Mike Graham is a member of the Oklahoma Cherokee Nation ..PLEASE READ?!

[in_cog_ni_to]

I emailed the author, Mr. Mike Graham, to ask his permission to post his ENTIRE piece here on DU. He said yes and here's his email...LOVE his snarky remark about the repuke sites. I LIKE MIKE!:):


Hi, yes you may forward the press release to all you think would like to read it and to the republicans news sites as well.........LOL

I have a new URL I post my press release to also:
California Chronicle: Mike Graham
http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/viewByAuthor.asp?authorID=593

Thanks for the support, have a great day.

AND here's the press release he wrote. I thought he said it very well! Also, you can email Mr. Graham any comments. Here's a link:http://www.webcommentary.com/asp/ShowArticle.asp?id=grahamm&date=060109

WEBCommentary Contributor
Author: Mike Graham
Bio: Mike Graham
Date: January 9, 2006
Print article -
Email article link to friend(s) -

American Indians - Victims Of Jack Abramoff And Republicans Lobbying Scam
The Jack Abramoff lobbying issue has put the republican party's head on the chopping block. This one issue has shown Americans just how much hate the republican party has toward the American Indian community. Jack Abramoff and republicans set up this lobbying scam against Indians! Republican party politics should be on trail along with Abramoff and others. American Indians are the victims in this case. The republican party leadership should be deported!!

Federal and State republican representatives are trying to make the Abramoff issue an Indian problem. (That dog won't hunt.) Republicans are trying to pull the wool over people's eyes by pumping out press releases saying Indians are to blame for this "lobbying mess", not them. Calls for congress to enact lobbying reform laws have been around for decades. Now that this one issue has come up involving Indian nations, republicans are falling all over themselves tointroduce "more" anti-Indian legislation, not lobbying reform. In doing this the republican leadership is showing it's true colors as to how it deals with Indian nation's issues.

The Jack Abramoff scandal lies at the feet of President Bush. President Bush has a long record of being against most all Indian issues, including those back when he was the governor of Texas. He spent a lot of time as governor trying to close the Texas Indian tribe's Tigua casino. When he joined up with Abramoff, Bush's dream came true. Abramoff got the support of Texas state republicans to shut down the Speaking Rock Casino. Hundreds of people lost their jobs over the state's action against the small Indian tribe. Bush and republican party leaders were jumping up and clicking their heels because they pulled off a fast one over the Indian tribe.

Texas has a state lottery. The state government has no problem with gambling, but they do have a big problem with Indians trying to make a buck! Before opening the Speaking Rock Casino, the Tigua tribe with 1,300 members was among the poorest group of Americans in the country. Texas republican officials sat back and did nothing to help the Tigua Indians economically. After all, they see them as "just Indians, not Americans".

After opening the Speaking Rock Casino, the Tigua tribe was bringing in around $60 million a year in profits. The tribe's unemployment and school dropout rates went from more than 50 percent to almost zero. Now that's what you call the American dream come true!!! But it was a nightmare to the republican party. They had to shut the Indian casinos down at any cost!

After republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff got the Speaking Rock Casino closed he turned around and offered his help to get the casino reopened. He forgot to tell tribal leaders that he, along with republican state representatives, put them out of business in the first place. (That's what you call double dipping.) This also shows Americans how republicans have no problem subverting our government to pass laws to cause harm toward the American Indian community.

Now that the cat's out of the bag, republicans are using the right wing press to try and make this issue all about Indian nation's sovereignty and gaming. In some reports, their using words like Indian gaming is the new smallpox blanket in reverse. Indian casinos are the new "Iron Curtain" bringing down America. Right wing republicans go on to say in their reports, that Indiansare "reservation shopping". They want you to forget the fact that Indians still own the land they are claming, under treaties made with the federal government, and that state governments are doing all they can to make sure those treaties are not honored!!

Indian nation's treaties made with the federal government are the "supreme law" of the land. In the U.S. Declaration of Independence it states "whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute newGovernment, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness". Today, federal and state republican representatives are going out of their way to cause harm and pain toward American Indians. Declaration of Independence:http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/declaration_transcript.html

It's past time for the republican party leadership to rethink it's ill-conceived policies of today against the American Indian community. American citizens will not stand by and watch our government trash a race of people like the American Indians. Our government should be working with Indian nations to make the American dream a reality, not putting them down as they are. Each year our government sends billions of our tax dollars to other countries to help them out, while cutting program funding here for all Americans.

American Indians are fed up with the republican party's anti-Indian propaganda in the media and legislation. American Indians will not back down anymore. Jack Abramoff is the republican party's problem, not the American Indians. Our federal government had better start dealing with real Indian issues like housing, poverty, education and health care. It's time to get off the gaming issue!! Move on! Or we will see you at the voting booth!!

