BAIAD Endorses
Senator Barack Obama

PRESS RELEASE

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 30, 2008 – Bay Area Iranian-American Democrats (BAIAD) announced today that its members have voted for the organization to endorse Senator Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential primary election.

“We are proud of the fact that, more than ever before, Iranian Americans are seeking to express their political views and to get their voices heard,” said BAIAD president Mehrdad Moayedzadeh. “We got a call from a 76-year-old Iranian American who speaks very little English, asking for help about how to cast his vote since he will be out of town on Election Day next week. It is nothing short of extraordinary the way this man takes his vote so seriously, as if the future of his 2 grandchildren depends on it. Because it does.”

Moayedzadeh added: “Democrat or not, pro-Obama or not, we strongly encourage all Iranian Americans to not only express their views, but to also get passionately and vigorously involved and participate in American politics. Having said that, the members of our organization have spoken and they have chosen for BAIAD to endorse Senator Barack Obama in next week’s election.”

He added: “Endorsements never imply 100% agreement with the candidate on all issues. But there is no doubt that, like millions of other Americans, many of our members are inspired by Senator Obama’s passion for change and feel that he is the best viable candidate to lead the country.”

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2008 Voter Guide
(for California's Feb 5 Election)

Click here for the full Voter Guide

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A Public Event
on Feb 11 in San Francisco:

THE FOLLY OF ATTACKING IRAN

Click here for details

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California Democratic Party passes BAIAD's resolution about US foreign policy toward Iran

7/27/07: The Democratic Party of the most populous state in the nation recently passed a strong resolution calling on US Congress to "oppose unprovoked military action against Iran" and to "support direct talks between the United States and Iran without preconditions".

BAIAD is proud to have authored this resolution and commends the California Democratic Party for taking such a strong position on a controversial issue.

Here is the full text of this resolution:

GENUINE DIPLOMACY WITH IRAN

WHEREAS, a democratic Iran is in the best interest of its people as well as a safer and more stable Middle East; and that the engine of the nascent Iranian democratic movement is its struggling middle class and the vast population of youth; and

WHEREAS, either comprehensive sanctions used as a tool of escalation or unprovoked military action against Iran would move it farther away from democracy, weaken its middle class and help the anti-democratic forces in Iran to maintain and solidify their grip on power; and

WHEREAS, absence of diplomacy and direct talks consistent with the recommendations of the Baker-Hamilton study group will likely lead to further escalation and instability in Iraq and in the region;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the California Democratic Party calls on Congress to oppose unprovoked military action against Iran and the use of sanctions as a “tool of escalation” -- as opposed to “tool of genuine diplomacy” -- and instead support direct talks between the United States and Iran without preconditions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the California Democratic Party supports the International Atomic Energy Agency’s efforts to enforce its inspection regime and perform its role in preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons, as mandated by the United Nations.

Submitted by: Bay Area Iranian-American Democrats

Many thanks to those who supported this resolution and strengthened BAIAD's efforts, for example by passing this resolution within their own organizations:

- Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee
- Alameda County Democratic Central Committee
- Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club
- Iranian-American Democrats of Orange County
- Iranian-American Democratic Association (Sacramento)

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	Why Iran 'meddles' in Iraq, Is Tehran's supposed involvement malign, or are its interests in the war legitimate? - by Adam Shatz, LA Times: "... is it fair to characterize Iran's involvement in Iraq as "malign," or, for that matter, as "meddling" (in contrast, say, to the presence of 130,000 American troops in Iraq)? Might Iran have legitimate interests in what is, after all, its own geographic neighborhood?"   Congresswoman Anna Eshoo's Letter - After meeting with a small group of Iranian Americans (including BAIAD board members,) Congresswoman Anna Eshoo writes a letter to Condoleezza Rice and Michael Chertoff about mistreatment of Sharif University's Iranian professionals.   WATCHING LEBANON, Washington's interests in Israel's war, by Seymour Hersch - "The White House was more focussed on stripping Hezbollah of its missiles, because, if there was to be a military option against Iran’s nuclear facilities, it had to get rid of the weapons that Hezbollah could use in a potential retaliation at Israel..."