Indian Leader’s Endorsement May Sway Nevada Primary

[William769]

WASHINGTON -- Senator Hillary Clinton may gain an edge in Nevada’s early primary election with the endorsement of an influential Native American leader, reports Indian Country Today. Arlen Melendez, chair of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony and a member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, announced that except for Sen. Clinton, no other leader could unite the nation while advancing diverse cultures. The Indian vote will be pivotal in sparsely populated Nevada, where the early primary is expected to be closely contested, Indian Country Today reports. For Melendez, Sen. Clinton has demonstrated a steady commitment to issues important to the native community, such as health care. In 2004 Clinton headed up a Democratic forum on Native issues and as president her husband appointed some of the government’s greatest champions of Indian causes, including Attorney General Janet Reno. ''She knows the issues already, and she'll hit the ground running,” he says. Melendez will press a Clinton presidency to reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, which has been blocked by the Bush administration.

http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=88addc379422611bbae013dd72be9822&from=rss

[draft_mario_cuomo]

1. Congrats to HRC for winning this important endorsement nt

[William769]

2. Thanks. Sorry I have not been around, just got out of the Hospital.

:(