Home > News > Headlines

Print   Subscribe

Editorial: Indians deserve presidential attention
Friday, February 29, 2008
Filed Under: Opinion

"An Open Letter to Senators Clinton, McCain and Obama:

We haven't seen much of you here in South Dakota. These are the rules of the game, of course - our electoral votes are about the equivalent of Samoa or the Virgin Islands, and our timing, in terms of a primary election, is poor.

In this spirit, we're writing to invite you to visit South Dakota, specifically the Indian reservations that share this land.

Because even in an election year in which diversity has become more than just a buzzword, it seems those issues particular to Native Americans in South Dakota and around this region have been forgotten or ignored.

And Native Americans have unique issues and problems that demand special attention. The health care crisis fundamentally is different for Native Americans, of course. Tribal communities also often struggle with collapsing or collapsed justice systems. These are federal problems that will require your attention should you be elected in November.

Why come to South Dakota? Because it has one of the nation's largest Native American populations. Because its reservations are among the poorest. Because its Native American culture remains among the strongest.

Visit Pine Ridge, Sen. Obama, and talk to residents face to face about their struggles and successes. Stop at Wounded Knee and understand more fully how what happened there a century ago informs today's dialogue.

Travel to Crow Creek and Lower Brule, Sen. McCain, and talk about sovereignty and tribal gaming with the people who are best positioned to understand its value and its limitations. The keys to a casino, you'll find, aren't the same thing as a license to print money.

Make the trek to Crow Creek, Sen. Clinton, and listen to the devastating stories of so many young lives ended tragically, senselessly early by suicide."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Presidential hopefuls should visit S.D. for minority issues (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 2/29)

Relevant Links:
Barack Obama - http://www.barackobama.com
Hillary Clinton - http://www.hillaryclinton.com
John McCain - http://www.johnmccain.com

Related Stories:
Opinion: John McCain fights special interests (2/26)
Obama and McCain win primaries in Wisconsin (02/20)
Opinion: Questions for presidential candidates (2/19)
Clinton finally declared winner in New Mexico (02/15)
Obama wins Maryland, Virginia and DC primaries (2/13)
McCain seals GOP nomination after Romney exit (2/8)
McCain scores big wins in Republican primaries (2/6)
Bush administration cuts BIA budget again (2/5)
Navajo Republican won't support Sen. McCain (2/4)
Native America Calling to host presidential forum (2/1)
Clinton and Obama target votes on Navajo Nation (1/30)
McCain defeats Romney in Florida primary (01/30)
Pueblo Congressional candidate backs Obama (1/29)
Indian gaming and the 2008 presidential race (1/29)
Obama touts Indian policy after primary win (1/28)
Analysis: Sen. Obama 'big' in Indian Country (01/24)
Sen. Obama addresses Indian issues in Nevada (1/23)
Clinton, McCain and Romney score primary victories (1/21)
Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama spar over gaming (1/18)
Romney wins Michigan Republican primary (1/16)
Tim Giago: Sen. Barack Obama and the 'R-Word' (1/14)
Sen. Johnson endorses Barack Obama for president (1/10)
Bill Richardson drops out of presidential race (1/10)
Clinton and McCain win New Hampshire primaries (1/9)
Clinton won't go to 'Rez' presidential forum (5/31)

Copyright © Indianz.Com