An unusual pledge

[Fritz]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,128102,00.html

"Kerry also pledged to "open the doors of the White House to Native Americans." And in an unusual pledge, he said he would prod the nation's news executives to increase the number of jobs for Native Americans in the media."


Okay, if this turns into the same ol political squabble, I will delete the thread. You have been warned.

1.) What does opening the doors to the White House to Native Americans mean? Have the doors to the white house been closed to Native Americans? If so, is this something the current administration is guilty of, or is this something all previous administrations have done.

2.) Is there some sort of real issue invloving Native Americans and their access to employment in the national media?

[Bee]

No! People will lose posts!

[heybrad]

Cool... Slot machines in the White House!

[cuervo72]

Is it me, or does that entire article seem to jump all over the place?

[Bee]

hey brad!

[Bee]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Is it me, or does that entire article seem to jump all over the place?

please delet your post, it's in my way. thank you.

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by Bee

please delet your post, it's in my way. thank you.

My posts jump all over the place.


I dunno, it seems like just a case of political pandering to attempt to gain points with a segment of the population to possibly swing some votes.

[Franklinnoble]

Originally Posted by heybrad

Cool... Slot machines in the White House!

Brilliant!

John Kerry... the Washington Redskin...

[Buzzbee]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

I dunno, it seems like just a case of political pandering to attempt to gain points with a segment of the population to possibly swing some votes.

That was the first thing that popped into my head.

[digamma]

Originally Posted by Fritz

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,128102,00.html

"Kerry also pledged to "open the doors of the White House to Native Americans." And in an unusual pledge, he said he would prod the nation's news executives to increase the number of jobs for Native Americans in the media."


Okay, if this turns into the same ol political squabble, I will delete the thread. You have been warned.

1.) What does opening the doors to the White House to Native Americans mean? Have the doors to the white house been closed to Native Americans? If so, is this something the current administration is guilty of, or is this something all previous administrations have done.

2.) Is there some sort of real issue invloving Native Americans and their access to employment in the national media?

Native American lobbyists have been unhappy with Bush policy with regard to the environment and "land into trust" procedures. Also, there was a scandal involving Gayle Norton involving the "mismanagement" or "misappropriation" depending on who you believe, of monies that should have been paid to Native Americans by the Dept. of the Interior. To be fair, the federal Indian trust funds have been in pitiful shape for the last 15-20 years. The Clinton administration knew this and stalled on the problem and the storm landed on Norton's desk. By all accounts, she could have handled the situation a bit better (and part of "better" means she could have consulted with tribes over the course of a year and half in which she formulated her policy).

Also, Native Americans are among the largest constributors to the Democratic party, largely because Democrats have been much kinder with regard to Indian gaming.

I don't know anything about the second issue.

[Franklinnoble]

Originally Posted by digamma

Also, Native Americans are among the largest constributors to the Democratic party, largely because Democrats have been much kinder with regard to Indian gaming.

Uhh... I think maybe corporations that have casinos on Native American reservations are making big donations, but it's a complete falsehood to think that many actual Native Americans, aside from a few tribal leaders, have actually gotten rich off indian gaming.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by digamma

Also, there was a scandal involving Gayle Norton involving the "mismanagement" or "misappropriation" depending on who you believe, of monies that should have been paid to Native Americans by the Dept. of the Interior. To be fair, the federal Indian trust funds have been in pitiful shape for the last 15-20 years. The Clinton administration knew this and stalled on the problem and the storm landed on Norton's desk. By all accounts, she could have handled the situation a bit better (and part of "better" means she could have consulted with tribes over the course of a year and half in which she formulated her policy).

I ran across this saga on the internet a couple of years ago. I don't think I've ever read harsher words from a Judge - especially considering they were directed at a high-ranking public official. Ouch.

[digamma]

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

Uhh... I think maybe corporations that have casinos on Native American reservations are making big donations, but it's a complete falsehood to think that many actual Native Americans, aside from a few tribal leaders, have actually gotten rich off indian gaming.

I didn't make that claim.

Who do you think is making the contributions? The down on his luck Indian or the "few tribal leaders"?

[WSUCougar]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I ran across this saga on the internet a couple of years ago. I don't think I've ever read harsher words from a Judge - especially considering they were directed at a high-ranking public official. Ouch.

It had a huge impact on DOI internet access, too. Double ouch.

[Butter]

He's trying to win New Mexico.

[Glengoyne]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

He's trying to win New Mexico.

Ding Ding. We have a winner!

I was trying to figure out where this was targetted. I was thinking Arizona at first, some Dems think they can make a run there, but New Mexico makes much more sense. It was pretty much just as close as Florida last time.

