Democratic hopefuls seek Indian votes
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Democratic presidential hopefuls scrambled for support from American Indian leaders from across the nation Monday as they addressed the annual conference of the National Congress of American Indians.
Former Gen. Wesley Clark and Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich were the first to talk about guiding the country in a new direction – one that recognizes the importance of Indian sovereignty.
“After centuries of treaties, proclamations and promises, the United States government is still not living up to its end of the bargain with Indian country,” Clark told an auditorium of several hundred people. “And we can see the effects in tribal nations all across America.”
He pointed to high rates of poverty and unemployment as well as a $2.9 billion deficit plaguing the Indian Health Service. He said Indians are suffering from cancer, heart disease, alcoholism and diabetes at much higher rates than other groups.
About one in four Indians has diabetes, for example.
Joe Lieberman and Dick Gephardt addressed the congress through videotapes, and John Kerry held a question-and-answer session via satellite. Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean was scheduled to visit Wednesday.
While both national parties have been paying close attention to the growing Hispanic voting population, Indians are becoming a political force of their own, having swayed congressional elections and a gubernatorial race in Oklahoma over the past three years.
Some political observers say the Indian vote – an estimated 1.5 million people – could play a pivotal role in the 2004 elections in several states, including New Mexico, Oklahoma, Washington and Montana.
Clark acknowledged health care is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to problems facing Indians, and that the federal government has much work ahead.
Kerry had a similar message, saying he was determined to work with Indian tribes to improve health care, education, housing and government-to-government relations.
He also said tribes need to be a key part in homeland security since many of their lands are along the nation’s borders. He promised to create a position within the Department of Homeland Security to work directly with tribes.
“This is about common sense. It’s about honor,” Kerry said. “I will fight for specific legislative changes to ensure that tribal governments have an equal place at the table.”
Kucinich told the conference that Indians deserve an apology for the federal government usurping tribal lands, mismanaging billions of dollars worth of Indian trust money and ignoring sovereignty.
“As the next president of the United States, I stand here to tell you that the federal government under my administration will stand by and respect and enforce the sovereignty of Indian tribes,” he said.
Kucinich said the federal government lacks respect for tribal sovereignty, something he said is also happening with the Iraqi people.
“Is there any doubt that our presence in Iraq is a lack of respect for their sovereignty, a lack of respect for the wealth of the Iraqi people, a desire to try to take that wealth using force?” he asked.
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