GT - Natives Politics Supplement

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GT -- Politics Supplement for Natives

GT -- Politics Supplement for Natives..................................................................................................................1
McCain Winning Now...........................................................................................................................................2
Plan = Win for Obama - Environment.................................................................................................................3
Plan = Win for Obama – Specific States..............................................................................................................4
Plan = Win for Obama – Montana.......................................................................................................................5
Ext. Montana Is Key..............................................................................................................................................6
Plan = Win for Obama – South Dakota...............................................................................................................7
Plan = Win for Obama – New Mexico..................................................................................................................8
Obama Gets Credit – PTCs..................................................................................................................................9
McCain Won’t Get Credit...................................................................................................................................10
Plan Popular – Democrats...................................................................................................................................11
...............................................................................................................................................................................11
Plan Unpopular – Republicans...........................................................................................................................12
Energy focus -> MC win......................................................................................................................................13

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McCain Winning Now

MC will win- 8 groups say no to obama.
Alan Caruba. Caruba is a veteran book review, a founding member of the National Book Critics Circle, and writes a monthly report
on new fiction and non-fiction for Bookviews.com Caruba is a longtime member, as well, of the American Society of Journalists and
Authors, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the National Association of Science Writers. Before and after graduating from the
University of Miami (FL) and service in the U.S. Army, Caruba has been a lifelong resident of New Jersey. Tuesday, 29 July 2008
[Alex Kats-Rubin] http://www.borderfirereport.net/alan-caruba/why-mccain-will-win.html
This brings us to Barack Obama. Thus far he has been unable to convince at least half the registered voters to give him
the nod. The bounce in the polls that followed his triumphal tour of the Middle East and Europe disappeared within a day or
two after he got back to the U.S.
Who will not vote for Barack Obama? The first and most obvious answer is, of course, Republicans. Lots of Republicans.
When you begin to look at various demographic groups, Obama will not do well among senior citizens. He has already
touched the third rail of politics by suggesting he wants to mess around with Social Security. Bad move. Moreover, he
wants to tax all those forms of income that old people depend upon to pay the mortgage, rent or groceries. Most
importantly, old people come out and vote, and they are a large portion of the population these days.
Veterans vote too. Veterans don’t like what they hear and see in Barack Obama. They don’t like the people who he hangs
out with like former Weatherman terrorists, convicted real estate developers, and ministers who say bad things about the
U.S.A.
Evangelicals, still a potent voting block, are aghast at the brand of Black Liberation theology Obama listened to for
twenty years. The anti-American views of Rev. Jeremiah Wright are a drag on his candidacy.
The days when the unions wielded any clout are over, but the Democrat Party which depends heavily on their money
and manpower may discover on Election Day that a lot of union members will have voted for McCain. Obama simply
does not resonate among working people. He lacks the common touch, if, indeed, he ever had one.
Let’s also throw in the gun-owners too, 80 million of them, who did not take kindly to his “clinging to guns” remarks.
There are also all those people in “fly over” America who don’t much care what those on the East and West Coast think.
There’s not much point getting into the various religious groups, but it is safe to say that Jews, traditionally Democrat, may
find it difficult to vote for anyone named Barack Hussein Obama. That could cost him Florida.
Too much parsing of various ethnic, religious, and racial groups is essentially useless with the exception of Afro-Americans.
They will surely vote for Obama. Not generally known, however, is that Hispanic-Americans outnumber blacks in America
these days and how they will vote remains to be seen.
Obama’s biggest problem is that the majority of Americans racially are white. Even Hispanics, racially, are white. Once
you get by all the usual politically correct blather about race, the likelihood that whites will vote for Obama is slim to
none when they get in the privacy of the voting booth.
That is why John McCain, unless he selects a serial killer as his vice president running mate, is likely to be the next
President of the United States of America.

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Plan = Win for Obama - Environment

Shifting tribal focus to the environment would give Obama their vote.
Associated Press. MARTIN GRIFFITH – Jul 14, 2008. “Young Native Americans mull Obama, McCain at event.” [Alex Kats-
Rubin] http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5glorPeYbVNfQ7Si2wvXl0nIAOapQD91THI4O0
But Mykhal Colelay Mendoza, 16, of Arizona's White Mountain Apache Reservation, said she supports Obama because
she thinks his commitment to Indians and the environment is more sincere.
The concerns of the nation's 11.9 million American Indians gained renewed attention in May as Obama visited
Montana's Crow Indian reservation and was adopted into the nation during a private ceremony.
In Reno, a surrogate delivered a message from the Democratic candidate.
"He inspires me a lot because he's not white," Mendoza said. "Maybe this country would change with a person of color in the
White House. We've been doing the same routine and it's getting boring."