[Peregrine]

I was trying to figure out where this was targetted. I was thinking Arizona at first, some Dems think they can make a run there, but New Mexico makes much more sense

http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoen...9/daily47.html

Sounds like the race is close in Arizona too, so it can't hurt there either.

[HornedFrog Purple]

1.) What does opening the doors to the White House to Native Americans mean? Have the doors to the white house been closed to Native Americans? If so, is this something the current administration is guilty of, or is this something all previous administrations have done.

This has been something ignored or put on the backburner for many administrations. Some of the reservations in New Mexico and Oklahoma are downright deplorable in maintenance and upkeeping, let alone medical facilities and the like. There are a few tribes that have gotten the better end of the stick but others are suffering pretty badly.

As to why certain tribes are better than others, I really don't know other than my belief there is misappropriation of funds going on.

[Desnudo]

If I were president, I'd open the gates of the White House to the Girls Gone Wild Party bus.

[Franklinnoble]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

If I were president, I'd open the gates of the White House to the Girls Gone Wild Party bus.

Anything you say, Mr. Clinton.

[Butter]

As hard as it is to believe that New Mexico has become an important battleground state, here we are.

There's a reason Bill Richardson chaired the Democratic Convention.

[Aardvark]

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

Uhh... I think maybe corporations that have casinos on Native American reservations are making big donations, but it's a complete falsehood to think that many actual Native Americans, aside from a few tribal leaders, have actually gotten rich off indian gaming.

Actually, those corporations are owned by the Native Americans. In some tribes, every member of the tribe gets a check (sometimes $5000 or so) every year. In the tribes that are more competently run (according to several Native American artists, performers, and activists I've either talked to or heard speak) a large portion of the money is used to provide for college scholarships, to improve the infrastructure, provide healthcare etc.

[Franklinnoble]

Originally Posted by Aardvark

Actually, those corporations are owned by the Native Americans. In some tribes, every member of the tribe gets a check (sometimes $5000 or so) every year. In the tribes that are more competently run (according to several Native American artists, performers, and activists I've either talked to or heard speak) a large portion of the money is used to provide for college scholarships, to improve the infrastructure, provide healthcare etc.

Right. So, the Harrah's Ak-Chin casino just south of Phoenix is owned by a corporation of native americans.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

Right. So, the Harrah's Ak-Chin casino just south of Phoenix is owned by a corporation of native americans.

Yes. Owned by the Native Americans and ran by Harrah's.

[CamEdwards]

Originally Posted by HornedFrog Purple

This has been something ignored or put on the backburner for many administrations. Some of the reservations in New Mexico and Oklahoma are downright deplorable in maintenance and upkeeping, let alone medical facilities and the like. There are a few tribes that have gotten the better end of the stick but others are suffering pretty badly.

As to why certain tribes are better than others, I really don't know other than my belief there is misappropriation of funds going on.

Just to clarify, Oklahoma doesn't have any "reservations". The tribes in Oklahoma have their own land, but it's not South Dakota-style reservations in which large groups of people live on the reservations.

[stevew]

I read an article today on Bush "getting the amish vote out". Could be important if a lot of them vote in PA and Ohio. Dunno if it has been referenced on this board today

[kcchief19]

Well, the original Fox story has been edited, but below is a transcript from Kerry's remarks before the 2004 UNITY Convention, a convention of 5,500 minority journalist where the cited remarks were made.
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRe...d=106-08052004

As president, I will also restore respect for tribal sovereignty throughout the Executive Branch and re-open the doors to the White House to the first Americans. We understand the struggles our Native American brothers and sisters face. In addition to the health care crisis facing tribes, we also know that poverty is rising in America, and nowhere is it worse than on our reservations. To ensure that your voice is heard on these and other vital issues, I will appoint Native Americans to key positions in the White House and throughout my administration. And I will do my part to bring more diversity into the media. Right now people of color make up 32 percent of the nation's population but only 13 percent of daily newspaper staffs. And people of color represent only a tiny fraction of the number of editors, anchors, and executives at our nation's premier news organizations. Right now only 4.2 percent of radio stations and 1.5 percent of TV stations are owned by minorities.

1. I think the Native American access issue has been addressed. There is no doub that Native American issues have been disregarded by the federal government for decades. Improvement is indeed needed.


2. The second part regarding the media does not appear to have been quoted accurately by someone. The remarks -- to minority journalist -- stated that minorities may not be appropriately represented in the media. I take his remarks to mean that he will use the bully pulpit of the White House to encourage media organizations to hire more minorities. The reference to minorities in the media immediately followed the portion of the speech about Native Americans, but it was not about them specifically.