The video is of Samantha Power, during Obama's campaign for presidency, telling the Armenian-American community that Obama would "commemorate [the Armenian genocide] and certainly to call a spade a spade and to speak truth about it." (Video of her saying that will be below.
Yet another campaign promise that Obama did not keep and it has upset one of his ardent supporters... and man, who Politico says "often complains furiously of anti-Obama media bias."
Obama supporter David Muradyan's email:
Perhaps what stings more is his clever, yet deceitful way to say that his views have "not changed." And his use of "Mets Yegern." It's almost like he wants to appease both sides but can't because of political pressures. I understand that. But I think his statement is really deplorable. You can't in one breath say "my views haven't changed" (e.g., I still consider it Genocide PERSONALLY), but then use the word "atrocity" and not genocide. It really is a dishonest way to talk about the genocide. Either have the balls to call it genocide, or have the balls to not. But weaseling isn't respected, period.
And this is all coming from one of his most fervent supporters who not only donated, but registered voters and volunteered.
Video below can be found at YouTube.
Now to be clear that it is not only Power that said this, let us go back to January 2008, before the election, where Obama does indeed call it genocide, via video again, from YouTube.
At the time Power made those statements, the Armenian National Committee of America, issued a press release, endorsing Barack Obama because of his stand and willingness to "call a spade a spade."
The ANCA officially endorsed Obama in the Democratic Primary this week during a press conference held at its Western Region headquarters, which featured the participation of Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and LA City Councilman Eric Garcetti. In its endorsement announcement, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian noted that "Based on his strong record in office, his bold statements as a candidate, and our judgment as to the policies he will pursue as President, we believe that, among a strong field of Democratic candidates, Senator Obama will best reflect the views and values of Armenian American voters."
In March 2009, Democrats Adam Schiff of California and Frank Pallone of New Jersey, and Republicans George Radanovich of California and Mark Kirk of Illinois, sent a letter to Obama, calling on him to keep his word and make a statement ahead of the 94th anniversary of the killings on April 24.
"As a presidential candidate, you were...forthright in discussing your support for genocide recognition, saying that 'America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides.' We agree with you completely," the letter said.
Did Obama keep his promise, one that garnered him the support of the ANCA?
Times Online answers that question:
Barack Obama found his diplomatic skills tested to the limit today when he was forced to address the Turkish slaughter of Armenians during the dying days of the Ottoman Empire without using the word "genocide".Mr. Muradyan is right, weasling isn't respected, but hopefully he has learned a valuable lesson... Obama only keeps the campaign promises he wants to keep. People like Muradyan helped him get elected, Obama no longer has use for them now, and perhaps this supporter will remember this during the next election.
Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed in a systematic campaign of extermination during the First World War, and during his campaign for the presidency Mr Obama declared that "America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian genocide".
Today, during a joint press conference in Ankara with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, President Obama said that his views had not changed but he took extreme care not to use the word "genocide" so as not to inflame his hosts, who have always denied the claims.
Instead, he expressed the hope that talks between Turkey and Armenia could "bear fruit very soon" and he wanted to support that process.
“Well, my views are on the record and I have not changed views,” Mr Obama said in response to a question about the genocide and his stance on it.
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