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Plan = Win for Obama – Specific States

Natives are highly important to the election- Montana, South Dakota, and New Mexico.
Associated Press. MARTIN GRIFFITH – Jul 14, 2008. “Young Native Americans mull Obama, McCain at event.” [Alex Kats-
Rubin] http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5glorPeYbVNfQ7Si2wvXl0nIAOapQD91THI4O0
Hundreds of young Native Americans gathering for a five-day conference here are being urged to become politically active
because the American Indian vote could make a difference in this year's presidential election.
Jackson Slim Brossy, legislative associate of the nonpartisan National Congress of American Indians, said the Indian vote —
which traditionally has been Democratic — is up for grabs this year as Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain both try
to woo it.
He said the Indian vote was a factor in Obama's defeat of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in June's Montana primary, as
well as in past victories of U.S. Sens. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., and Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M.
"The Native American vote has been overlooked in the past, but there's a trend of it making a difference and I think
2008 will continue the trend," Brossy told The Associated Press.

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Plan = Win for Obama – Montana

A. Natives key to Montana

Associated Press. MARTIN GRIFFITH – Jul 14, 2008. “Young Native Americans mull Obama, McCain at event.” [Alex Kats-
Rubin] http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5glorPeYbVNfQ7Si2wvXl0nIAOapQD91THI4O0

Hundreds of young Native Americans gathering for a five-day conference here are being urged to become politically active
because the American Indian vote could make a difference in this year's presidential election.
Jackson Slim Brossy, legislative associate of the nonpartisan National Congress of American Indians, said the Indian vote —
which traditionally has been Democratic — is up for grabs this year as Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain both try
to woo it.
He said the Indian vote was a factor in Obama's defeat of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in June's Montana primary, as
well as in past victories of U.S. Sens. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., and Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M.
"The Native American vote has been overlooked in the past, but there's a trend of it making a difference and I think
2008 will continue the trend," Brossy told The Associated Press.

B. Montana is a swing state, Obama needs it.

Associated Press. Aug 1, 2008. For Decades-Old GOP States. [Alex Kats-Rubin]
http://cbs4.com/campaign08/battleground.states.GOP.2.786004.html
Along the U.S.-Canada border, Democratic statewide victories have emboldened Obama to make plays for Montana and
North Dakota. Republicans argue Democrats who win in those states are moderate and Obama is not. Obama's campaign also
is counting on residual goodwill from his primary wins in both.
In Montana, Bill Clinton showed it's worth it for a Democrat to compete hard; he narrowly won it in 1992 but narrowly
lost it four years later. President Bush, however, won by enormous margins in back-to-back elections.
Nevertheless, Democrats took the governor's office back with Gov. Brian Schweitzer's election in 2004 over a Republican, and booted a GOP
senator facing corruption allegations two years later to take control of both Senate seats.

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Ext. Montana Is Key

Montana is going to be close.
montanasnewsstation.com. “Obama targets Montana for campaign.” July 10, 2008. [Alex Kats-Rubin]
Montana is one of 18 states Obama is targeting early.
He is spending a sizable amount of time and money in the state, hiring a director and staff while running TV ads detailing his
background and qualifications. Montana has a long tradition of voting Republican in presidential elections .In 2000 Al Gore lost
by about 20 points. Bob Dole defeated Bill Clinton in 1996. Clinton did win four years earlier but only with about a third of the vote
after Ross Perot split the conservative vote. The last Democrat to win the state was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, when he trounced
Barry Goldwater. Before that, it was Harry Truman in 1948. The latest Rasmussen poll released Thursday shows Obama leading
Senator John McCain 48% to 43% in Montana. The numbers were reversed last time they tested on April 10th.

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Plan = Win for Obama – South Dakota

A. Natives are highly important to the election- Montana, South Dakota, and
New Mexico.

Associated Press. MARTIN GRIFFITH – Jul 14, 2008. “Young Native Americans mull Obama, McCain at event.” [Alex Kats-
Rubin] http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5glorPeYbVNfQ7Si2wvXl0nIAOapQD91THI4O0

Hundreds of young Native Americans gathering for a five-day conference here are being urged to become politically active
because the American Indian vote could make a difference in this year's presidential election.
Jackson Slim Brossy, legislative associate of the nonpartisan National Congress of American Indians, said the Indian vote —
which traditionally has been Democratic — is up for grabs this year as Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain both try
to woo it.
He said the Indian vote was a factor in Obama's defeat of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in June's Montana primary, as well
as in past victories of U.S. Sens. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., and Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M.
"The Native American vote has been overlooked in the past, but there's a trend of it making a difference and I think
2008 will continue the trend," Brossy told The Associated Press.

