Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller Endorses Hillary Clinton

[rodeodance]

2/3/2008
Former Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller Endorses Hillary Clinton
Mankiller Will Serve As National Campaign Co-Chair

Oklahoma City, OK –Wilma Mankiller, the first woman Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation and the first female in modern history to lead a major Native American tribe, announced her endorsement of Hillary Clinton today. Chief Mankiller will serve as a National Campaign Co-Chair for the Clinton campaign.

“I am honored and humbled to have the support of a deeply respected woman who knows what it takes to lead a nation,” Clinton said. “Chief Wilma Mankiller has worked for change her whole life and is an inspiration to so many of us who have followed in her footsteps.”

Following is a statement from Chief Wilma Mankiller:

“Over the course of the past few months I have watched both Senator Obama and Senator Clinton debate and discuss the most important issues of our time. We Democrats are very fortunate to have two presidential candidates of their caliber to choose from in the primaries on Tuesday, February 5th.

This 2008 election is about choosing a leader who can articulate a clear and common vision for our collective future. I believe Senator Clinton is the best person to do that for a variety of reasons, including her early and consistent support for tribal governments. Since I first met President Bill and Hillary Clinton when they were in Arkansas, they have understood and supported tribal treaty rights and sovereignty.

The Senator Clinton I know is a focused, strategic thinker who has the drive and ability to get things done. She is a person of faith who lives her faith by working for the common good. I am especially appreciative of her long-term commitment to universal health care.

As a survivor of three separate bouts of cancer, I am acutely aware of the fact that almost 50 million Americans do not have health insurance or access to the most basic health care. Since Senator Clinton has demonstrated an abiding commitment to changing the health care system in this country, I believe she is the best suited to undertake the daunting task of overhauling our national health care system. It is unconscionable that so many American families, elders, children, mothers and fathers, cannot afford to go to the doctor or obtain medicines when they become ill. As Senator Clinton undertakes the work to overhaul our national health care system, I am confident she will consult with tribal leaders, as she has done in the past.

We need to change the direction of this country. We each have an opportunity to be a part of that change by voting for Senator Hillary Clinton on Tuesday, February 5th.”

[Maddy McCall]

1. Wow. That's a big thing to me...she's featured on my Journal page.

...and has been featured on my Journal page for years. Mankiller is a brilliant woman. I recommend her biography to anyone who doesn't know much about her.

[donheld]

2. What a bunch of babies

Happy now?

[Jamastiene]

4. Not fucking funny

at all. :thumbsdown: Show a little damn respect.

[Quixote1818]

32. Yes it was

Even the Native American thought it was funny. :spray:

[Jamastiene]

34. Still not funny.

I don't care what you say. It was disrespectful.

[donheld]

42. You might need a new sense of humor

Too many already see Hillary as a mankiller. That was my whole point.

[Jamastiene]

47. Obviously she is not.

Bill is still alive. It's still disrespectful to Native Americans. Period.

[NMMNG]

49. We can't laugh at sexism and mocking of Native Americans combined

That makes us the problem. :wtf: alternate universe is this? :crazy:

[Jamastiene]

50. It's the Twilight Zone.

I swear it's like the Twilight Zone tonight. Train wrecks in the Lounge and sexism and racism rampant in GD: P. I am utterly confused. It's the pod people and the Twilight Zone at the same time. :tinfoilhat:

[NMMNG]

52. At least the Twilight Zone was intelligent

I can't say the same for this.

[Jamastiene]

53. I know.

DU used to have a very high average IQ, it seemed. Now, not so sure. :eyes:

[Quixote1818]

44. Only for people with no sense of humor

and ability to laugh at the absurdity of the perception of things. I bet that lady is cool with people getting a kick out of her name. My grandfather was in the Indian Service and I have worked with a number of Hopi, Navajo, Pueblo, Apache and other Indigenous Peoples in New Mexico and Arizona and they laugh at everything! They have wonderful senses of humor and they especially love dark, sarcastic humor.

[rodeodance]

45. I see it as Disrespect for NA names--I have had a life full of "jokes" and

I an my family are part of the "they" you choose to insult.


Only for people with no sense of humor

and ability to laugh at the absurdity of the perception of things. I bet that lady is cool with people getting a kick out of her name. My grandfather was in the Indian Service and I have worked with a number of Hopi, Navajo, Pueblo, Apache and other Indigenous Peoples in New Mexico and Arizona and they laugh at everything! They have wonderful senses of humor and they especially love dark, sarcastic humor.

[Quixote1818]

46. Way to miss the point of the joke

The humor is related to the idea that Hillary is a tough woman not because its a Native American name. Sorry if you didn't get that. Sorry if that went over your head. If someone perhaps a Hispanic, perhaps a Asian or whatever nationality had the name of Jim White-killer and he endorsed Obama (a Black man) it would humorous because it would be an unfortunate name in that instance. The humor is in the circumstance not the name. But of course you already knew that but want to create an issue where there is none.

