Part III
New York.- By Vicki James Yiannias
In the HALC televised call, “Biden/Harris with Ambassador Burns,” on August 28, a discussion of
the Democratic ticket’s potential for positive action on current topics in urgent need of solutions
was joined by “Greek Americans from coast to coast, Americans from coast to coast, ambassadors canvassing for Joe Biden in Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan, and some people who are trying to decide,” said Endy Zemenides, Executive Director of HALC, who led the call.
Congressman Sarbanes said, “What we will continue to be doing is endorsing the Vice-President and putting out statements of support.We do have a lot of Greek American officials at all levels who I think are participating in the call today. We invite you to declare that support and share those statements so they can be broadly distributed. I know my father [Senator Paul Sarbanes] and Governor Mike Dukakis are putting together a statement that I think will show their excitement about the Biden/Harris ticket.”
Congressman John Sarbanes,Ambassador Nicholas Burns, Lieutenant Governor of California, Eleni Tsakopoukos-Kounalakis, Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada, Congressman Chris Pappas of New Hampshire, and epidemiologist and politician Dr. Natalia Linos, who at the time of the call was running in the Congressional Primary in the 4th District of Massachusetts with strong endorsements from Ambassador Burns andHALC.
Dr. Linos, whose question was COVID-related, is currently Executive Director of the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard and serves on the Poor People’s Campaign COVID-19 Health Justice Advisory Committee. “I was deeply troubled by the Trump administration’s failure to take a lead here at home, and the failure to think about COVID as a global pandemic,” she said. Her parents—epidemiologist mother and surgeon father, who live in Greece, “were lucky that Greece had this time got it under control,” but worried about an administration “that would turn inwards and pull out of the World Health Organization at a time of a global pandemic.” In the case of an emergency, another pandemic, would the Biden administration pay attention to other countries, like Greece and Cyprus?
Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis turned to her own experience to reply. “California got the message early on we were on our own; we should not be looking for leadership on acquiring PPE.” She recalled “scrambling, trying to figure out the best way for the governor to connect with the government of China; to make sure that our own hospitals had masks and gloves and coveralls. It was just preposterous, yet we were clear-eyed in California early on, to understand that we’re not going to wait for Donald Trump to tell us twice that we were ‘on our own.’ “
Although they “got it the first time and got to work,” it has been very discouraging for her as someone who has served in federal government during the Ebola outbreak “when the US led and worked with WHO, worked with other countries, and that capacity existed with the CDC to do so,” in contrast to the Donald Trump administration fundamental dismantling of it…” Her answer was reassuring: Although there are other challenges of American leadership in the world, it won’t be that difficult for Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and so many capable people within the US government to stand up and rebuild these organizations, and to lead on this crisis, regain leadership in the world. “I think that on day one Joe Biden will be able to put those teams together and reassert our role.”
Zemenides bundled several similar questions such as, “How do you make Turkey behave with regard to the Exclusive Economic Zones of Greece and Cyprus, how do you get them to honor human rights, how do you get them to acknowledge the Armenian genocide… the Armenian Genocide Resolution– which also acknowledges the Greek and Assyrian genocides, but it goes back to ‘reestablishing leverage.”
While Ambassador Burns doesn’t know whether Vice President Biden has taken any specific positions on sanctions resolutions, he feels that “leverage is what it’s going to be all about with the Turkish government….”“One can’t depend on ‘the better angels’ of Erdogan’s nature,” said Burns, “He’snot that kind of guy; he’s a guy who understands power.”
During the Obama/Biden administration the US was working with the EUand all those countries where Turkey has a lot at stake, he said.Because Turkey needs assistance from the EU, and when the EU and the US work together, on Cyprus or some of the other issues, that’s when leverage is involved, and that’s a big part of international politics.”
Burns doesn’t see that President Trump is practicing “that kind of diplomacy… at all… his diplomacy is so personal he disregards the advice of his own government on issues like Aghia Sophia, whereas Biden knows how to do this. “He was a very successful and, I think, a very consequential vice-president,” he said, inviting the question of which vice-presidents in American history had greater responsibility and success in foreign policy. That, I think, is the answer to [Dr. Linos’s] very good question.”
