Daschle = friend of Indians

Indian leaders react favorably to Daschle’s Cabinet nodBefore Daschle was voted out of the Senate in 2004 after more than a quarter century of service in Congress, he had long been seen as a close friend to Indian country. He often met with leaders from the nine tribes in his state, and continued outreach and calls for federal government support to tribes after he lost his seat.

While in the Senate, Daschle worked to secure more funding for Indian-related health issues. Along those lines, he tried unsuccessfully to get Congress to add billions in funding to the IHS budget and to pass legislation to modernize the agency.

Tribal leaders from Daschle’s home state predicted that his placement at the top health agency in the country would positively impact reservations and Indian people in general.

“It can do nothing but help,” said Robert Cournoyer, chairman of the Yankton Sioux Tribe.

“Mr. Daschle is fully aware of all that’s happening out here in Indian country. I think Mr. Obama made an excellent choice.”Comment:  With Bill Richardson as Secretary of Commerce, Janet Napolitano as Secretary of Homeland Security, and Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, Indians will have a lot of friends in the Obama White House.

For more on the subject, see The 2008 Presidential Campaign.

P.S. Now that've we elected Obama, should we rename the White House the Biracial House? ;-)