Blog: Off the Reservation

Why Isn’t McCain Visiting Indian Country?


By Troy Doney, 10-22-08

 
 

Al Franken, the comedian cum Minnesota politician, visited the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Red Lake Band of Chippewa and the White Earth Band of Ojibwe on Sunday, October 19.

From the Bemidji Pioneer:

“Their needs are tremendous and … this is about the unique challenges that Indians face by being on the reservation, they’re so easily isolated and there is this legacy of cultural trauma that is still with them,” Franken said. “There is a legacy of poverty and of problems like domestic violence or violence, and the pathologies that come out of addiction and things like that they face that compound some of the other challenges they face,” he said.

While I like to see an intelligent, empathic understanding of the issues facing Native Americans from a politico (even one as fresh-faced as Franken) in this modern age, the article also brought up something that makes me less happy.

“Democrats such as Humphrey and Wellstone often visited area reservation(s), a place Republicans rarely visit. It was a point not missed by Leech Lake Tribal Chairman Arthur “Archie” LaRose.

“Where is Norm Coleman?” LaRose said in introducing Franken. “He hasn’t come to see us and to my knowledge he hasn’t been up to see our relatives at White Earth or Red Lake. …The fact is that Leech Lakers have historically been Democrats and are today strong Democrats. We know who our friends are and will support them.”

It’s a darn good question. Where is the distinguished competition? There should be a scramble for the votes of Indian Country, not just Democratic jaunts into sovereign territory. Why is it that I can’t find anything on Google News about Sen. McCain visiting a Reservation?

Sen. McCain has done much for Native Americans during his two terms as chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee. He played a pivotal role in transforming Indian Gaming into the multi-billion industry that it is today and a McCain was a principal sponsor of the Tribal Self-Governance Act of 1994, so he’s aware of the issues of Native Americans. He even almost delivered a video message at the National Congress of American Indians 65th annual convention, but had to withdraw a week before.

But why not visit a reservation this election season? While McCain has shown much interest in Native American issues in the past, they don’t seem to be a priority now. What’s worse, this isn’t the exception, but rather, the standard for his party. I’m trying very hard not to demonize any party here and would love some evidence to the contrary. While Indian Country votes predominantly Democratic, I can’t help but find it amazing that there aren’t even attempts to sway some of that vote. If it smells like apathy.

I certainly hope it’s not, though. It would make me immensely happy to know that Republicans do care about Native Americans. I just can’t seem to find much to support such a statement.



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Comments

By R Cook, 10-23-08
By Mike Shay, 10-23-08
By Rob Schmidt, 10-23-08
By HonorIndians, 10-23-08
By darciedd, 10-23-08
By Troy Doney, 10-24-08
By darciedd, 10-28-08
By cfm, 11-30-08
By ApodadeelaMom, 2-24-09
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By loxylaxyEmamn, 5-23-09

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