian.
Dr. Huseynov needs to seek further education to understand the hypocrisy in his own statements and take some of his own advice.
She dug herself deeep in the hole.
I , for one, do NOT believe a single word she is saying! I, for one, would punish her for her betrayal for NOT voting for her!
Satenik,
As it relates to this issue, Candidate Essel didn’t betray anyone. She’s a politician. She has to give everyone an opportunity to be heard. The Turks/Azeris spewed their tired lies. She heard them. Now, she can dismiss them.
In any case, we must welcome the fact that she recognized her questionable judgement. It’s not a suggestion that we vote for her. Paul must be given the support of everyone. That should go without saying, but there it is.
This means a great deal to me, as it should to you: “While it is true that I was a guest at a gathering hosted by a Turkish-American, my stance on the Armenian Genocide is unwavering. It is, and always has been, my position that the genocide of the Armenians from 1915 to 1918, like other atrocities, must be recognized as historical fact.”
No matter the circumstances, I appreciate her clarification.
None of this matters, it is politics as usual. Christine Essel doesn’t even have a chance at winning, she will lose as the majority of the registered voters are Hyes in that area. I don’t even live in LA, and I have already put this on facebook and to every Armenian Group and person I can think of. Turkish Lobbyist group or not…On December 8th the only speech or statement Essel will make is her concession speech to Krekorian.
From this picture, and that gummy smile I wouldn’t vote for someone that looks like an Esh!
PS. I also want to mention that the Turkish Millionaire Mustafoglu that staged this “meet and gree” is married to Demetra George (her stage name) aka Demetra Giannapolis. Both are from the island of Cypus. A Soprana and former Miss Oklahoma.
I am ashamed being 1/2 Greek that one of our Christian Brothers has “married a Turkish Millionaire”. The majority of Greeks I know have more dislike for Turks than Armenians do. I guess the money was more important to Ms. George aka Giannapolis than the fact her ancestors were brutally slaughtered by Turks. shame on you Ms. George, aka Giannapolis, aka Mustafolgu.
Her husband owns a finance firm in LA. I would suggest the southland Armenians not patronize this business.
http://www.demetrageorge.net/About_bio.htm