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Obama's New Name? Barack Black Eagle

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May 19, 2008 6:39 PM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: Traveling though Montana on Monday, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., made his first stop as a presidential candidate to an Indian reservation - and got a little more than expected.

Obama was adopted as an honorary member into the family within the Crow tribe that inhabited the reservation - who gave the presidential candidate a new name and new parents.

"Awe Kooda bilaxpak Kuuxshish" was the honorary name given to Obama meaning, "one who helps people throughout the land."

Obama was escorted out to the stage in Crow Agency, Montana arm-in-arm between his adopted parents: Sunny and Mary Black Eagle.

Obama thanked his honorary new parents – for giving him another name to tack on to the list, "I like my new name Barack Black Eagle. I mean that's a good name."

The Crow tribe does adoption ceremonies for special dignitaries who visit the reservation. The Black Eagle family was chosen to adopt Obama because there are one of only five living generations on the reservation. With life expectancy so low, it is sign of great fortune and honor to have several generations living in the family.

Senator Obama, speaking for only 12 minutes told the Native American crowd of nearly 2,000 that he knows what it's like to be an outsider - that his struggles being an African American, are similar to theirs.

"I was growing up in Hawaii at the time and where I was growing up there weren't a lot of black families and so sometimes I was looked at as sort of an outsider and so I know what it’s like to be on the outside. I know what it's like to not always have been respected or to have been ignored and I know what it's like to struggle and that’s how I think many of you understand what's happened here on the reservation, that that a lot of times you have been forgotten just like African-Americans have been forgotten or other groups in this country have been forgotten."

Obama promised the crowd that as president he would have regular meetings at the White House with tribal leaders and appoint an American Indian policy advisor.

Obama’s transition into the Crow extended family was not without a few hiccups. While greeting the crowd at the onset, Obama mistakenly mispronounced the name of their land.

"I'm still working on it, I was just adopted into the tribe so, I am still working on my pronunciations," he said when he was corrected.

Obama was given two necklaces made by the members of the tribe. The necklaces, Obama was told, were to be a gift for his wives.

"I only have one wife," Obama said laughing, "So, you know when he was talking about the gifts to my wives, I want to make sure, I don't want to get in trouble when I get home. I can have new parents but no new wives."

May 19, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (54)

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Not isn't that special. I wonder what the special Native American name would be for Obama's pastor Reverend Jeremiah Wright. Maybe Jerry Running Mouth. So special.
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Obama and Wright, God D--- America!
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Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | May 19, 2008 9:58:55 PM

Democrats need to stop fighting eachother if they care about this election. Im starting to think that some would rather see Obama lose than see a Democrat win the presidency.

This primary is going to end very soon and no matter who is nominated we have to support the Democratic nominee, there is too much at stake.

Dont let what you read in peoples comments sway your vote, we have 2 fine candidates and either one is a huge improvement over McCain.

Obama Clinton 08!!!

Posted by: TheTruth | May 19, 2008 9:59:28 PM

George Bush is the most liberal and big government leader this country has ever had. And with the way the FED is bailing out the banks and financial institutions, we now have the most socialistic (privatize the wealth, socialize the debts and risks) economic system ever. So I have to wonder why people think Obama is a socialist when in fact George Bush and the Republicans are the socialists. Perhaps these people mean that Obama will be socially responsible, which would be a good thing.

Posted by: Dayahka | May 19, 2008 10:10:18 PM

rev wright may have a big crazy mouth, but he served 6 years in the marines and he feeds the poor! he's more Christian and more American than all you right-wing mouthbreathers put together! IT'S CALLED THE FIRST AMENDMENT LOOK IT UP. OBAMA'08 THE SLOW SHALL BE CONFUSED

Posted by: daro | May 19, 2008 10:21:27 PM

american's are arrogant, selfish, decietful, lustful and cheat. they have cheated and betrayed several nations and socities around the world for so long. For their roots are in 'britain'. british are the most dirty and corrupted, double standard people on this planet.

american's treat others as if they will always be the number one muscle power. i guess china will give them a nice one from behind.

and my dear friend, Obama knows this very well. he is trying to save those, who have done harmful steroid tests on his race, abused them for centuries and still stop his race from better education, rising in socity and key government positions.

barack is a great guy, but the dirty majority in this country is not ready for such a great person. actually america does not deserve barak it deserves mc-cain who will take usa to war and its aftermath.

long live barack - i hope he leave this country and go to africa, they deserve him more then this country of selfish, racist and cheating nation.

who has either a bafoon for his president or a lustfull loose character guy from arkansas.

Posted by: outsider | May 19, 2008 10:38:59 PM

It's one thing to point out political facts, but the blatant racist induced comments left by most posters on here are just plain ignorant. Is this REALLY the world that we still live in. Ask yourselves honestly, are you turned away from Obama because of his campaign and what he stands for or is the real issue him being a Black man who will be the next President of the United States. I personally could care less one way or the other about your bigotry, but at least don't be a coward and just say what you really want to say!!! Good luck to whomever the Democratic choice will be and GOD bless America and ALL of it's people!

