Voting for deeds, not words

Tim Giago has argued that we should look at the presidential candidates' deeds, not words. The deeds he's apparently thinking of are a couple of laws passed two decades ago.

Deron Marquez, former chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, has just published another call to look at the candidates' deeds, not words. Like Giago, the example he gives is NAGPRA from 1990.

Well, here are some deeds that may matter to today's 18-year-old voters, who weren't alive for McCain's previous accomplishments:

McCain and Obama deliver video messages to NCAIThe message from McCain at NCAI was the first time he has talked about Indian issues on the campaign trail except for a brief mention of tribes during his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention. Though he is no stranger to American Indians and Alaska Natives, due to his 25 years of service in the House and the Senate, he has not visited any reservations during the race or disclosed meetings with tribal leaders.

The American Indians for McCain Coalition finally got off the ground in September, during the RNC. ... By that time, however, Obama had developed a bigger base in Indian Country with First Americans for Obama. He took his campaign to the Crow Reservation in Montana--a first during the presidential race--and had already met with tribal leaders across the nation long before he claimed the Democratic nomination in June.

Obama met with even more tribal leaders only a month ago in New Mexico, after formally accepting his party's nod.And:[McCain's] second stint as chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee from January 2005 through December 2006 saw a lot of media attention due to his focus on the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal and controversial issues associated with Indian gaming. But no major pieces of legislation passed Congress during that time and McCain didn't lend any support to two big ticket items on the agenda this year--the Indian Health Care Improvement Act and the Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act, only the latter of which became law.

McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R), whose husband Todd is part Yup'ik, as his running generated a lot of initial interest but it fizzled after reports of her less than close relationship with Alaska Natives spread throughout Indian Country. Julie Kitka, the president of the Alaska Federation of Natives, accused McCain's campaign of smearing a well-respected Native official in a recent opinion piece.Comment:  Hmm. Someone who helped me 18 years ago but ignores me today, or someone who wasn't in a position to help me 18 years ago but showers me with attention today. Doesn't seem like a tough choice to me, but I'm not an Indian.

I've met Marquez and know him to be a smart and thoughtful guy. Maybe he was having a bad day when he wrote his piece.

Of course, these postings don't address any of McCain's non-Native deeds. Cutting taxes for the wealthy while Indian Country suffers. Sending troops to Iraq while Osama bin Laden plots in Afghanistan. Implying that he's "pro-America" while Obama is a Muslim and a terrorist. Etc. Conservatives may approve these deeds, but no one else does.

For those who still don't get it, It's the Economy, Stupid. For more on the subject, see The 2008 Presidential Campaign.