Mike Graham
Founder, United Native America


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Biography - Mike Graham

Mike Graham is a member of the Oklahoma Cherokee Nation, a retired service connected disabled Army veteran. Founded United Native America in 1993 to form a national group to take action on American Indian issues. The groups main issue is to bring about a federal national holiday for Native Americans. United Native America's motto is, "Standing up for America and the American Indian community."

Graham has been a guest speaker on national and international radio talk shows to include television programs concerning Indian community issues, his reports on Indian issues have been published in newspapers all over America. He has traveled across the country discussing issues with Indian nation leaders, he has presented Indian issues at college's and high schools.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read other commentaries by Mike Graham.
Visit Mike Graham's website at http://www.UnitedNativeAmerica.com

[Uncle Joe]

1. Excellent letter!

Kicked and nominated.

:kick:

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. I LOVED it too! Thanks for the nomination and kick.

:hi:

[IndyOp]

3. Great find - Thanks for posting this!

My concern: Given that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior, I am not too sure this is true: "American citizens will not stand by and watch our government trash a race of people like the American Indians."

:grr:

[in_cog_ni_to]

4. He meant to say.."Normal, citizens with HEARTS, will not standy by

and watch our government trash a race of people. ;)

[Coexist]

6. Thanks for this!

[G_j]

5. wow thanks! K&R

I'll be passing this on.

[in_cog_ni_to]

8. Thank you! Me thinks the repuke party just lost the Native American vote.

:) I suppose I could be wrong, but I DON'T THINK SO. :evilgrin:

[G_j]

12. I don't think they had very many to begin with

at least among those I've spoken with and some of these folks are Vets who are generally supportive of most things military. But not Bush, Rumsfeld etc.

At this point I doubt if Republicans could ever again gain any trust from the NA community.

[in_cog_ni_to]

13. My thinking is Abramoff's involvement in the Tribes

and him making all those promises he didn't keep. I'm sure there were some who voted repuke because of promises that lying bastard Abramoff made. Never again. No doubt. NEVER trust a repuke. That's MY motto.;)

[AuntiBush]

7. Excellent Post!

K&N!

[spanone]

9. kicked & recommended

[bloom]

10. Kick...

(and recommended)

[Catrina]

11. Great letter and he mentions the tribe who used their money

to lift up the community, out of poverty, and then the evil Republicans destroyed their livlihood. I saw the Documentary on that story. It was heart-breaking and should be seen by every American. I do not remember who made the film, or on which channel it was shown, possibly CBS. That was the first time I had heard of Abramoff. After that I saw the hearings in the Senate, and got a look at the despicable Jack Abramoff for the first time. I felt good that it was related to the story I had seen in the documentary, and that maybe justice would be done. I had no idea then, what all that would mean to the Republican party.

I wonder if Mike would know the name of that documentary. I would love to see it again now, after learning so much more about the story and vile people who were responsible for what happened.

Democrats and American Indians should now join together to stop the nasty, evil, rightwing spin machine, which includes CNN, MSNBC and the rest of the corporate media. We can tell the truth one person at a time if we have to.

This weekend alone, I have managed to set straight, whole groups of people who were confused by the lies they were told on CNN et al. They, in turn, will tell others.

NOT ONE DEMOCRAT received a dime from Jack Abramoff. Lying about it will only arouse more anger towards the media and their rightwing sponsors.

[in_cog_ni_to]

14. You could email Mike and ask him if he knows the movie. I bet he does.

:) The repukes just can't stand it when other people are making money. They want it all. Greedy bastards.

[Sparkman]

15. FREQUENT CASINOS ON RESERVATION LANDS!! Music, food or craps!

I bet many have yet to party at their local, or maybe a full blast resort casino, on Indian Lands, and here in Calif., they're just as much fun as Las Vegas or Reno or Laughlin. Put our recreation money where the original people get the most direct benefit...after hundreds of years of hell on earth at the hand of the European American Cavalry and the settlers, disenfranchisement and racist predjudice. forgive spelling.

[in_cog_ni_to]

16. We have casinos on our rivers here in Illinois.

One, Harrah's, in Joliet not far from here and my brother ALWAYS travels to the Reservation Casino in Michigan? is it? He LOVES it and they have a BLAST. They make a week-end trip out of it. Lots of fun and it helps our Native Americans WHO DESERVE IT and need the money more than Harrah's, that's for sure!!

[Sparkman]

19. "Party American", Indian that is.

