Howard Dean, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, criticized Sen. John McCain 's (R-Arizona) for his treatment of Elouise Cobell, the lead plaintiff in the Indian trust fund lawsuit.

During a June 26, 2005, hearing before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, McCain chastised Cobell for comments she made about a trust reform bill. Although Cobell apologized for the comments, McCain treated her in a hostile manner, Dean said yesterday.

"He treated her like dirt. It was a disgrace. There's going to be a big difference between a John McCain presidency and a Barack Obama presidency for Indian Country," Dean told Native delegates to the Democratic National Convention, The Durango Herald reported.

McCain later promised to give the Cobell case "one good shot" during his tenure as chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee. He withdrew plans for an $8 billion settlement at the last minute.

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Obama organizer: American Indian votes crucial (The Durango Herald 8/26)

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