Krikorian demands Schmidt withdraw from race and apologize for ‘denying Armenian Genocide’

By David DeWitt, PolitickerOH.com Reporter

Businessman David Krikorian (I-Madeira) is demanding that U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) withdraw from her re-election bid in Ohio's 2nd Congressional District and apologize for what he calls her denial of the Armenian Genocide.

Krikorian called Schmidt a "betrayer of American history," and said she has "proven that she is unfit for service at any level in the U.S. Government."

Krikorian made the move because of what he called Schmidt's "insane denial of the Christian Armenian Genocide at the hands of the Muslim Ottoman Empire." Krikorian also said Schmidt has taken $30,000 in "blood money from Turkish government sponsored political action committees to deny the slaughter of 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children by the Ottoman Turkish Government during World War I."

"I demand her immediate withdrawal from this race and her apology to the people of the United States of America for the crime she has committed against our American soldiers and humanity by denying the undisputed facts of the Armenian Genocide," Krikorian said. "Jean Schmidt is a selfish person and should seek the help of professional counseling."

Krikorian is pointing what he says was a statement by Schmidt's office in 2007, while Congress was deliberating on whether or not to classify these events of the early 20th Century as officially genocide.

Krikorian quoted Schmidt's office as saying, "at this time she does not have enough information to characterize these deaths as genocide especially since those responsible are long since dead" on March 29, 2007.

Krikorian also quoted the Congresswoman's office as saying, "The question comes to the definition of genocide and I don't think we are comfortable making that attribution at this time" on March 30, 2007.

Schmidt spokesperson Bruce Pfaff said the Schmidt people didn't know where Krikorian was getting these quotes.

"Since we have no idea where the quotes come from or who said them I can't comment on them," Pfaff said. "We will not be issuing any formal response to such bitter and angry ranting."

Krikorian pointed out that both sets of his grandparents were survivors of "this first Holocaust of the 20th century and came to America in the early 1920's."

"Most of their family members at the time were murdered," Krikorian said.

Krikorian said that the Armenian Genocide is officially recognized by 20 nations including Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Switzerland and the Vatican City among others.

"The only deniers of this great tragedy which led to the Holocaust of the Jews by Nazi Germany are the Turkish Government and certain members of the United States Congress including Jean Schmidt," Krikorian said. "Jean Schmidt is a self-serving politician and an embarrassment to her district and to the United States of America. The people of Ohio's second district will, if they elect her on November 4th, condone her denial of the Genocide of 1.5 million Christians. And, in so doing, be guilty of a crime against humanity as the cover-up is just as bad as the crime. It is not enough to vote party like mindless sheep. Vote conscience and ideal and stand up for the values you claim to hold. If you don't, you are merely a barking dog and God is indeed watching."

Pfaff said that Krikorian was letting his true colors as a single-issue candidate out.

"At least he has finally admitted the fact that he is a single issue candidate who is running against the Congresswoman because the Congress won't condemn the Turkish government for alleged atrocities committed before World War I," Pfaff said.

Krikorian pointed to the following people as recognizing the genocide: