GOP congressman furious after Obama thwarts plan to sell sacred Apache land to foreign mining firm

[riversedge]

Source: rawstory.com




GOP congressman furious after Obama thwarts plan to sell sacred Apache land to foreign mining firm
Bethania Palma Markus

11 Mar 2016 at 12:27 ET

..............Republican Congressman Paul Gosar had joined forces with Democratic U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick in an effort to sell off the ancestral Native American land, known as Oak Flat or Chi’chil Bildagoteel to the Apache community, to mining firm Resolution Copper, owned by an Australian-British corporation. According to the New York Times, it would have been the first time in history Native American lands would have been handed over to a foreign company by Congress.

The land was set to be handed over due to last-minute language added to a must-pass military spending bill. But according to the Weekly, the Obama administration prevented that from happening. The site has long been used for Apache coming-of-age ceremonies, particularly for girls.

“This fraudulent action is the latest in a long list of egregious bureaucratic abuses of power by the Obama Administration. I will continue to fight this overreach,” Gosar wrote in a statement.

“Shame on the Park Service and Forest Service for ramming a bogus historic place listing down the throats of Arizonans,” Gosar continued. “Clearly, the Obama Administration cares more about pandering to extremist environmental groups and a D.C. lobbyist from the Clinton Administration than following the law and listening to the American public.”
........................

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/2016/03/gop-congressman-furious-after-obama-thwarts-plan-to-sell-sacred-apache-land-to-foreign-mining-firm/

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The local Native Americans have been occupying the site per the article


I am so glad Pres. Obama is our President



TWEET:
Raw Story ‏@RawStory 30m30 minutes ago

Republican furious after Obama kills plot to sell sacred Apache site to foreign mining firm http://ow.ly/Zm0sT

[WhiteTara]

1. I'm glad he is our president.

[Nolacs22]

42. Obama

He did the right thing didn't he? Republicans think they can do whatever they want. The land belongs to the Indians right? And they should have it, enough has been taken away from them already. It's like that Snyder has people drinking and using bad water, even paying for it. What is happening in America? The Republican's are running rough-shod over its own citizen's and getting away with it.

[Unknown Beatle]

46. "than following the law and listening to the American public.”

That's just it, Obama was listening to the American public. When republicans don't have their way, they almost always say that it's what the American public wants. Bullshit! Republicans don't care about the American public, they just use us for political expediency.

Gosar is an Asshole!



Welcome to DU, Nolacs22.

[EndElectoral]

2. K&R

[a kennedy]

3. Republican Congressman Paul Gosar had joined forces with Democratic U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick

DEMOCRATIC U S Rep Ann Kirkpatrick??? What the H*ll is this??? A Democrat also signed on to this???

[monicaangela]

4. You can add John McCain to that list of obnoxious GOP Congressmen

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/john-mccain-confronted-by-oak-flat-protesters-and-chased-off-navajo-nation-7570607

[riversedge]

11. Agree. I read about Mccain --your article awhile ago.

[asiliveandbreathe]

5. Gosar - bogus historical place??

Go ask the Native Americans - members of the Apache Nation....I am SOOOOOO happy we elected President Obama...

visit - http://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2016/03/10/congressman-gosar-claims-oak-flat-has-never-been-a-sacred-site-wants-to-kick-out-apache-stronghold-protesters -

A great read for understanding what the Apache Nation has been fighting....

Gosar McCain Kirkpatrick and oh, jeff flake have had resolute mining filling their pockets for years....yes, anne Kirkpatrick a DEM...too

Let Gosar stew...

[C Moon]

6. And a big sarcastic "THANK YOU" to Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick.

[ArizonaLib]

38. I KNOW!!!

What the Hell? Prior to this i was excited about her running against McCain!

[rurallib]

7. Wonder how much Resolution Copper bribed the congress members with

O, sorry, I mean "donated to their campaigns"

[asiliveandbreathe]

8. We are also watching the goings on at the Grand Canyon and

someones pie in the sky "Escalade" project..sung to the tune of "desparately needing jobs" - this Escalade Project would build a TRAM down the side of the wall of the GC at the point of confluence...and build resort etc..at bottom...never mind where their supposed to get the water.....
for infrastructure....

Follow the money at every turn...another good read.....


http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/politics/grand-canyon-development-project-rejected-by-federal-government/article/459703

[Hekate]

10. Oh crap

[dbackjon]

27. That is strictly on Navajo Nation Land - the President can't block that

This was on Federal (non-reservation) land

[asiliveandbreathe]

32. I am not saying the Prez blocked the escaladfe Project.. - the people spoke...

and the new Navajo Nation President Begay was against it!!!

[dbackjon]

40. Yes I've been following it and supporting the anti-Escalade people

[asiliveandbreathe]

44. Right is right - wrong is wrong - we got the US Forest Svs to

stop the removal of wild horses from the Salt River last year - for now - they have been grazing for over 400 years..

