Success! Menendez Blocks Richard Hoagland, Again!

I was slightly worried when Genocide Denier Richard Hoagland was nominated the second time by Bush. The first nomination was also blocked by Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey.

A U.S. senator on Thursday again blocked the congressional confirmation of President George W. Bush’s nominee to be the next U.S. ambassador to Armenia, citing the latter’s failure to publicly recognize the Armenian genocide.

“Given the circumstances and controversy surrounding Mr. Hoagland's nomination, I believe that the best way to move forward would be for the president to nominate a new candidate for this ambassadorship,” he said.

Menendez went on to attack the Bush administration for its refusal to use the term “genocide” with regard to the slaughter of some 1.5 million Armenians during the dying years of the Ottoman Empire. “If there is any sincerity behind the Bush administration’s rhetoric about ‘liberty on the march’ … then American diplomacy should consist of nothing less than unvarnished honesty with our friends and enemies alike. And we must call genocide by its name,” he said.

I am very happy with the outcome of this nomination attempt, or lack thereof. I wish to thank Senator Robert Menendez for seeing the truth of the matter and for standing up to a man who has no business being our ambassador.

Feel free to thank him for doing the right thing!

Source: ArmeniaLiberty