Thursday, October 2, 2003

Indians in the Game QUOTE OF THE DAY "Southern California tribes have begun to take their legal place in a political process that we've been barred from for too long. But as so many politicians have done before, Mr. Schwarzenegger has chosen to condemn our participation for his own political ends. We ask you to reject his untruthful attack and continue to support our legal rights and active citizenship." - - Chairman Mark Macarro (Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians) KNOW YOUR HISTORY - OCTOBER 2nd 1986 -- The U.S. Congress overrides B-Actor & President Ronald Reagan's veto & passes South African sanctions. This is a culmination of efforts by Trans-Africa's Randall Robinson, Rep. Mickey Leland & others, begun 2 years earlier with Robinson's arrest in front of the South African Embassy in Washington, DC. RHINO HERE: Culpable columnist Robert Novak knows. Do we think the President has has asked him? Do we think the President needs to ask him? How long might it take for the "seasoned professional investigators" to check out Bob's phone records & have a sit down with him? Will / should Mr. Novak be arrested himself for disclosing the identity of an undercover agent & in so doing, endangering  the lives of others? Check this out: Robert Novak on Crossfire Wednesday (10/1/03): "Nobody in the Bush administration called me to leak this. In July I was interviewing a senior administration official on Ambassador Wilson's report when he told me the trip was inspired by his wife, a CIA employee working on weapons of mass destruction." Then there's this from an article in Newsday, July 22nd: "Novak, in an interview, said his sources had come to him with the information. "I didn't dig it out, it was given to me," he said. "They thought it was significant, they gave me the name and I used it." The Indian Casino Lobby Why are people so upset about the California Indian Tribes (those that can) playing the election funding game? They're doing exactly what every other individual or political action committee with deep pockets has been doing. Rhino doesn't like that money is the fuel of the election process. It should be changed ASAP. And Arianna Huffington has a plan to clean up the election game in California: Arianna's Clean Elections Initiative Clean Elections But until the game rules are changed, Rhino thinks the tribes ought to get to play like any other player. All kind of clever ways to play the game. Most of them've been done before. Check out the Morongo Band: Morongo Band Funds McClintock Advertisements Critics Accuse Them of Trying to Split Republican Votes by: James May , Indian Country Today, September 25, 2003 SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Though ardent supporters and contributors to Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante's campaign for governor, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians sponsored television advertisements last week that back Republican state Senator Tom McClintock's campaign for governor in California's recall election. The move has prompted the camp of Republican rival Arnold Schwarzenegger to accuse Morongo of attempting to divide the Republican electorate to allow Bustamante, the only major Democrat on the ballot, to win in the event of the recall, a move that the tribe only partially denies... MORE: http://www.indiancountry.com/?1064523544 The BOTTOM LINE, written by Michelle Knight of "Indian Country Today," features Dr. Joely De La Torre, of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Mission Indians. She's professor of American Indian Studies at San Francisco State University & a lecturer of American Politics at the University of San Diego. She's also a former advisor to Cruz Bustamonte on Indian issues. Lots of smart stuff like concerning the Indian campaign funding & Proposition 54.   But first, if you'd like, check out yesterday's Washington Post  spin on the casino lobby, Calif. Tribes' Clout Carries Political Risk Casino Money Is a Force, And Issue, in Recall Fight By William Booth, Washington Post Staff Writer, Wednesday, October 1, 2003; Page A01 ... In California's raucous recall campaign, the gaming tribes have emerged as influential players -- they are the most deep-pocketed givers, surpassing even organized labor as the biggest campaign donors this season. But their support comes with a price: Candidates accepting their money open themselves to attacks that the Indians will gain even more power in state politics at a time when many voters resent their growing clout. ...   ..."Their casinos make billions, yet they pay no taxes and virtually nothing to the state," Schwarzenegger says. "It's time the Indians pay their fair share. All the other major candidates take their money and pander to them." Then, the actor gets squinty-eyed, clenches his jaw like the Terminator, and says, "I don't play that game." "I feel very proud about the support of the tribes. They are standing up for me because I stood up for them when they had nothing," Bustamante said yesterday. Previously, he said there was nothing to be ashamed of, that Indian political donations "simply allow me to level the playing field, because I am not a millionaire who can write myself checks."...  ...The Indians pay about $130 million annually into two state funds, one of which is used to cover public costs (for roads, sewers, firefighting) associated with the casinos, many of which are in isolated areas. The other fund gives money to tribes that do not operate casinos. The Indians would like to expand the number of slot machines they are allowed; to do that, they must renegotiate their "compacts" with the governor... 8:32:54 AM    comment

RHINO'S BOTTOM LINE - Bustamante advisor sounds off Former Bustamante advisor sounds off on election controversies by: Michelle Knight Indian Country Today, September 25, 2003 RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Standing on the periphery of the maelstrom that is now the Oct. 7 California gubernatorial election, Dr. Joely De La Torre, who served as special advisor on California Indians to Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante in 2002, has a lot to say about the recent controversies surrounding tribal participation and influence in mainstream politics, particularly tribal donations made to candidates. Speaking from the Indian museum at Sherman Indian High School in Riverside, Calif., De La Torre, a descendant of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Mission Indians and professor of American Indian Studies at San Francisco State University and lecturer of American Politics at the University of San Diego, said it bewilders some people that Indian support does not follow one particular party. "American Indians have been known to not support one party over another, Democrat or Republican," she said. "We vote issue, so we don't care if you're an Independent, if you're Green Party, if you're Democrat or if you're Republican. We're going to look at candidates who support our issues." De La Torre said California Indians found support in Bustamante, whom she characterized as a friend to the tribes by being actively involved in education, health care and social programs for the state's Indian population before gaming wealth arrived. "He's been a champion to American Indians, [and] not just to American Indians but to many of the underserved, underprivileged groups. Because of [the] honesty and integrity he's shown to our tribal nations and to our communities, he's the obvious choice." Alternatively, the other candidates have done nothing for Native Americans, she said. In spite of the fact Arnold Schwarzenegger met with tribal leaders last year for their financial support of Proposition 49, the after-school program initiative passed in 2002. "We all believed in it; we contributed. Has he done anything to support American Indians, to help American Indian youth set up after-school programming? Not to my knowledge. Was he concerned about our issues, our poverty rates, our suicide rates, our diabetes issues prior to tribal gaming? No. Very few politicians were concerned about our issues," De La Torre said... MORE: http://www.indiancountry.com/?1064522703 "RHINO'S BLOG" is the responsibility of Gary Rhine. (rhino@kifaru.com) Feedback, and requests to be added or deleted from the list are encouraged. SEARCH BLOG ARCHIVES / SURF RHINO'S LINKS, AT: http://www.rhinosblog.info RHINO'S OTHER WEB SITES: http://www.dreamcatchers.org (INDIGENOUS ASSISTANCE & INTERCULTURAL DIALOG) http://www.kifaru.com (NATIVE AMERICAN RELATIONS VIDEO DOCUMENTARIES) Articles are reprinted under Fair Use Doctrine of international copyright law. http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html All copyrights belong to original publisher. Tell a friend about Rhino's Blog 6:35:19 AM    comment

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