AZ Legislature forging ahead to pass a bill protecting horses...unusual as that might seem....AZ legs are nutty...but good on them....

[asiliveandbreathe]

45. Thank you for your support....

[Hekate]

9. Damn but i am going to miss President Obama!

Thank you, Sir.

[ffr]

12. Just emphasizes how untrue the meme is about 'both candidates are the same'

They are not the same. Republicans are evil twisted shills that will do anything for a buck, including screwing over the same people who voted for them.

It also emphasizes the payback for all those who stuck it out in order to vote for the right candidate, which just so happens, is the democrat, president Barack Obama.

[bbgrunt]

13. wonderful!

[NCjack]

14. McCain (R), Kirkpatrick (D), and Gosar (R) just missed a nice paycheck in $AUD.

Sad -- I remember the days when a GOP senator with seniority wouldn't give the time of day to a congressman of his own party, and never with a Democratic congresswoman. Is McGramps running low on campaign money? Good catch Arizona DEMS and President Obama.

[HeartoftheMidwest]

28. Give "credit" where credit's due?

From the Tuscon Weekly article:
"In December 2014, Gosar, Kirkpatrick, and U.S. Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake added a last-minute amendment to a must-pass National Defense Authorization Act, giving away Oak Flat to Resolution Copper."

Let's not forget Senator Jeff Flake.

[Dont call me Shirley]

15. Good for Obama! These assholes, R and D, need to stop fucking over the Native Amercans.

[atreides1]

16. What makes Kirkpatrick's involvement worse

Kirkpatrick was born and raised on an Apache Indian reservation near McNary, Arizona, though she is not of Native American descent; her mother was a teacher and her father a general store owner.

She can't say she didn't know how important that piece of land was to the Apache Indians!!!

[asiliveandbreathe]

17. I don't use twitter but I sure would like to send Gosar and

McCain and Kirkpatrick and flake some cheese to go with their whine....tell McCain to get OFF Oak Flat...

Superior, as it is right now, a hole in the ground from mining past..you go further south to Hayden AZ- Hayden is a town in Gila in the State of Arizona Hayden's current mayor is Bob Smith. According to the 2010 census, the population of the town is 662. The economic base of Hayden's economy is the Asarco Hayden Smelter.

On the road from Superior to Hayden, you will see more another huge hole in the ground..Another ghost town...the only reason I know this, I would travel with hubby when he was working for a company that sells, maintains and repairs mailing equipment....after we moved to AZ twenty years ago....

..and to think copper demand is,

Wait for it - Just days before Freeport-McMoRan announced the suspension of mining in Miami, Ariz., in the wake of declining demand for copper, U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., took to Facebook to counter arguments by the San Carlos Apache Tribe in opposition to a new copper mine proposed near Superior.

Guess he thought he would lose a huge payday....slime....

[tblue37]

34. McCain's wife is an heiress. He is married to someone with a $100 million net worth. He

isn't hurting for spending money, but for such greed freaks, no amount is ever enough.

[asiliveandbreathe]

43. Yes I know -Budweiser/Anheiser-Bush - distributors....

How much does a greedy slime need...

[MyOwnPeace]

18. Gosar said,

“Clearly, the Obama Administration cares more about pandering to extremist environmental groups and a D.C. lobbyist from the Clinton Administration than following the law and listening to the American public.”

Oh, and I wonder what D.C. lobbyist bought Gosar and told him what he needed to say?

[Fast Walker 52]

19. the GOP never loses a chance to show how horrible they are

[retrowire]

20. What the fuck is wrong with Republicans?

Let them keep the land we majorly stole from them. Can you PLEASE stop lining your fucking pockets with money for once?

"MEH BUT YOU'RE BEING PC!! PEOPLE NEED JOBS AND MONEY"

No, I'm fucking being decent. I'm having respect for a people that were here before us. It's not called political correctness, it's called having morals and being polite.

[FighttheFuture]

36. You really need to ask? WTF is wrong with Kirkpatrick (D)?! See atreides1 post at #16, above.

Shit like that needs to be purged from the party.

[Angry Dragon]

21. every day I hate the repubs more and more

[Kind of Blue]

22. Thank You, President Obama

from the bottom of my heart!

Thank you, riversedge, for posting such incredibly good news! I'm just overjoyed

[blondie58]

23. This makes it extra important that we keep

The office in Democratic hands! That and Obamacare.

[drm604]

30. So true!

If the Republican Party, in its current state, were to gain control of the federal government, they will likely do irreparable damage; selling off things that can never be gotten back, and permanently damaging or developing important wilderness areas. And they'd no doubt hinder or stop progress on stopping global warming.

[Firebrand Gary]

24. Kicking it up!

Recd too!

