Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-California) released an ad that characterized her Democratic opponent Raul Ruiz as a "radical" because he took part in protests on Thanksgiving Day. As a student at Harvard Medical School, Ruiz joined the United American Indians of New England to call attention to the genocide of indigenous people. During one National Day of Mourning protest in 1997, he was arrested although the charges were later dropped. Bono Mack's ad says Ruiz attacked "our American values" because he protested on Thanksgiving. “It’s a shame that she portrays it as anti-American for me to want to respect our Native American heritage,” Ruiz told The Riverside Press-Enterprise in response. Ruiz, who participated in six National Day of Mourning protests, said he was arrested while trying to protect Sam Sapiel from police officers. Sapiel was a Penobscot elder who was active in Indian issues in New England. He died in 2007. On her campaign website, Bono Mack also labels Ruiz as anti-American because he supported imprisoned American Indian Movement activist Leonard Peltier, who was convicted for murdering two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Reservation in 1975. Peltier has drawn support from tribes, Indian organizations and politicians. Bono Mack represents California's 45th Congressional district, which is home to several tribes. She has sponsored several pro-tribal bills and has been generally supportive of Indian issues. Ruiz is of Hispanic heritage. Get the Story:
Bono Mack, Ruiz race gets hot (The Riverside Press-Enterprise 10/15)
Mary Bono Mack, Raul Ruiz debate heats race (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 10/14)
Ruiz fundraising tops Bono Mack (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 10/14)
Join the Conversation
