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TULSA, OKLAHOMA - The leaders of Oklahoma’s four largest tribes publicly endorsed Congressman Brad Carson’s campaign for U.S. Senate at a news conference in Tulsa on Tuesday.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief A.D. Ellis, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Chief Greg Pyle and Chickasaw Governor Bill Anoatubby joined forces for the first time ever in endorsing a political candidate. The four tribes have more than 400,000 citizens and make up more than 90% of Oklahoma’s Indian population. In all, more than 20 tribes have endorsed Carson for Senate since the race began.

"Oklahomans need a Senator who will represent all its citizens," Smith said. "Tom Coburn has shown disdain and contempt for Native Americans, farmers, rural voters and Oklahoma’s legislators. He has singled out Indian tribes with his divisive language. Fortunately, we can do better. Brad Carson will represent all of Oklahoma."

"Carson has been loyal to Oklahomans on issues important to us, and has stood behind tribal sovereignty and economic development," Ellis said.

"Brad Carson is the best candidate for Oklahomans and the best for Indian Nations, and what’s good for Indian Nations is good for Oklahoma," Anoatubby said.

"We’re proud to have a person who has shown a history of bringing back money to our state," Pyle said. "Oklahoma is tired of being a donor state, sending more tax money out of state than comes back. Carson is a man who can change that and get the job done for all Oklahomans."

Smith said the Cherokee Nation is mailing out CDs to more than 30,000 Cherokee citizens this week. The CDs feature public comments by both Coburn and Carson on Indian issues.

"When people hear for themselves the disdain in Coburn’s voice and the harshness of his language when he talks about Indian tribes, it’s hard to imagine that he will represent us fairly in the U.S. Senate," Smith said. "We want our Cherokee voters to hear with their own ears what Coburn and Carson have to say about the Cherokee Nation, in their own words."

Coburn’s comments include a reference to tribal treaties as "primitive agreements," statements that tribal citizens in eastern Oklahoma "aren’t really Indians," and a vow that he will kill a land reform bill in the U.S. Senate he co-authored while he was in the House of Representatives.

For more information Coburn or Carson’s comments on Native American issues, visit the Cherokee Nation’s web site.

Related Cherokee Nation contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org