[rodeodance]

48. Please do not assume you know what my motives are.

[Quixote1818]

51. You are the one who called me prejudice

Please don't assume you know what my motives are then not expect to get the same treatment in return.

[melody]

54. Wilma would be the first person to laugh

Unfortunately, some people need a reason to feel indignant.

[Quixote1818]

55. I am sure she would. She seems like a fun, down to earth person

And as I pointed out, it's not her name but the circumstance that makes it funny. You can't tell me they don't get that.

[rodeodance]

8. you should be ashamed of yourself--This name is American Native culture name.

[rodeodance]

13. Please remove that insulting comment of yours

[melody]

14. I'm part Indian (as in actually in touch with my culture) and I thought it was funny

Obvious a bit, but funny.

[Maddy McCall]

18. It's a great, honorable name in the Cherokee nation.

If you knew anything about American Indians, you'd know that.

[DJ13]

3. I can see the signs now........

"So many grumpy people all supporting Hillary"

Edited.

[Jamastiene]

5. Not funny either.

Native Americans do visit DU and will definitely find that offensive, you know.

[DJ13]

9. If they do, I apologize

But you have to recognize the majority of us are not used to the naming conventions the indian tribes use, so it will end up sounding funny to the rest of us.

Im sure its not something that fine woman hasnt dealt with her whole life.

[rodeodance]

20. Please remove YOUR TEXT post now!---You should get educated!

[DJ13]

26. There, happy?

[Jamastiene]

27. Uhm, apparently you missed the point entirely.

Show some common decency regarding Native American culture.

[DJ13]

28. Show some common decency regarding Native American culture.

I edited to eliminate the offending comment.

Be happy.

[rodeodance]

30. My asking you to remove an insulting comment has nothing to with being

a Hilary supporter. It has to with being respectful to ancestral Native American names
Thank you.


I can see the signs now........

Edited on Mon Feb-04-08 01:34 AM by DJ13
"So many grumpy people all supporting Hillary"

Edited.

[bhikkhu]

31. Request for education

Perhaps some others here don't find names funny or the objects of trivial jokes...I know a bit of the history of the Cherokee Nation, and so have great respect for the decisions of any leader, but is their a tradition or history behind the name "mankiller"?

[Jamastiene]

35. delete

It's just not worth it any more.

[rodeodance]

41. sometimes I am of that mind also.

[Jamastiene]

56. It seems that way when

no amount of explaining will convince someone that something is offensive.

[Maddy McCall]

36. There absolutely is. It's an ancestral name for warriors among the Cherokee.

It's a name that draws massive respect among the Cherokees.

[LadyVT]

6. For shame!

She's a Native American Chief. Shame on you for making fun of her name. You are diminishing yourself.

[rodeodance]

23. Please

ask posters to edit and ALERT

[avaistheone1]

7. That's about as funny as ~Osama for Obama~

or

Saddam Hussien for Barack Hussien Obama

[Jamastiene]

10. I alerted on it and don't see it going anywhere.

sadly...This is a truly sad day in DU history.

[rodeodance]

15. I will alert on them also.

[NMMNG]

38. So many immature people not....

:eyes:

[joshcryer]

11. Woot. I'm part Cherokee. :)

[in_cog_ni_to]

16. ME TOO! My Grandmother was a Cherokee from Oklahoma.

:hi:

[joshcryer]

19. LOL, we posted at the same time. :D

:hi:

[in_cog_ni_to]

22. Hey Cuz!

LOL...:hi:

[in_cog_ni_to]

12. OMG...Thank you so much, Chief Mankiller!

Great endorsement!:)

My Grandmother was a Cherokee Indian from Oklahoma. She died giving birth to my mom, so I never knew her. I wish I had.:(

[joshcryer]

17. Whoa, we're probably distant cousins. :D

[Lucinda]

21. Very cool. Thanks!

Do you have a source link?

[rodeodance]

24. "The Senator Clinton I know is a focused, strategic thinker"--nice.

[Jamastiene]

25. This warms my heart.

A great female leader endorses a great female leader. :patriot:

[McCamy Taylor]

29. Part Cherokee myself. I am starting to lean towards Hillary because of Obama's health care fiasco.

Those retro Harry and Louise ads---I thought he was kidding when he said he was for Reagan change. I guess he meant it. Jeez. He is starting to look like a real loser.

[rodeodance]

33. That ad was a low blow by Obama camp.

[joshcryer]

37. The Harry and Louise ad pretty much turned me off completely to Obama, too.

I mean, damn. GOP talking points 100%.

[rodeodance]

39. Well, it was originally put out by repugs against

hills first experiment with reform.

[joshcryer]

40. I know, I remember all too well.

[DURHAM D]

43. I have been waiting for this. Fantastic.

I know she has been in very poor health fighting several bouts of cancer. She is one of my sheros. Wow, just wow.

[Alamom]

57. I'm very proud, also............nm

[bigtree]

58. this is fantastic

I can't believe the insults on this thread