CALIFORNIAN ARMENIANS CHOSE THE “TERMINATOR”
Votes of representatives of the Armenian community of the state could become decisive.
Judging from the information received from Los Angeles, there are no doubts that Arnold Swartsenneger has won the elections of California governing elections in California. More than the half of population of the most populated American state voted for the "Terminator". Among them there are also Armenians. Taking into account the number of Armenians living in California, it is evident that their votes have been decisive.
Main candidates evidently knew this and that is why they have paying serious attention to the Armenian organizations during the election campaign. Both the leader of the pre election campaign and his main rivals were working in close contacts with the Armenian Assembly and Armenian National Committee. The heads of these structures were cooperating with Arnold Swarzenneger, the governor (now former) Grey Davis and vice-governor Krus Bustamante from the Democratic Party. All of them answered positively to the questions addressed to them.
The electoral headquarters of Arnold Swarzenneger did its best to gain the support of the Armenians. His message dedicated to the 12th anniversary of the independence of Armenia became an occasion to express his sympathy to the Armenian people that has passed through a horrible genocide: "Having survived after the genocide and a massacre of 1 and half million of people, the Armenians started to create a free and dignified country, " the message reads, "As an emigrant, together with you I am always trying to create a new life in California. As do many Armenians arriving here from different countries. There are 700 Armenians living in California today. I think, the close and natural contacts between California and Armenian people will become stronger in the future".
Grey Davis and Krus Bustamante even spoke about the works they have already done in this direction. The administration of Davis was always very attentive towards the problems of Armenian community. It was during their administration that the legislators of the state, with the support of the executive power, adopted the resolution recognizing the fact of the Armenian genocide of 1915. Besides, it is considered that the democrats are more attentive towards the protection of interests of the immigrants.
At the same time, there were lot of things in the policy of the administration that were worrying the Armenians. First of all this regards the initiative connected with the rights of the homosexuals. In mid August the administration of the state discussed the so-called "family bill for homosexual couples" allowing them to marry each other. There are about 200 thousand representatives of sexual minorities that live with each other but not officially. According to the statistics, one sixth part of all the homosexuals of America lives in California. It is not difficult to assume that almost all of them have voted for the former administration who, unlike Swarzenneger, has given concrete promises concerning the protection of rights of gays and lesbians. May be this was why the Californian Armenians usually conservative in this issues, did not vote for the democrats.
In fact, Swarzenneger also could be blamed for immorality. The rivals reminded him about the nude cadres done when he was younger and the women that have accused him of violence. The last electoral campaign in California was full of discredits of sexual nature. And however, Swarzenneger was the most deserving. The "Terminator" got the sympathy of Armenians. So we have now to wait and see if he fulfills the hopes that 700 thousand Armenian electors connect with him.
The electoral headquarters of Arnold Swarzenneger did its best to gain the support of the Armenians. His message dedicated to the 12th anniversary of the independence of Armenia became an occasion to express his sympathy to the Armenian people that has passed through a horrible genocide: "Having survived after the genocide and a massacre of 1 and half million of people, the Armenians started to create a free and dignified country, " the message reads, "As an emigrant, together with you I am always trying to create a new life in California. As do many Armenians arriving here from different countries. There are 700 Armenians living in California today. I think, the close and natural contacts between California and Armenian people will become stronger in the future".
Grey Davis and Krus Bustamante even spoke about the works they have already done in this direction. The administration of Davis was always very attentive towards the problems of Armenian community. It was during their administration that the legislators of the state, with the support of the executive power, adopted the resolution recognizing the fact of the Armenian genocide of 1915. Besides, it is considered that the democrats are more attentive towards the protection of interests of the immigrants.
At the same time, there were lot of things in the policy of the administration that were worrying the Armenians. First of all this regards the initiative connected with the rights of the homosexuals. In mid August the administration of the state discussed the so-called "family bill for homosexual couples" allowing them to marry each other. There are about 200 thousand representatives of sexual minorities that live with each other but not officially. According to the statistics, one sixth part of all the homosexuals of America lives in California. It is not difficult to assume that almost all of them have voted for the former administration who, unlike Swarzenneger, has given concrete promises concerning the protection of rights of gays and lesbians. May be this was why the Californian Armenians usually conservative in this issues, did not vote for the democrats.
In fact, Swarzenneger also could be blamed for immorality. The rivals reminded him about the nude cadres done when he was younger and the women that have accused him of violence. The last electoral campaign in California was full of discredits of sexual nature. And however, Swarzenneger was the most deserving. The "Terminator" got the sympathy of Armenians. So we have now to wait and see if he fulfills the hopes that 700 thousand Armenian electors connect with him.