“Now is the time to give the proper signals to the Erdogan government, not mixed signals. Quiet diplomacy is really not in our interest anymore,” said Zemenides. “It’s one election where I think we can say, without stretching it at all or having to argue, that the Hellenic issues and Hellenic interest are very much prime US interest. A Greek issue is a regional issue, US policy in the Balkans, in energy, in the Levant, everything, really, depends on this bilateral relationship.”
Congresswoman Dina Titus talked about mobilizing the community and group unity. She remembered Joe Biden saying, ‘We’ll be back in the Paris Climate Accords and we’ll be back in the World Health Organization,’ so I know that’s coming soon after he takes office.” Praising Biden as a team player “who doesn’t look at this as just being about the presidency; he looks at it up and down the ticket, and he has been committed to helping members of Congress… he knows it’s all about team effort. ‘All of us together can get this done’ is a big theme of Biden’s.”
“We are resilient; we can come back stronger than ever. There’s nothing the United States has not been able to accomplish if we get in it together,” she continued,“Everywhere there’s a Greek community and a church and a picnic, we can put the word out that we’re in this together, and not just be ‘grass tops’ but ‘grassroots’ as well, and I think this will be very important.”
Congressman Sarbanes thanked Dina Titus for hervery importantcomments that“the ‘grassroots’ energy of our communitycan have an impact on the outcome.” “Dina was focused on that from the very first time we talked about stepping behind the Biden effort in a real way. She came out very early for Vice President Biden because she could see things more clearly, I guess, than everybody else, so thank you, Dina, for that.”
Endy Zemenides noted that 2021 is the Bicentennial of Greece. A very strong beginning to
the bilateral relationship with the United States was spoken support for the Greek War of Independence. “A lot of American philhellenes went and fought, and a few died in the Greek War of Independence. 2020 into 2021 gives us a great opportunity to renew those ties.”
3 Comments
Margaret Karakas
September 19, 2020 at 11:31 amGreeks rallying behind Bidden? WOW! This can only be viewed as yet another piece of “fake news”…?
I guess, if you want a bunch of Defacto Presidents then go ahead and vote for Hidden Bidden as the CHIEF PUPPETEER in office. Personally, I would rather know who is REALLY in charge of running the country rather than have some 40 year establishment do nothing guy who is a sad mentally impaired Alzheimer patient, as a spokesman filled with carefully scripted words, a teleprompter from which to read and a media who can only throw “soft balls” to for questions, which have previously been fed to Bidden’s staff (the real Defacto Presidents), so that he can simply read the answers giving low information American voters the IDEA that he’s “in charge”.
Do you really HATE Trump so much so, that you would allow your EMOTIONS to get the best of you? Isn’t that rather immature and childlike? I think I know many teenagers less foolish…That you would vote based on a media distortion of a loud minority, manipulated narrative which seeks to shape public opinion rather than on sound policies? Isn’t that called PROPAGANDA?
A so called “Democratic” party which seeks only to serve the elitist few looking to preserve their kingdoms for MONEY and GREED? A swamp filled with a majority of people who are nothing but CAREER POLITICIANS who have ACTUALLY NEVER HAD TO EVER EARN A LIVING BY PRODUCING SOMETHING OF REAL VALUE TO SELL? Who seek to say “Do as I say, “NOT as I DO”? A complicit media filled with nothing but talking heads rather than the countless real doers, inventors and workers in this great country who are actually contributing to the GNP and success of the United States? A party which has done nothing to improve racial justice but INCITE RACIAL DIVIDE, INJUSTICE AND INEQUALITY?
So that you “Greeks” prefer to stay aligned with a party which has long said our country’s “best days”are now “behind us”? A party which goes around the world apologizing for being American? Isn’t that why our founding fathers boldly and bravely left their mother countries for in search of a better life? Oh I see, YOU ARE GREEK FIRST. NOT GOD LOVING AND FEARING CHRISTIAN AMERICAN PATRIOTS, who HAPPEN to be of Greek descent THIRD. That, my fellow friends is the REAL problem behind your blind vision. ETHNOCENTRICITY AND RELIGIOSITY is what motivates and keeps you stuck living in the past glory days of an Ancient country, civilization and culture called Greece, Byzantium and Hellenism. Remember, PRIDE COMES BEFORE THE FALL.