[Gumboot]

25. Tears of joy today!

Beautiful American land has been saved for all of us. It's just common sense, really.

Hoping our two nominee contenders will applaud & highlight this ASAP.

I'm trying to remember the last president who did anything for Native Americans.

Never heard of Ann Kirkpatrick before, but I hope she gets primaried and run out of office this time around. Truly disgraceful. I'd happily vote for a Native American running against her.

[turbinetree]

26. The Doctrine of Discovery on this issue is defeated.............................

"Republican Congressman Paul Gosar had joined forces with Democratic U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick in an effort to sell off the ancestral Native American land, known as Oak Flat or Chi’chil Bildagoteel to the Apache community, to mining firm Resolution Copper, owned by an Australian-British corporation. According to the New York Times, it would have been the first time in history Native American lands would have been handed over to a foreign company by Congress."


Your ilk Congressman and Congresswoman are a absolute disgrace-----------------you like bribe money-plain and simple

Ann Kirkpatrick---------------------DINO
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/pacs.php?cycle=2016&cid=N00029260&type=I

Paul Gosar
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/pacs.php?cycle=2016&cid=N00030771&type=I



Lets sell off your christain churches -------------------and see how you feel


Honk--------------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016

[oldandhappy]

29. Thank you Mr. President. I appreciate you LOTS!

[Gidney N Cloyd]

31. But that land's been deemed unsafe for the Apache's use at this time.

Lamarr: Yes. If you will just sign this, governor, right here.
Gov. Lepetomane: Yes, yes. What the hell is it?
Lamarr: Well, under the provisions of this bill, we would snatch 200,000 acres of Indian territory which we have deemed unsafe for their use at this time. They're such children.
Gov. Lepetomane: 200,000 acres? 200,000 acres?! What'll it cost, man? What'll it cost?
Lamarr: Ah! A box...of these. Gov. Lepetomane: Are you crazy? They'll never go for it. And then again, they might. they love toys.

[christx30]

33. While reading the story,

I expected it to end with "to conclude the press conference, Gosar kicked a puppy."

Seriously? Selling off Native American land? To a mining company, no less? Not only is it wrong, but it's such a cliched move.
Congrats, Gosar. You're officially a villain from an 80's kids movie.

[raging moderate]

35. Once again, hooray for President Obama!

I am so glad Barack Obama is in the White House! He is well-named (Barack means blessing). You guys didn't see me crying at Obama's first inauguration, or me shrieking like a banshee at Obama's second inauguration.

The claims of Native Americans to their Sacred Lands are NOT bogus! Some white people need to get over themselves and learn to respect others!

[pansypoo53219]

37. FUCK COMMERCE. HERITAGE IS NOT FOR SALE!

[felix_numinous]

39. Thank you President Obama

Very very good news

[MBS]

41. Outstanding!

Easily the best news I've read all day.
Thanks so much for letting us know.

[ebayfool]

47. Wonderful move by Obama, just beautiful! They have been trying to do this for years! Rec'd!

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/29/opinion/selling-off-apache-holy-land.html?_r=0
snip/

The swap — which will trade 5,300 acres of private parcels owned by the company to the Forest Service and give 2,400 acres including Oak Flat to Resolution so that it can mine the land without oversight — had been attempted multiple times by Arizona members of Congress on behalf of the company. (Among those involved was Rick Renzi, a former Republican representative who was sent to federal prison in February for three years for corruption related to earlier versions of the land-transfer deal.) It always failed in Congress because of lack of support. But this time was different. This time, the giveaway language was slipped onto the defense bill by Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake of Arizona at the 11th hour. The tactic was successful only because, like most last-minute riders, it bypassed public scrutiny.

It’s worth noting that Rio Tinto affiliates have been McCain campaign contributors, and thatMr. Flake, before he made it to Congress, was a paid lobbyist for Rio Tinto Rössing Uranium (a huge uranium mine in Namibia). Mr. McCain and others assert that the mining project will be a boost to the local economy, though it’s unclear how many of the 1,400 promised jobs would be local; a Superior-area miners’ group, in fact, opposes the swap on the basis that it won’t help the local people or economy. Rio Tinto, incidentally, has been called out in the past for environmental devastation.


Let's see 'em try handing over a church to foreign investors - see how big an uproar that brings out!

[dembotoz]

48. unless you are white and of an approved christain faith you beliefs do not count

here in wisconsin the gop bastards almost got thru a bill to plow up native mounds

[randome]

49. Aww. Poor little loser whiny bunnies.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]"Everybody is just on their feet screaming 'Kill Kill Kill'! This is -hockey- Conservative values!"[/center][/font][hr]

[Octafish]

50. Paul Gosar, Republican Asshole. (NT)

[NYC Liberal]

51. "than following the law"...but this DIDN'T become law.

So now in nutjob Republican fantasyland, Obama can break a law that never became a law?