In an op-ed piece from Deron Marquez, former chairman of the San Manuel Band, in Indian Country Today, he lays out why Native American voters should consider the person who by DEED, has been good for Indian Country, and that is JOHN McCAIN.
Which to help provide guidance for your choice, deeds, or promises? Barack Obama will pass Union Card Check, which will erode tribal sovereignty even more than actions by some corrupt tribes like Pechanga, or Redding and Picayune. McCain has been in a leadership role for 20 years, helping to strengthen sovereignty and benefits for Indian Nations.
Here is a comprehensive look at Senator Obama from Hot Air.
As Nov. 4 approaches, I find myself reading blogs and op-ed pieces from various tribal corners, mostly supporting the Democratic ticket in the race for the White House. I was surprised to note that there are few public statements being expressed by tribal leaders and representatives about Sen. John McCain and his public record of support for sovereign tribal nations.
Campaign promises being voiced by Mr. Barack Obama to Indian country are noteworthy. But we should remember that no group of Americans has been promised more and delivered less than the First Americans. Instead of more promises, let’s give attention to real accomplishments involving issues of significant importance, which have benefited Indian tribes because of Sen. McCain’s deeds.
Few issues are as fundamentally important and sacred to Indian tribes as their cultural resources and their histories. Sen. McCain’s leadership resulted in the enactment of federal legislation that serves today as the foundation for the protection of these important resources. The Native American Graves Protection Act was passed by the Congress in 1990. Aware that congressional efforts to protect tribal cultural resources – including sacred sites and graves – had failed in 1986 due to opposition from museums and other groups, he introduced NAGPRA during the first session of the 101st Congress. OP: That's one more than Sen. Obama did his whole Senate career on ANYTHING.
In partnership with then-committee Chairman Daniel Inouye, who had introduced a bill of his own on the subject, McCain convinced the world-renowned Heard Museum in Phoenix, Ariz., to convene and lead a national dialogue on issues related to the protection of American Indian cultural resources. The national dialogue was tasked with producing a set of recommendations, which could serve as a basis for legislation to protect these important resources. The national dialogue, which involved museums, archaeologists, anthropologists and Indian tribes and organizations took nearly two years but was successful in producing recommendations for the Indian Affairs Committee. Once the recommendations were delivered to Sen. McCain, they were incorporated into legislation that became NAGPRA. OP: Reaching across the aisle, working with the loyal opposition, getting things accomplished FOR Indian Country.
Read the OP ED HERE
6 comments:
From what we have read on your site and many other sites...is this the same chairman that let the Mexican Mafia get a stronghold on his reservation?..should we trust his choices?
That's for you to decide.
For instance, Pechanga's Chairman Mark Macarro allows child molestors on the rez and he himself has acted unlawfully, outside Pechanga's OWN CONSTITUTION and bylaws. And he led the violations of Civil Rights. He's for Obama. Would you trust his choice?
Read the Hot Air link.
Well, I think the article says it all. Since Mr. Marquez is from one of the richest Tribes in the US, he naturally would support McCain, who also is among the richest of his people as well.
As far as the comments concerning who is responsible for eroding Tribal Sovereignty, I am sorry to have to tell him that every Tribe that has taken illegal and immoral actions against their own people are to blame, but so are the Tribe's that have never spoken up or against these actions.
Silent Approval is just as good as telling them it was okay.
VOTE OBAMA ALL THE WAY.
VOTE NO ON 8-isn't there enough hate in this world already without adding to other peoples problems?
I have worked with Senator McCain when he was the chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. While he DID pay attention and give some movement to cultural issues, he never addressed the whole of Indian Country. He refused to involve the committee in the saving of thousands of Indians from paper genocide, a feat the committee has full power to do. He turned his back when the going got rough and even now only deals with the gaming tribes. He has since left the scene.
In regards to Palin......the Natives of Alaska are feverently fighting her to save their sacred lands. She has no intention of honoring them nor the land of our Mother.
They both have no respect nor interest in anything related to Indian Country other then $$$$'s and will continue the policy of Indian extermination period.
Chairman Mark Macarro allows child molestors on the rez
Not only does he allow them on the reservation, but he honors them and features them in his commercials
I know McCain has some record with Indians, but I'd like to point out a few matters before you consider voting for McCain:
- Obama is the only candidate, between the two, that has taken the time and actually visited an Indian Reservation.
- Additionally, Obama is the only candidate that has specifically mentioned Native Americans in his public, televised speaches-- in an inclusive manner. No one else has made any comments about Indians, no one.
-MOST IMPORTANT, whoever is elected will most likely have to appoint one, or even two, Supreme Court Justice(s). If McCain is elected, he will most definitely appoint an extremely conservative judge. Conservative issues, outside Indian issues, don't bother me, one way or another (e.g. Roe v. Wade, etc...). But, all the conservative justices on the Supreme Court (Scalia, Thomas, Roberts, etc...) have ALWAYS RULED AGAINST INDIAN INTERESTS for the past decade and more. The Supreme Court is probably the biggest enemy of tribal sovereignty right now. Under this conservative court, laws, rights, and previous judicial opinions, that have benefited tribal governments and their sovereignty-- all have been attached by this Supreme Court. If the next president appoints a conservative judge, then the Supreme Court will continue to destroy all the positive and beneficial judicial theories and decisions of the Warren court and of the Self-Determination Ear (which, by the way, we are not in right now; the Supreme Court has ended that for the past ten years or so, in my opinion) and attack tribal rights and sovereignty. So, no matter how well meaning McCain may be in his policy toward American Indians, he will destroy what little tribal sovereignty is left when he appoints the one or two Supreme Court Justices, if he, God forbid, is elected.
If you care at all about tribal sovereignty and tribal rights, you will NOT VOTE FOR MCCAIN. Please take this into consideration.
Your humble servant.
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