Do you not realize that that we are created in God’s image as equals, but NOT all of us seek to live as Christ’s disciples which he call us ALL to do? It’s not by accident that not all of us are what your narrow view of what “successful” means. GOD has bestowed in each of us a unique set of giftings or callings and it is wise to remember that many are called, but FEW ARE CHOSEN.
I suppose also, you are the same group of Greeks who support the fostering and maintaining of the corruption within the GOA, the immorality within the church and it’s hierarchy, the financial crimes committed by the so called “mismanagement” and are the generous contributors behind the “St. Nicholas Shrine-MOSQUE”, so that your names can be enshrined on some plaque for all to see. Are you happy that Turkey has once again seized Agia Sophia, turned it into a MOSQUE AND IT THUS TRYING TO ELIMINATE CHRISTIANITY? That your “democratic” party aligns with Turkey’s ruling King Erdogan and Russia’s evil Putin who seeks to control the vast oil fields in the Mediterranean to only enriched their empires?
Yes, I see who you really are. God has commanded me to love thy neighbor, thus my prayer:
Father Jesus, I pray for the Holy Spirit to speak within the many of my brother’s and sister’s who chose not to live by faith and your commandments and covenants, by showing them that through seeking a relationship with YOU, that they may see Light where there is much darkness, Your glorious mercy and grace by the blood shed of the sacrificial lamb for life eternal. Lord I pray for their souls and their salvation. I pray for wisdom and discernment between evil and good. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Margaret Karakas
September 19, 2020 at 11:32 amLarissa September 6, 2020 at 3:30 pm
All CLERGY should be left out of — the political swamp…They never took sides– why start now?
Margaret Karakas
September 19, 2020 at 11:36 amHeather Georgiou September 7, 2020 at 12:54 pm
The article states that Joe Biden has handlers. Anyone who has a handler does not think for themselves, does not make their own decisions, is not in control of their own life. These people clearly know that Biden is not in control of his personal or professional life, yet they think he can be in control of an entire country? Something is wrong with this picture.
Ace121 September 8, 2020 at 6:46 pm
You’ve got to be kidding!!
Joe Biden the corrupt lying, sleazy, poor excuse for a candidate?
You want more violence, more riots, more looting, more windows smashed, more police murdered by anti law & order thugs?
That’s what you’ll get IF Biden gets in!!!
a greek September 10, 2020 at 8:36 am
HA HA HA HA HA This article is a joke
Nick Karakas September 11, 2020 at 10:49 am
OK, Panagia saves us. this broad based adoration of VP Biden should make even the writers of this article blush. If 1/10 of these words of adulation at my funeral were spoken, it would make me cry.
How can even Greek Americans overlook his character lapses in his dealings as VP with China and the Ukraine effectively causing his son to reap billions of dollars. Oh, and the riots causing the killings of innocent children and adults and the obliteration of thousands of businesses small and large as have happened in states “governed” by Democrats. Mr. Biden should embarass all members of his party by coming so late to speak to this chaotic outrage.
So if Greece and Cyprus is so important to the Democrats, then why was there no mention of this in their convention platform. Then Democrats, you have to consider his Alzheimer condition. Our nation cannot function with 5-10 minutes of sound bite announcements. Who would sit with him to guard and direct his discussions with foreign leaders? In the end, whose pronouncements would prevail, the VP’s or his “advisors”? Being President is a 24/7 kind of job, or at least that’s the level of commitment and seriousness with which DJ Trump approaches the position as Commander in Chief.
Our President has demonstrated event after event that his is equal to the level of being the right man at the right time to lead our nation for 4 more years.
Larissa September 11, 2020 at 2:22 pm
Our President,
(God love him or leave him-whatever– just nominated an American- Greek-Greek American to SCOTUS– )Why the crickets from the establishment? Had he been a democrat’ nominee-he would be now gracing all the front pages of Greek American media… Instead— CRICKETS…
Apples September 11, 2020 at 7:02 pm
Please Archangel Michael save USA!
Don’t allow unstable, shallow Joe Biden anywhere near White House again;
he’s a lost soul who doesn’t really know What in Sam Hill he stands for;
though I hear in private, he may actually be a darling friend to a fave naive priest I know …
Shake My Head…
BUT for Joe Biden to be leader of the Free World you might as well let certified lunatics out of insane asylum. No diff. And don’t forget Truth of his victim Tara Reid, seriously molested by crazy Joe Biden while he was in Senate.
