Graded F: Florida Rep. Randy Fine (R-06)
He said Armenians shouldn't be allowed to run for Congress. That's flat-out racist.
Hovik turns the conversation to Florida, where two F grades await, and starts with Randy Fine. Many Groong listeners already know Fine’s record and his characterization of Armenians, but Hovik asks Hamparian to spell out what earned the grade.
Hamparian identifies two acts he calls unforgivable. First, Fine co-sponsored legislation to repeal Section 907 and strike all restrictions on U.S. military arms and aid to Azerbaijan, which he says earns an F on its own. Second, during his primary race, Fine gratuitously said Armenians should not be allowed to run for Congress. Hamparian notes this ignores the reality that Americans of Armenian heritage have long served in Congress, and he describes the comment as a blanket smear that crosses a clear red line.
Hamparian acknowledges there are many other reasons people dislike Fine that are worth discussing elsewhere, but for Armenian Americans the case rests on two pillars: boosting U.S. aid to Azerbaijan and disparaging Armenian Americans. Asbed cuts in to call the remark flat-out racist, and Hovik agrees. The exchange shows how ANCA’s report card weighs both policy positions and open hostility toward a community, treating a racist statement as disqualifying regardless of a legislator’s broader profile.
Transcript
Hovik Manucharyan: Okay, let's go to Florida. We have two special mentions in Florida, two Fs from Florida, unfortunately. Let's talk about Randy Fine, Aram. Many of our listeners and viewers already know about his record, and especially his shameful characterization of Armenians. But go ahead and tell us more.
Aram Suren Hamparian: Sure.
Hovik Manucharyan: What has he done in order to earn F?
Aram Suren Hamparian: Okay, Fine has basically committed two unforgivable sins, in our view. Number one, he co-sponsored legislation to repeal Section 907, to eliminate, to strike all restrictions on U.S. aid, military arms and aid to Azerbaijan. That earns an F on its own. Second, during his primary race, he gratuitously said Armenians should not be allowed to run for Congress. This, of course, goes against the fact that we have had Armenians in Congress, Americans of Armenian heritage in Congress. And that kind of sort of blanket, you know, smear or disparagement of Armenians just crosses our red line. And we feel like he really there are a range of other reasons why a lot of people don't like Randy Fine. And those are worth discussing. But as far as Armenians are concerned, it's his boosting U.S. aid to Azerbaijan and his disparagement of Armenian-Americans.
Asbed Bedrossian: Yeah, that's flat-out racist.
Hovik Manucharyan: Yeah.