Columnist Tim Giago says South Dakota's American Indians should pick Larry Pressler for U.S. Senate. Former Senator Jim Abourezk says no way: Rick Weiland is the right man for Indian Country.
Abourezk says Weiland is the only viable champion for Indian interests in the Senate. He notes that Weiland is the only candidate who opposes the Keystone XL pipeline, a boiling issue among Indians fighting for true tribal sovereignty. Pressler hedges on Keystone XL but appears to support more pipelines which would cause the same problems as Keystone XL.
Abourezk dismisses Pressler's play for the Indian vote as an opportunistic makeover and says an Indian vote for Pressler is really a vote for Rounds:
...Pressler cannot get enough votes to win election, but just enough to prevent Weiland from getting more votes–enough to give the seat to Rounds. That would be a disaster for Indian Country, in particular because Rounds would make all of his decisions based on who gave him the most money for his campaign [Jim Abourezk, "South Dakota Tribes Can Put Rick Weiland in Office," Indianz.com, 2014.09.30].
Abourezk notes that Weiland has received the endorsement of all nine tribes in South Dakota. He also reminds us that the Great Plains Tribal Chairs Association endorsed Weiland at the beginning of his candidacy last year:
“Rick Weiland has worked extensively with American Indian Tribes and tribal leaders his entire career and we trust him," the association wrote in a statement. "As the FEMA regional director and later as CEO of the International Code Council, Rick helped forge consensus on complex issues. He has a personal connection with many of our tribal people" [Daniel Simmons-Ritchie, "Tribal Leaders Endorse Rick Weiland's Senate Bid," Rapid City Journal, 2013.06.12].
Abourezk says that a strong, unified Indian vote in 2002 kept Tim Johnson in the Senate. He urges the same unity to keep a Democrat and a true fighter for tribal interests in that seat.
I think the people's endorsement is more important than the Tribal leaders endorsement. It should be a very interesting senatorial and gubernatorial debate today at Oglala Lakota College on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Representatives from the Rosebud Spirit Camp will also be there. Once again, Daugaard, Rounds and Noem are no shows. Tim Giago and the Native Sun News, who endorsed Pressler will also be there.
Good to see a great old Dem from the SDDP's glory days step into this thing.
By my calculations, voters who were born after Abourezk left the Senate are from 18-36 years old. That's a hell of a lot of people who don't even know who he is, let alone care what he thinks.
Jim Abourezk's endorsement of Rick is an important one, his article points out all the reasons why Indians should vote for Rick and not Pressler.
Jim may have been out of politics for sometime now, but his comments will be read by Bob Klein's 18-36 year olds. They may not remember Jim's tenure in congress, but he reminds them of what he stood for and what Rick stands for.
Keystone and uranium mining are huge issues for Native American youth and many are active in protests to stop both. Larry Pressler does not represent them.
Rick is obviously running against three Republicans that do not represent the views of Native American voters.
Jim Abourezk held the U.S. Senate that is up for election this year. He didn't run for a second term in 1978. That left the seat open for Larry Pressler to win. Pressler held the seat for three terms. Pressler lost in 1996 to Tim Johnson. Johnson now is retiring rather than run for a fourth term.
bob-tim retires, repubs may fill the space for republican sd. jim doesn't run, so repubs filled his incubency. noem, rounds and daugaard are debate no-shows on and off the rez and indian sponsored opportunities. republican reporters report on such things. indian veteran reporters support republicans.
harry reid may be the only one able to wake-up this snoozing little red state.
HARRY, GET YER GLOVES ON FOR SD AND THE NATION!!!
Maybe it's time that we get a strong Native American candidate to run for a higher office. Aside from Kristi Noem and Stephanie Herseth, our SD political scene has been dominated by white middle-aged men for far too long.
Dick Wadhams has engineered a nearly flawless coup.
Larry, Larry, Boz and Jason have siphoned resources from viable candidates, deflected media attention from Bendagate, and invites a scenario that goes something like: the South Dakota governor is reelected, federal charges are brought against a Senator-elect Rounds and DD must appoint his replacement.
My money is on Kevin Schieffer.
The new PPP poll gives Howie 10%.
revision:
Eric Ostermeier @SmartPolitics · 53m 53 minutes ago
New PPP South Dakota US Senate survey: Rounds 35, Weiland 28, Pressler 24, Howie 8 #SDSEN
Nice catch Larry.
Do you suppose the Dick Wadhams will report that 60% of South Dakotans prefer someone other than Mike Rounds?
Maybe PP will point that out.
Ms. Jana, it's humbling to be able to share a forum where so many women feel comfortable posting: all the best to you and yours.
Abourezk was a good senator. I miss him and legislators like him. I mean legislators of courage.
The Pierre Cap Journal is hosting a senate poll: so far Rick's running away with it.
http://www.capjournal.com/