Gregoire Backs Tribes

[huntnphool]

Gregoire speaks to tribal backersSCOTT FONTAINE; scott.fontaine@thenewstribune.com Published: October 26th, 2008 12:30 AM

Chester Earl leaned forward in the middle seat of the front row of the auditorium. He listened to Gov. Chris Gregoire deliver a campaign speech, and each time she said something he agreed with, he beat a drum he held in his left hand.
“Indians support her,” said Earl, a 35-year-old Tacoma man who wore four Barack Obama buttons on his vest. “We support Democrats. And it meant a lot that she would have her campaign come here to talk to us.”

That sentiment likely was the reason the Gregoire campaign stopped Saturday at Columbia Junior High School in Fife on the Puyallup Tribe of Indians reservation. It was the second stop of a 26-city, 11-day tour as the Democrat makes a final push for crucial votes in a tight race for re-election.

And the rally, targeted at the area’s Indian population, was safe territory for Gregoire and other Democrats who spoke to about 200 people.

Influence from Indian tribes has become a flashpoint in the election. The campaign of Republican challenger Dino Rossi – himself one-quarter Tlingit Alaskan Native – has criticized Gregoire, saying she received hefty donations from tribes and negotiated a gambling compact that dropped revenue sharing with the state. Gregoire has said she stopped a gambling expansion by negotiating a new compact, and denies receiving any money from tribes as a direct result of the talks.

On Saturday, leaders from the Puyallup Tribe and the Nisqually Tribe stressed the importance of voting Nov. 4. But there was no doubt that it was a staunchly pro-Democrat audience: Signs for presidential candidate Obama, Rep. Norm Dicks and attorney general candidate John Ladenburg were taped throughout the auditorium. Supporters wore T-shirts with Obama’s and Gregoire’s names, and stacks of yard signs were available to anyone who wanted them.

Dicks, who is running for re-election in the 6th Congressional District, began the rally with a speech about his work to reverse the budget cuts for the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Forest Service under the Bush administration.

He talked about his work to increase the budget for the Indian Health Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. But the speech largely was designed to pump the crowd for Gregoire.

“Chris Gregoire, in my judgment, in her first four years has tackled more problems than any governor in history,” he said. “And I think this terrible, awful campaign that (Rossi) is running against her is despicable.”

Gregoire’s speech touched on a variety of topics – the economy, education, health care and the environment – and she also specifically addressed Indian issues.

She emphasized that Washington’s schools are teaching Indian history as part of their state history curriculum. And, most emphatically, she touted her government’s ability to work in partnership with tribal governments.

“We are a model to the rest of the country of how to do business, working together solving our problems – whether it’s education, health care, economic development, our fisheries, our quality of life,” she said. “We are true partners, respecting each other.”

At the rally, Gregoire criticized anti-gambling ads from Rossi supporters. “Shame on the candidate whom I asked time and time again to have those ads taken down,” she said. “And rather than take them down, he went before the group that put them up and said, ‘Thank you for all your support.’ Let’s send another message on Nov. 4: You will not discriminate. You will not do racist ads.”

Gregoire added that tribes share the same right as anyone else to donate to campaigns.

“They are U.S. citizens,” she said, “they are voters, and they are the backbone of the state of Washington.”

Rossi campaign spokeswoman Jill Strait said the Republican challenger has support among the state’s Indian community and delivered a speech before the Seafair Pow Wow in July. The Republican spent Saturday touring the northwestern portion of the state, with rallies in Everett, Mount Vernon, Bellingham, Port Angeles and Chimacum.

“The governor is trying to divert attention from the real issues and legislative questions surrounding negotiations about the Spokane tribal compact,” she said. “This isn’t about race. This isn’t about tribes. They can negotiate the best deal possible. He just questions if she negotiated the best deal possible for Washington.”

Gregoire’s staunch support for tribes is one reason many Indians support Democrats, said Puyallup tribal councilman David Bean.

“The Democrats get Native Americans,” he said. “They respect our sovereignty. They respect our government-to-government relationships. And that’s the biggest source of our support.”

Scott Fontaine: 253-320-4758

[boneaddict]

They give us the money..... oh sorry

GO ROSSI

[WDFW-SUX]

“they are voters, and they are the backbone of the state of Washington.”

 

[Curly]

Supporters wore T-shirts with Obama’s and Gregoire’s names, and stacks of yard signs were available to anyone who wanted them.

 

[DeKuma]

“They respect our sovereignty. They respect our government-to-government relationships. And that’s the biggest source of our support.”

How does that work.  They are their own nation with their own government, yet they vote for our government.

[sisu]

“They respect our sovereignty. They respect our government-to-government relationships. And that’s the biggest source of our support.”

How does that work.  They are their own nation with their own government, yet they vote for our government.

Again I say, the American Indians in the USA have the highest enlistment numbers/per capita in the armed forces so of course they get to vote. We, the United States government, created this duel nation thing with the tribes so we have to live with it at least until someone with a big set goes for the gold and abolishes ALL this minority pissing and moaning for good with some new legislation.

[Dmanmastertracker]

“they are voters, and they are the backbone of the state of Washington.”

 

Holy *censored*, did that really come out of her mouth?!? WTF, why doesn't she just sign the GD State Constitution over to the tribes, instead of the CITIZEN'S! She doesn't even know what is/ isn't relavent in tribal law, they are a NATION, not even citizen's of the State, they don't really want to be, they want to be their own sovereign nation, one step above the State. She completely screwed our economy when she made the casino's forever tax free.... Only State in the US to do so, fantastic, way to go.

[Ray]

Seems bass ackwards to me.

The citizens of the United States in Washington voted for her to represent us collectively and also to look out for our best interests. Not people of other nations.  What's next?

[bow4elk]

Democrats are always looking out for everyone else.  Why do you think NObama wants to "redistribute" wealth in this country.  You work hard to earn an income, he takes it (socialist dictator!) and gives it to someone who didn't earn it.  Fair is fair.   

[DOUBLELUNG]

Backbone?  More like baculum!  And right up our collective pooper too!  Gagoire can suck Indian head pennies and buffalo nickels through a garden hose - but not for the state budget, just for her releection campaign!

[Dmanmastertracker]

Seems bass ackwards to me.

The citizens of the United States in Washington voted for her to represent us collectively and also to look out for our best interests. Not people of other nations.  What's next?

 You said it brutha 

[logger]

that bitch made a deal with the tribes at least the yakimas that they collect the gas tax , but get to keep it to distrubate into the tribal general fund . back bone of washington my ass.

[deaddog]

Gregoire

[popeshawnpaul]

She has not made a very compelling governor.  There is no presence about her.  I prefer small government on the state level and she has made too many mistakes in my book.  This is one of them.  Already voted for Rossi.

[sisu]

Backbone?  More like baculum!  And right up our collective pooper too!  Gagoire can suck Indian head pennies and buffalo nickels through a garden hose - but not for the state budget, just for her releection campaign!

Now that is funny.