AP: "Navajo president endorses Hillary Clinton"

[bidenista]

Navajo president endorses Clinton
FELICIA FONSECA
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
Posted: 1/31/2008

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The leader of the country’s largest Indian reservation threw his support behind New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday, saying she would best protect tribal sovereignty.

“We want so much to have Washington, whoever is the president, whoever is living in the White House, the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Senate, we want them to recognize that, and I believe that Sen. Hillary Clinton has recognized that,” Navajo President Joe Shirley Jr. told The Associated Press ahead of a radio announcement.

Shirley’s decision comes on the heels of an endorsement of Clinton by former Navajo leader Peterson Zah, who also praised Clinton for understanding the key issue of tribal sovereignty. For Shirley, sovereignty is sacred and in the simplest terms, means independence. But it also includes keeping the Navajo culture, ceremonies, language and way of life alive.
Clinton “assures us that she is going to protect our sovereignty, she is going to stand up for our sovereignty, she is going to recognize it,” Shirley said.

“The government-to-government relationship is going to continue,” he said. “But what Native America likes to see is nation-to-nation, and I think that’s what I see in her presidency.”...

More: http://news.rgj.com//apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080131/NEWS18/80131051

[saltpoint]

1. IMO, Senator Clinton should be very proud to have this endorsement.

If she is our nominee, it's extremely important that all voices are heard. And this particular voice resounded through the land quite a long time back.

[bernicewilliams]

2. If the Navajo had endorsed Obama this thread would have 100 recommendations n/t

[rodeodance]

7. Happy to give it the 5th---

[adapa]

3. that's huge, thanks for the post!

[Onlooker]

4. Could it be because she's more liberal on gambling than Obama?

I read an article awhile ago that one of the Obama's problems in Nevada was his stand on gambling, and casino gambling is a key source of revenue for many tribes, but I don't know how much that issue played into this endorsement.

[rodeodance]

8. Having ameans for living is a big of being soverign.

[puerco-bellies]

15. There is no gambling on Navajo lands.

So no, it would not be because she is more liberal on gambling. It's about the sovereignty of the native nations.

[Hoof Hearted]

5. Joe Shirley carries a lot of weight, even outside the Navajo nation

This is good news for Senator Clinton, I'm sure she's honored.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

6. wow! nice

[rodeodance]

9. Congratulations. Sen. Clinton

[rodeodance]

10. REC--keep it going

[SIMPLYB1980]

11. K&R

[ProudToBeLiberal]

12. k&r

:kick:

[rodeodance]

13. Kicky.

[Hoof Hearted]

14. k&r