Only Three Democratic Candidates at “Prez on the Rez” Forum

The first ever presidential forum on a reservation yesterday saw only three Democratic Presidential candidates, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel appear. Organizers had hoped to have all the Democratic presidential candidates participate, declaring it was time for candidates to start paying attention to Indian issues. But the leading contenders, Sens. Hillary Clinton, of New York, and Barack Obama, of Illinois, and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, reportedly cited scheduling conflicts, and did not attend.

Tribal leaders and political players said the decision was unwise.

"It will have an impact. The reality played out here today will have an impact in Indian country," said Frank La Mere, chairman of the Democratic National Committee's Native American Coordinating Council. "There is some fence mending to be done between now and the Iowa caucuses."

Organizers feared previously the candidates would stay away because of their loyalties to labor unions. The Morongo Band of Mission Indians, one of the event's hosts, was at odds with the hotel and restaurant employees union earlier this year over the terms of the tribe's state gaming agreement.

The three candidates who attended touted their individual histories of supporting Indian sovereignty and other key native issues, urging tribal leaders to throw their support behind a candidate who is in touch with Indians' needs.

Richardson derided the candidates who failed to attend, while lauding the event as pivotal for Indians. "It shows that this is in my judgment a step forward, although it is negative and embarrassing that not every candidate is here," he said.

Richardson, who reminded attendees he was the first candidate to agree to attend the forum, met with tribal leaders before the forum and laid out a 14-point plan for addressing Indian issues. Among his pledges was a plan to help Indians develop energy sources, which was echoed by Gravel.

All three candidates vowed to improve Indian representation in federal government, from judicial appointments to Cabinet positions.
Kucinich told of traveling across the country and meeting tribal members in shanties. He urged attendees Thursday to spread the word about his candidacy, which has struggled. "Take the time to tell them that there's someone running for president who understands their heart, that there's someone running for president who understands their needs," he said. "There are so many hearts waiting for a president who they can connect with."

Gravel, the elder candidate of the group, took a lighter touch, poking fun at his own low-profile candidacy and age. He was the only one to mention Leonard Peltier, an American Indian serving time after being convicted of killing two FBI agents in 1975. Gravel pledged to free Peltier if elected, bringing the room to its feet in a standing ovation.

Kalyn Free, president of the forum's organizing group, didn't tell people to shun the candidates who avoided Thursday's event, but lauded it as a way to build influence. She encouraged the some 200 people who attended the event to view it as "an incremental step" in building stronger Indian political power on a national level. "Put our money and our votes and our organizing strength behind the candidate that best supports Indian issues," said Free, president of INDN's List, also known as Indigenous Democratic Network List of Tulsa, Okla.

Morongo Chairman Robert Martin said the candidates' actions Thursday will influence who the tribe supports, but he declined to say the tribe would withhold donations from candidates who didn't attend.

The forum drew members of several Inland tribes, including other ones with a history of political largesse. Members and staff of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, which has a reservation in San Bernardino, were there. At least one member of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, whose reservation is near Temecula, was there, and the nongaming Ramona Band of Mission Indians, with a reservation near Anza, had representatives there.

Martin said in his opening remarks that the candidates were wrong to discount the influence of tribes, whose voting power he said can be significant in some areas. "They should take a moment and talk to Al Gore about what a few hundred votes can mean," Martin said. "Some candidates still don't get it."

Full Article:
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_prezontherez24.391b712.html