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News from the Cherokee Nation, OK
Copyright © 2004 CNO
TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - Leaders of the Cherokee Nation are puzzled by U.S. Senate candidate Tom Coburn, who said that Cherokees “aren’t really Indians” and that Indian treaties are “primitive agreements” during a meeting in Altus, Oklahoma last month.Coburn seems to be narrowing down the list of Oklahomans that he will serve if elected to the U.S. Senate. He has already panned farmers, “crapheads in Oklahoma City,” and Native Americans appear to be next on his list.
“Listen, I know the tribal issues; I was a congressman where most of the Indians are in this state,” Coburn said. “The problem is, most of them aren’t Indians.”
“This shows a pattern of divisive behavior by Coburn,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “I’m a Republican and it is hard to understand why Tom Coburn takes pride in dividing Oklahoma and ridiculing people. If you disagree with him, you are evil. There’s no discussion, no room for understanding.”
“I’ve been a Republican all my life and Tom Coburn is an embarrassment to the Republican party,” said Bill Johnson, who represents Tulsa and Washington counties on the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council. “Comments like these are why I keep seeing ‘Republicans for Carson’ signs popping up everywhere.”
Among his rambling comments at the Altus meeting, Coburn also told his audience that the Cherokee Nation has given Brad Carson’s campaign $150,000; when, in fact, the Cherokee Nation has not given the Carson campaign a single dollar.
“At least not yet,” said Cara Cowan, who represents Rogers County on the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council. “But the way Coburn is talking, (giving money to Carson) doesn’t sound like such a bad idea. This is a race for more than just a Senate seat. This is about equal treatment for all Oklahomans.”
Coburn also called treaties between the United States and Indian Nations “a joke” and “primitive agreement(s).”
“I mean this is a joke,” Coburn said. “It is one thing for us to keep our obligations to recognize Native Americans, but it’s a totally different thing for us to allow a primitive agreement with the Native Americans to undermine Oklahoma’s future…”
“It’s surprising to hear such divisive rhetoric at a time when we need to come together as a people, as a state and as a nation to work towards the common goals of all Oklahomans,” said Chuck Hoskin, who represents Nowata and Craig counties on the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council. “Cherokees have always been good partners in Oklahoma, because we’re Oklahomans too.”
“You might have expected Coburn’s comments 200 years ago, but not today,” Smith said. “We need a senator who will work for all Oklahomans, not one who has a chip on his shoulder, promoting his own agenda. The President in his convention speech said, ‘When America gives its word, America keeps its word.’ Obviously, Tom Coburn and President Bush aren’t on the same page.”
Other Cherokee statesmen also pointed out that another document that dates back more than 200 years, the U.S. Constitution, puts a little more stock in those “primitive documents” than Coburn does.
“Article VI of the U.S. Constitution says treaties are the supreme law of the land,” said John Ketcher, a WW II veteran who has served on the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council and as Deputy Chief. “I’m sure Tom Coburn will continue to add to his list of Oklahomans that he doesn’t like. But it sure seems foolish to rail against provisions of the U.S. Constitution in his campaign speeches. I think Oklahoma can do better.”
“Tom Coburn’s extremist views on the basic rights of women and outrageous views of tribal citizens and their governments are shocking and simply too far out of the mainstream for him to serve as our United States Senator,” said Wilma Mankiller, author and former Cherokee Nation Principal Chief.
To hear/download "Coburn in his own words", and to read what Tom Coburn says vs. the Truth, visit this path, on the Cherokee Nation’s web site.
| Related Cherokee Nation contact information: |
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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 |
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 |