Contributed to hellasfrappe by Alex Aliferis
March 24, 2012
Pro-Turkish Congressman Dan Burton recently announced that he would not run for office again, while a pro-Greece candidate, Dr. John McGoff, is planning on replacing him.
The redistricted Indiana Congressional District 5 includes Hamilton County, Zionsville, and a large section of Indianapolis. According to reports, at least eight candidates are set to run in the Republican primary, but only one candidate stands out, Dr. John McGoff. In 2008, McGoff almost defeated Congressman Dan Burton with 45%. He came close in 2010. But close are not good enough, Greek and Cypriot Americans needing more friends in the US Congress like Dr. John McGoff to better defend our positions in Washington.
Just over a month ago, pro-Turkish Congressman Dan Burton announced his retirement from Congress and due to McGoff’s tough challenge in 2008 and 2010, Burton did just that. Why is this seat important to Greek Americans? Simple, Congressman Dan Burton is the front man for the Turkish Lobby in the House Foreign Affairs Committee, while in 2011 he was appointed as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe.
Recently, Dan Burton said in a March 12th Politico article, “I’m not planning on that right now, but I’ve been on every committee that deals with world affairs for the last 30 years, so there’s gotta be somebody out there who knows how you deal with Russia or Greece or Turkey.” In other words, Burton expects to become another Turkish lobbyist along with Democrat Robert Wexler in Washington D.C.
The subcommittee handles foreign affairs that involve Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus and it is obvious that Burton took exact positions from the Turkish Coalition of America.
For instance, he voted against the Armenian Genocide Resolution repeatedly, while he supports the Turkish illegal military occupation of northern Cyprus.
Each July 20th, he issued extremely pro-Turkish positions in supporting Turkey’s illegal military occupation. In his July 21, 2009 congressional speech, he praised the Turkish Cypriots and the illegal Turkish military occupied zone while speaking down on the Republic of Cyprus. (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r111:2:./temp/~r111MJUkaw::).
On Feb 15, 2012, Burton praised ex-Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r112:2:./temp/~r112Z0FHbe::).
Rauf Denktash involved the Turkish army to invade Cyprus on July 20, 1974 which resulted in 180,000 Greek Cypriots being expelled from their homeland. Tens of hundreds of Greek Cypriot women were raped and abused savagely by Turkish soldiers, civilians were murdered, Christian churches were looted, set ablaze and destroyed, etc. and Burton praised Denktash who committed such crimes.
Burton (R) is not alone; he joins pro Turk advocates such as former Congressman Robert Wexler (D) and former Congressman Michael McMahon (D) who are also presently retired.
In 2010, Greek and Armenian American citizens succeeded in defeating pro-Turkish Congressman Michael McMahon. Nonetheless, the US Congress still holds staunch pro Turks such as Steve Cohen (D-TN), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Jean Schmidt (R-OH), and Edward Whitfield (R-KY). However, their ranks are now becoming short as Turkey is anti-Israel.
The Turkish Caucus numbers 121 congressmen in the 112th Congress.
The Indiana Congressional District 5 includes a historic Greek community since 1910. There are over 2,000 Greek Americans in the fifth district that can swing the vote for Dr. McGoff and allow him to win the primary.
In past statements, McGoff said, “Congressman Burton has held a pro-Turkey position and has lashed out at both Greece and Cyprus on the floor of Congress, while he has routinely voted against bills and proposals that would strengthen the bonds between Greece and the United States.
In short, McGoff understands the importance of a strong Greek-American relationship and the consequences that this has on the region and the rest of the world. As a Colonel in the Air National Guard, who recently was confirmed by the United States Senate to be promoted to Brigadier General, he understands and respects the long history of struggles that Greece and Cyprus have had with Turkey.
McGoff believes that a nation which is open, free and tolerant is the best type of government for its people and that the similarities between the belief systems of Greece and America are to be cherished and celebrated. Furthermore he supports the withdrawal of the illegal Turkish occupation army from the Republic of Cyprus, he supports Greek Cypriot refugees to return back to their homes and properties and advocates for the religious freedom of the Ecumenical Patriarchate based in Istanbul, Turkey.
The India PAC and the Armenian National Committee have supported Dr. McGoff.
Greek Americans need more friends in the US Congress. Dr. John McGoff is a true friend of Greece and Cyprus. In recent years, the Turkish Caucus rose in numbers, but we can change that course.
Greek Americans across the USA can help Dr. John McGoff win the Indiana District 5th district with contributions of $25 to $250 at www.drjohnmcgoff.com before May 2012. The Greek American community in Indianapolis can prove to become a swing vote for McGoff’s victory in the primary.