Opinion

Louis Gray: It's not too late to join 'Rez' forum

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

"In what was supposed to be a meeting that has been put off for over 200 years, the meeting of those seeking this country’s highest office were at last going to tell the Native Americans why they should vote for them has been so far ignored again. But, it is not too late to make the right decision.

Prez on the Rez was to be a vital stop for Democratic candidates wishing to be President of the United States. There were certainly signs that the event set for August 23, 2007 in Morongo, CA, because leaders like Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean has been strongly supportive of Indian participation in the election process. As planned by INDNSLIST Executive Director Kayln Free, the meeting to be held as part of Campaign Camp August 20-25th. The camp was wildly successful last time in assisting candidates with many Indians winning seats all across the country.

So, you would think given the last presidential election came down to several hundred votes, that anyone would be worth campaigning, especially a segment of society which is growing in political clout and clearly an untapped source of new voters. That is apparently of little or no consequence to some candidates running for the democratic presidential nod. Senator Hilary Clinton has so far dismissed any attempt to meet with Indian leaders or to seek their vote. Oh, she has repeated the very process that Indians want to see go away; don’t campaign in Indian country, just put some Indian on an obscure committee. That is not seeking our vote and it does nothing to rev up the vote in Indian country."

Get the Story:
Louis Gray: Prez Avoids the Rez (The Native American Times 8/13)

Relevant Links:
Prez on the Rez - http://www.prezontherez.org
Indigenous Democratic Network - http://www.indnslist.org