Trump’s past is mere school boy – locker room talk compared to Biden’s severe perversions that go worse than fondling every female in sight.
GO TRUMP!
Tasos September 11, 2020 at 8:42 pm
What did Biden and Obama do for Greece and Cyprus during the 8 years they were in power? All Biden is doing is pandering to the Greek American community for votes just like he panders to the black community. I am tired of being taken for granted by the Dems for 46 years since Cyprus was invaded. The Turks still occupy Cyprus. He used his position as VP to make his son rich. He is a pervert and a pediphile. I can go on.
Z! September 13, 2020 at 5:51 am
THERE IS NO GOD IF BIDEN WINS!
Lord have mercy. It’d be tyranny of minorities destroying this country if feckless perverted psycho Joe Biden gets near WH.
Shame on stupid Greeks who live in selfish bubble; still thinking it’s 100 years ago refusing to see what is Reality here & Now!
WAKE UP Sheeple!
God Bless President Trump
Larissa September 13, 2020 at 7:54 am
Urging all bloggers to cancel NETFLEX …. you know why….
Larissa September 13, 2020 at 7:56 am
Netflex cancel—
Greek News September 13, 2020 at 11:23 am
I guess you think God should keep punishing America and the World by testing our faith with surviving Trump..
Let’s see. Do you think God endorses some one who suggests that men should grab women by their genitals?
So GFYS Trump’s friend
Apples September 13, 2020 at 12:21 pm
Haha – you’re funny GreekNews:
Please Be Discerning …
Trump’s locker room Talk was just that:
TALK —
& that sophomoric Talk was BEFORE being President!
Nothing, like creepy Joe Biden who was already politician who took aggressive ACTION molesting Tara Reid & dozens of other sleazy underreported acts by leftist media.
Bottom Line:
Liberalism IS a mental disorder.
Every single BLM rioter is a Democrat –
Every single anarchist, looting, murdering & burning down the town is a Democrat –
Every single one of them does NOT attend church,
heck, many are paid by George Soros –
We Need Law & Order President Trump!
John lucacos September 14, 2020 at 8:39 am
If you support Biden you are not a Christian. The Democrats support Satan, they took God out of their platform, their lives. They kill millions of babies daily through abortion and pedophilia. In Gods name, dont call yourselves Greek. The turks are trying to destroy greece like the anarchists and socialists here. This is a struggle between good and evil. Wake up. Those women who accused Trump of sexual advances all eventually lied and were caught. Ask youself, am i on the side if good or evil. Choose wisely.
Greek News September 15, 2020 at 11:27 am
Mr Lucacos, Greek News as every normal newspaper, writes stories about news and when necessary makes endorsement. These articles
about Biden are news articles, covering and event of Greek American Biden supporters.
There are also news about Secretary Pompeo and his trip to Cyprus and what he said about U.S. policy. No Republican called to praise us
and no Democrat to condemn us and try to intimidate us by emotional bulling, as you and many Republicans are trying.
Well, let’s make it clear Mr Lucakos. No, I don’t think you are a Christian. You are a hater; a hypocrite;
I will make a nice story Mr Lucakos, so for the whole community to see who Trump supporters are.
Greek News September 15, 2020 at 11:30 am
Dear Apollonia, I will publish an article next week about how Republican are trying to intimidate newspapers. In the meantime, I will give you
my reply to Mr. Lucakos. It applies to you too. Have a nice day
Mr Lucacos, Greek News as every normal newspaper, writes stories about news and when necessary makes endorsement. These articles
about Biden are news articles, covering and event of Greek American Biden supporters.
There are also news about Secretary Pompeo and his trip to Cyprus and what he said about U.S. policy. No Republican called to praise us
and no Democrat to condemn us and try to intimidate us by emotional bulling, as you and many Republicans are trying.
Well, let’s make it clear Mr Lucakos. No, I don’t think you are a Christian. You are a hater; a hypocrite;
I will make a nice story Mr Lucakos, so for the whole community to see who Trump supporters are.
Stelios Tatsis September 17, 2020 at 8:24 am
This article brought in my memory the song:
“ St’apostoli to. Koutouki…….”.
The only thing that was missing from Biden’s
Greek Tavern was the bouzouki.