Obama to Native Americans: 'No Lip Service....I'm on Your Side'

Thank You Mr. President for having the courage to stand up for what you believe in. Remember to brush the haters off.

"That's why we invested $500 million in the Recovery Act in strengthening and modernizing the IHS. And that's why my budget proposes an increase of 13 percent in IHS funding.”

The President also pointed to the $170 million for Indian education and the $277 million for Indian school construction within the Recovery Act.

Posted by: tierra | Nov 5, 2009 4:36:47 PM

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I'll add that it was first meeting of this type in 15 years since President Clinton held one. Per the NYT, John Poupart, president of the American Indian Policy Center in St. Paul and other tribal leaders said the Obama administration already has shored up communications with tribes compared with past administrations. They also praised prominent American Indian appointments, including Interior Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk, White House Senior Policy Adviser for Native American Affairs Kim Teehee, White House Associate Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Jodi Gillette, and Indian Health Service Director Yvette Roubideaux. Many of them have experienced life on the reservation first hand.

I think people who think the President is race baiting or being cynical are very odd. I did two two-week volunteer vacations on the Blackfoot Reservation several years ago, and I'm very glad that tribal leaders are discussing issues and being heard, and that funds are being directed to health care, education and schools.

ob will say anything to get your vote. then toss you out when done.
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Try not to tell such obvious lies Jax. . . show some credibility . ..

WASHINGTON — Making good on a campaign promise to hold a yearly summit with American Indians, President Barack Obama told tribal leaders Thursday gathered in Washington that he is determined to reverse the federal government's history of marginalizing Indian nations.

"That's why we invested $500 million in the Recovery Act in strengthening and modernizing the IHS. And that's why my budget proposes an increase of 13 percent in IHS funding.”

The President also pointed to the $170 million for Indian education and the $277 million for Indian school construction within the Recovery Act.

This man is so cynical and hypocritical.

He has made his entire life about racial divisions and seeing race in every molecule.

This country has given the Obama's so much. Why are they so bitter?

ob will say anything to get your vote. then toss you out when done.

"Kid, you need to step up the game a little. Anyone with an IQ north of 72 is going to point out the hypocrisy of your post. We aren't paying for this low quality type of diversion kid."
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You're still ignoring the real issue of the news article and reverting to political gamesmanship . . .

Same thing, day in and day out for the right wing whiners . . .

did sick of slick actually say ASSIMILATION is a cure? wow. How different is that than what the Taliban is doing? Perspective my friends.. perspective.

Interesting how the right wing whiners on here ignore the real issue at hand, and instead use the opportunity to take more cheap shots at the President . .. all too predictable and juvenile. No interest in the issues, only trying to make political gain.

tierra;

Kid, you need to step up the game a little. Anyone with an IQ north of 72 is going to point out the hypocrisy of your post. We aren't paying for this low quality type of diversion kid.

I'm sending alyson over.

Pick it up a notch.

Interesting how the right wing whiners on here ignore the real issue at hand, and instead use the opportunity to take more cheap shots at the President . .. all too predictable and juvenile. No interest in the issues, only trying to make political gain.

Good, I see Buffy & Yoshi have been in here doing damage control.

Good thing I kept those kids around...

I was on the train and everyone's head was turned in a certain direction so I had to turn around and look - There stood a native American young man with hair long and in native attire. It's so wrong for these people to be looked at as freaks - They are rarely seen. It is so wrong for them not to be more in and enjoy benefits of this country.

Barack Obama is a champion of the oppressed: oppressed Americans who have been denied healthcare by bigshot insurance companies only wanting to make sure their money is guaranteed for treatment and you could die for all they care if your are unemployed and have no courage. And now the Native Indians. Thank you Mr. Obama. I like this man.

I agree with Rick McDaniel & those of you who have a negative view of Native America would do well to read "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee" - based on documented facts from the library of congress. Sheds a lot of light on the white-washed version of what we were taught about Native Americans in history class. Let us learn from history so that the "sins of the fathers" do not repeat themselves onto us.

kyle:
"Obama was raised by upper middle class grandparents, went to a private school--and he compares himself to dirt poor Native Americans.

He should be ashamed of the lies and playing on people's emotions.

Obama's pathetic attempt to be "everyman" is laughable."

It is incredibly cynical of him to continue to present himself as some kind of disadvantaged "victim" of America and trying to associate himself with the history of American Indians.

This man attended some of the most exlusive and expensive schools in the world, schools no average white kid could get into with middling grades.

This man defines the term "insider" and "elite" and has nothing in common with the people he is speaking to so patronizingly in a transparent attempt to further the racial politics and government dependence theme that is so consistent with this administration.

I want my vote back.

It is really refreshing to have a President pay attention to the Native Americans who have been horribly neglected. I know most administrations have avoided bringing their interests to the forefront because it is rather embarrassing since this country was stolen from them. They do deserve to have some amends made to them and a hand stretched out for more integration. Personally I think it is shameful the way the Native Americans are treated with such nonchalance and indifference.

WASHINGTON — Making good on a campaign promise to hold a yearly summit with American Indians, President Barack Obama told tribal leaders Thursday gathered in Washington that he is determined to reverse the federal government's history of marginalizing Indian nations.

Obama was raised by upper middle class grandparents, went to a private school--and he compares himself to dirt poor Native Americans.

He should be ashamed of the lies and playing on people's emotions.

Obama's pathetic attempt to be "everyman" is laughable.

Can this guy ever stop with the campaigning, the race baiting, the blame game, the Blame Bush mantra?

Is there any substance to this man at all?

Obama has made a living creating racial friction and it needs to stop. The campaign is over Mr. President. As someone who voted for you in hopes the troops would be brought home, and only for that reason, you are a complete disapointment.

Stop with the political opportunism and the politics of division and racial identity.

If Obama gets his way we'll all be living in Venezuela.

His time is running out, his power is peaking--Obama has 12 months to grab as much power as he can.
To "fundamentally change America".

Vote them out--starting in 2010.

"Heck, if Obama spent $20 to cure cancer Republicans would wail about it as pork spending (like the internet was created by wasteful pork spending with no possible economic return)."
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Agreed. The one child sitting at the table constantly whining.