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OCTOBER 31, 2000

The fifth in a series of guides about the elections. Also published today is Voters' Guide: New York State.

Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo) is mad.

But its not about the Animas La-Plata project. He's upset that Native media wants answers.

In an editorial published in today's issue of Indian Country Today, the Northern Cheyenne Senator accuses the Indian press of "rummaging through past press clippings" by asking the Texas Governor George W. Bush to owe up on his Indian policy views. He complains that the Indian media didn't cover as widely a "clarification" made not by Bush, but by a member of his staff.

OK, we admit it. Indianz.Com is guilty of rummaging through a press clipping issued by the Bush campaign in the very distant past of August 2000 regarding funding for tribal schools. On Monday and Tuesday, we reported how Bush's promise includes funding for which he can't take credit.

Yet Campbell himself refers to the same proposal. So its unclear just when the past becomes the past for him. Either way, Campbell doesn't admit in ICT that funding to fix six tribal schools has already been approved.

And when many tribal leaders were upset about a Washington state Republican Party resolution calling for termination of tribes, Campbell doesn't mention that Bush never addressed the issue. Yet Senator John McCain and the chairman of the Republican National Committee did, along with Campbell.

Campbell also says the Bush administration will guarantee consultation with tribal leaders at the earliest possible time. Meanwhile, he says Gore's eight-year Indian record is "blank."

But in the past eight years, various agencies and departments, from the Federal Communications Commission to the Department of Housing and Urban Development to the National Park Service, have instituted or improved government-to-government policies with tribes. Just yesterday, Bill Richardson, Secretary of the Department of Energy, outlined revised policies regarding tribes. And it was the Clinton administration that issued the 1998 tribal consultation executive order, as well as hosted a meeting with over 500 tribal leaders in 1994.

So while we won't comment on Campbell's accusation against Gore, it is safe to point out the obvious. The policies which Campbell says Bush will uphold are already well-seated in the administration and won't change should Gore become elected.

Indian Country Today is endorsing Al Gore for President.

Visit ICT:
Senator Campbell defends Bush's positions (Indian Country Today 11/1)
Why we endorse Al Gore: Substance is our preferred style (Indian Country Today 11/1)
Gore & Lieberman support Indian Sovereignty, answer all questions (Indian Country Today 11/1)

Related Stories:
Where are the Dems on tribes? (Politics 8/16)
The 2000 Democratic Platform on Tribes (Politics 8/16)
Pequot man drafted Indian platform (Politics 8/2)
Where is the GOP on tribes? (Politics 8/1)
The GOP 2000 Platform on Native Americans (Politics 8/1)
Party chairman defends resolution (Politics 7/18)
The original Republican resolution (Politics 7/18)
National GOP repudiates resolution (Politics 7/19)
Has the GOP blown it? (Politics 7/20)
The Second Republican Resolution (Politics 7/20)
FCC embraces sovereignty (Tech 06/09)

Other Voters' Guides
Monday, October 30 - The President, Part I
Tuesday, October 31 - The Senate: Washington State
Tuesday, October 31 - The President: Part II