[DoYouEverWonder]

17. Bush Terminates Testy Texas Tribes - 04/01/01

George W Bush

"With this order, I'm batting these tribes out of the country," said President Bush as BIA Head Richard Blumenthal watches. Photo © Reuters.


WASHINGTON, DC -- Bypassing Congress and ignoring the outcries of tribal leaders throughout Indian Country, President George W. Bush on Friday signed an executive order terminating three Texas tribes who have been his legal and political foes since his days as the state's Governor.

With controversial Bureau of Indian Affairs Chief Richard Blumenthal at his side, Bush officially ended his six-year battle with the Ysleta del Sur Tigua Tribe, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe, and the Kickapoo Tribe. It was the first time since the 1960s that a federally recognized tribe was terminated by the government.

"These unlawful tribes have refused to abide by federal court orders requiring them to shut down their illegal gaming facilities," said Bush. "Termination was the only way to make them pay."

Added Blumenthal: "This sends a clear message to other tribes that insolence will not be tolerated."

But the leaders of the Tigua Tribe were not worried. Much to the chagrin of Bush who has enjoyed friendly relations with Mexico, Tigua Governor Manuel "Speedy" Trujillo secured a deal several months ago with Mexican President Vicente Fox to relocate his entire tribe -- casino and all -- to a 50,000-acre reservation just across the border from El Paso, Texas.

http://www.indianz.com/ict/showarchive.asp?id=bush1



I think Mr. Graham might be interested in this article.

[in_cog_ni_to]

18. Holy Crap. Did you see this? They made a deal to give Mexico 50%!

Of their slot machine revenues! Daaaaaaamn. This is SO UNFAIR! Native Americans ARE this country! This is THEIR country and they have to open their Casinos in Mexico?:grr:

<snip>
The move doesn't come without a price. In a deal criticized by many of Fox's fellow National Action Party (PAN) members, the Tigua Tribe has agreed to fork over 50 percent of their slot machine revenues to the Mexican government.

With slot revenues expected from the tribe's newly christened Águila del Discurso (Speaking Eagle) to run as high as $2.1 billion in the second quarter alone, the Mexican government stands to gain heavily from the deal. Trujillo defended the agreement as a "win for everyone involved" and Fox said it would help spur economic development<snip>

Bush is such a bastard. What-a-piece-of-shit.:grr:

[sofa king]

26. Yeah, it's a joke, sort of.

"Indian Country Tomorrow" was the April Fools Day edition of Indian Country Today, once the most reputable American Indian news publication. However, it is somewhat predictive, as many spoofs are.

Richard Blumenthal, mentioned in the article, is the Attorney General of the state of Connecticut. He has been at the forefront of the fight against the federal recognition of several Indian tribes which have held reservations in Connecticut since that place was a British colony. Just a few months ago, after the Department of the Interior had studied the issue for years and recommended in favor of two tribes, the Schaghticoke and the Eastern Pequot, Mr. Blumenthal's office met with the lobbyists of Haley Barbour, and voila, the decisions in favor of those tribes were reversed, effectively terminating both tribes. Very soon, Connecticut will steal their small reservations and attempt to destroy those tribes for all time.

One of the inside jokes within the article is the fact that Blumenthal is a white guy and an Indian hater (and, sadly, a Democrat, though hardly worthy of the distinction). As I discuss in more detail in the post below, the position of Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs is vacant. Those duties are being performed by non-Indians, which is against the spirit of the law if not the letter.

[DoYouEverWonder]

21. I am so sorry - this article is a joke

Please do not pass it along to anyone, unless you think they will find it humorous.

My apologies for any mis-info that I may have spread.

DYEW

[JanusAscending]

23. I'm afraid "sorry" doesn't cut it with me!!

What in God's name were you thinking? None of this is a "joke"! Think of the implications of spreading lies like this! Haven't we all been lied to enough already? Un..efing...believable!

[in_cog_ni_to]

20. KICK...too good to miss!

:kick:

[byronius]

22. Thank you for this story.

I still do not understand fully the underlying anti-Indian tendencies in the right wing. I've actually heard a local customer of mine openly, publicly state genocidal comments about American Indians -- this man is a loyal conservative republican activist, religious -- I was sort of shocked. They usually hide it better these days.

It was all very John Wayne-ish, as if the cowboy logic of the 1860's was perfectly good today. Somehow greed and domination are posed as common sense, a base for an entire philosophy. Remember Rush Limbaugh's comment about Indian populations increasing since the Colonial days? Al Franken found out that he was only off by some huge number, and the other way around. But it's an entire reality for them, very sick, very dog-eat-dog and ultimately incompetent. They keep getting culturally pushed back all around the world, in fits and starts, but inexorably back. They will not prevail in the United States. Or we must all be killed.