Posted by: Ty B | May 19, 2008 11:07:33 PM

Senator Obama,

I'm sure I voted for you in the nominating caucus. I'm going to vote for you in the General Caucus too. Can you tell me where I find the caucus?
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Obama will surely win a General Caucus!
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Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | May 19, 2008 11:11:07 PM

to samuel.If you find peace and diplomacy so intolerable perhaps you should enlist.

Posted by: Andrew | May 19, 2008 11:12:03 PM

"Today the 4 and half million Alaska Native and American Indians living today represent 10 percent of the survivors against the genocide committed against them" This is from Paul Chaat Smith, noted Comanche author, lecturer, and cultural critic.

Today the largest demographic group serving in Iraq are Alaska Natives, American Indians and Native Hawaiians in the ratio of their percentage of the population to the percentage of the armed services. This is from our own Alaska Native and American Indian media.

“One who helps people throughout the land.”
Obama ''08

Posted by: cooday | May 19, 2008 11:29:04 PM

madness. a sure loser in november. what a pity to lose.

Posted by: bbe | May 19, 2008 11:35:39 PM

geez. There has been racism, and there has been sexism. Both candidates knew this would happen going in. No suprise, but very sad. Its even more sad to have folks I used to respect such as Ferraro throw baseless accusations at Obama. What a shame. Here we have two great candidates, and many of the supporters cannot see this race for what it is - a choice between two great candidates.

Despite my preference for Obama, largely due to Clinton's bad gas tax proposal, stupid "obliterate" Iran comment, lies about sniper attacks, and general foreign policy hawkishness, I see so much about her that is better than McCain, it is easy for me to support either candidate.

Grow up all you idealogues!

Posted by: yo | May 19, 2008 11:36:53 PM

when nobody is paying attention, BHO showed his true understanding of national security."lay off my wife", and size matters - Iran is less a threat than the former Soviet Union because the USSR is bigger in size.

Posted by: toto | May 19, 2008 11:53:31 PM

yo -

under HRC pres,there will be no nukes in Iran, under a BHO, he HOPEs to beg them not to nuke Israel.

HOPE you understand the difference.

Posted by: yo fool | May 20, 2008 12:00:37 AM

Miss Pink , does this mean Diane Sawyer of GMA ABC is a terrorist because she sat down with the Ahmadinejad? No just a paid member of the council of foreign relations and Stephanopolis is card carrying member of Skull and Bones...go back home and do your research

Posted by: GI JOE | May 20, 2008 12:31:21 AM

yo fool, please explain yourself, because it's certainly not clear what evidence you have to support your claim.

Posted by: blackbird | May 20, 2008 4:21:16 AM

carlasue, WV is irrelevant, just like Kentucky. The country is changing and these 2 states are just behind the times. With the Byrd endorsement hopefully some WV voters will begin to see the light. Next week Hillary will tell her supporters to support Obama since mc-more-war would just be another bush term, something this country just can't afford. Obama 2008!!

Posted by: pt | May 20, 2008 7:28:30 AM

"hope" is the greatest gift that God has given to us. its the energy that makes us alive and work. this is what Obama has been saying in this campaign. and i think this is what America needs right now. we do not want politics filled with fear rather a politics of hope.

Obama ----------------Next President

Posted by: deep | May 20, 2008 7:33:34 AM

hi pt and deep, please don't say that any state in our great country is irrevelant. every voice does count. and i know what obama has been saying in this and his teleptrompted written speeches all along. hope. we shall not be filled with fear, hatred, racism, or falsehoods. we need the truth, strength, experience and fortitude. go hillary!!!!

Posted by: carlasue | May 20, 2008 7:38:23 AM

hi everyone, and good nite all. nice talking with you, even tho we agree to disagree. go hillary. i am a staunch dem!!!! god bless and talk to you all later.

Posted by: carlasue | May 20, 2008 7:51:30 AM

Americans aren't "Great" and we aren't "evil". We are humans, and humans will be just as selfish and self-serving as society allows them to be. The only reason that American's are so consumptive is that we have never HAD to restrain ourselves. We have the money, we have cheap goods, therefore we can consume.

We are now reaching a point in our "free-market" society where we will have to start paying for what we consume...
You want to be Fortress America and keep all of those "evil" immigrants out? Fine...Enjoy paying $4.00 for a tomato and watching the strawberries rot in a field.

You want to buy your monster SUV as a stauts symbol? Fine...enjoy paying $5.00 per gallon of gas.

What the (right wing) republicans want is a free-market society where NOONE has to face any consequences...well sorry to tell you this...but your GRANDCHILDREN will be paying the price.

The problem with Americans is that our country is so young that we have never had to face the long-term consequences of our actions. If we keep going as we are, we will not have to worry about it, because we will fade into insignificance in the next hundred years...I believe its called "no stamina".


Posted by: Denise | May 20, 2008 9:13:54 AM

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