They are the rocks over the rising tide. Soon to be sand.

Jack Abrahamoff's e-mails say everything.

[ellenfl]

24. kickin' it. (mostly so i can find it later!) eom

[sofa king]

25. Mr. Graham is dead on, but there is so much more to be said.

As a researcher for a couple of Indian affairs lawfirms from 1998 to 2004, I personally witnessed all that Mr. Graham recounts and more. His letter comports with the warning I recently heard through the grapevine that the Republicans (predictably, and with Rove's fingerprints all over the plan) are planning to shift the blame for the Abramoff scandals onto the Indians themselves.

However, this letter is just the tip of the iceberg. The depth of the scam against Indians cuts to the very heart of the Constitution and our national security. Here are just a few examples I can cite off the top of my head:

* Just this week, Josh Marshall at www.talkingpointsmemo.com has established that Bush's Interior transition team included not only Jack Abramoff, but also #2 Interior man J. Steven Griles and David Safavian, both of whom are now suspected to have criminally aided Abramoff.

* One of the recommendations of the Interior transition team was the suspension of all the "midnight regulations" relating to tribes which were published in the Federal Register in the last days of the Clinton Administration. The federal government is required by law to help tribes reacquire reservation land stolen from them, and the land-into-trust regulations published in January 2001 were part of that legal requirement. Abramoff's transition team had them yanked again, and to this day they are still not operative, which cost tribes millions in lobbying fees--much of it paid to Greenberg Traurig and Abramoff. Today, if a tribe wants to recover former reservation land, they have to do it the old fashioned way: bribe someone in the government to get it. That's by design, the design of Jack Abramoff and the Republican Party.

* Griles was instrumental in the destruction of a sacred site claimed by the Quechan Tribe, a site which included one of the few Nazca-like desert floor sculptures visible only from the air in the United States. It's now well on its way to becoming a cyanide heap-leach mine owned by Glamis Imperial, after huge sums of money were spent by the Quechan to protect their religious site. I'm certain this is only one of many examples of GOP targeting and extortion of individual tribes.

* Within days of the September 11 attacks, Greenberg Traurig formed a Homeland Security lobbying team headed up by Team Abramoff members. The Bush Administration has been predictably reticent to provide details, but it would appear that the GT lobbying team was the source behind the curious decision to define tribes as "local governments" under the Homeland Security Act. As a result, tribes are not eligible for federal homeland security funds, and there are now two dozen reservations in America which border either Mexico, Canada, or the open sea which are effectively wide open to terrorist infiltrators. Again, tribes have spent millions to rectify this problem-by-design, much of it paid to the probable creators of the problem.

(In this case, they are feverishly lobbying to protect you, not themselves, because a terrorist isn't going to bother attacking the most impoverished and least acknowledged segment of our population, unless they're going after the nuclear weapons, dams, and railroad, power and natural gas lines which are often found on reservations. In any case, the ultimate terrorist objective will be harming you, not them. Does this oversight invite attack? Of course it does. That's precisely what the Bush Administration wants: more attacks, more fear, and more willingness to let them continue their vandalization of our society unimpeded. When it does happen, who do you think the Bush Administration will blame?)

* The Texas Lottery Commission was chaired by none other than Harriet Miers, Mr. Bush's recent and highly unqualified selection for the Supreme Court. It would also appear the Ms. Miers was the Bush campaign's invisible Indian affairs liason, who was mysteriously unavailable to the Indian press and researchers like me for the duration of the 2000 campaign. She was also reputedly on the short list of people considered for the role of Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs until it was pointed out that federal law requires the position to be held by an American Indian, because non-Indians have a history of ripping Indians off when they get that job. And what do you know? Today, the position of Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs is unfilled, and the duties are performed by a non-Indian in an acting capacity.

Within the first six months of the Bush Administration, I was telling everyone I knew that this would be the most corrupt presidential administration in recent times, because I and everyone else could see the the gears of government grinding in the direction of favoratism and corruption. I was wrong. I now think that by any reasonable standard, this is the most corrupt presidential administration in the history of our nation, and our nation will be lucky to survive it at all.

Don't lie to yourself: Indians are almost always one of the first targets of American government corruption because it's as true now as it ever was that you don't know anything about them, don't like them if you know a little about them, and otherwise don't give a shit about them unless they get in your way. That ignorance has been and continues to be used against you. But like the stub of an iceberg which only hints at the island of disaster lurking under the surface, that mechanism of corruption is now government-wide, and is being used to strip-mine your savings, your safety, and your future. (And to the few readers who don't fall into that blanket damnation, my apologies. Those of you who think I'm being harsh or incorrect fall squarely into it, as you will soon learn the hard way.)

We're all Indians now.