B. South Dakota is important

Rasmussen Report “Election 2008: South Dakota Presidential Election South Dakota: McCain Leads Obama by Just Four
Points” July 14, 2008. [Alex Kats-Rubin]
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/south_dakota/election_2008_so
uth_dakota_presidential_election2
South Dakota is one state where McCain is struggling among Republican voters. He earns the vote from just 71% of the
GOP faithful while Obama is supported by 21%. Another 6% say they would opt for a third-party option.
McCain leads by fourteen among men but trails by five among women. As in other states, McCain does best among regular
churchgoers while Obama is strong among those who rarely or never attend services.
McCain is viewed favorably by 62% of South Dakota voters, Obama by 54%.
Twenty-six percent (26%) believe McCain is too old to be President while 45% say Obama is too inexperienced.
Rasmussen Markets data shows that McCain is currently given a % chance of winning South Dakota’s three Electoral
College votes this November. With release of this poll, South Dakota shifts from “Likely Republican” to “Leans
Republican” in the Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator.

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Plan = Win for Obama – New Mexico

A. Natives are highly important to the election- Montana, South Dakota, and
New Mexico.

Associated Press. MARTIN GRIFFITH – Jul 14, 2008. “Young Native Americans mull Obama, McCain at event.” [Alex Kats-
Rubin] http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5glorPeYbVNfQ7Si2wvXl0nIAOapQD91THI4O0

Hundreds of young Native Americans gathering for a five-day conference here are being urged to become politically active
because the American Indian vote could make a difference in this year's presidential election.
Jackson Slim Brossy, legislative associate of the nonpartisan National Congress of American Indians, said the Indian vote —
which traditionally has been Democratic — is up for grabs this year as Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain both try
to woo it.
He said the Indian vote was a factor in Obama's defeat of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in June's Montana primary, as well
as in past victories of U.S. Sens. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., and Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M.
"The Native American vote has been overlooked in the past, but there's a trend of it making a difference and I think
2008 will continue the trend," Brossy told The Associated Press.

B. New Mexico key

Burt Hubbard. August 02, 2008. “BETTING ON THE WEST How Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico Could Determine the
Next President” iStockAnalyst. [Alex Kats-Rubin]
http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews+articleid_2466820&title=BETTING_ON_THE_WEST_How.html

s Barack Obama stands on stage at Invesco Field to give his acceptance speech on Aug. 28, the national television cameras
will no doubt have captured the scenic splendor of the Rocky Mountains in the distance and spotlighted the white bronco
rearing by the stadium's scoreboard.
Both are fitting images for the Democratic Party's kickoff to win back the presidency through the West.
It's a strategy that began back in January 2007 with the selection of Denver for the Democratic National Convention and
continued through January and February this year with record- breaking turnout in caucuses in the Western states.
The strategy is simple: Bet on the West.
Win the 19 electoral votes of Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico combined and the party could avoid having to sweat out
results as it did in Ohio in 2004 or Florida in 2000.

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Obama Gets Credit – PTCs

Obama has spoken out for federal incentives for more wind power – he’d get
the credit
Iodinews.com, June 4th, 2008. “McNerney supports Obama.” <
http://www.lodinews.com/articles/2008/06/04/news/10_mcnerney_080604.txt>
The federal government needs to take responsibility for building transmission lines to encourage the development of wind
power in South Dakota, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama said during an interview Friday with the Argus
Leader.
Obama says wind power could provide up to half the nation’s electricity needs, but federal tax incentives must be extended to
keep that development in the United States.
“If we don’t get those tax incentives, those federal tax breaks in place, then you’re going to see a whole lot of wind power
generation and industry moving to Europe,” he said. “It’s already starting to happen.”

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McCain Won’t Get Credit

McCain won’t take credit for the plan, he hates PTCs
US Newswire [Democratic National Committee - John McCain's Energy Plan: Fewer Jobs, More Waste for Nevada
http://newsblaze.com/story/2008062505130300002.pnw/topstory.html] June 25, 2008
Legislation McCain Opposed Included Investment Set To Expire Next Year For Generators Of Geothermal, Wind And Solar
Power. "Compromises that won passage for a major energy bill in the Senate this week left investors for geothermal, wind and
solar resources out in the cold. After a long struggle, the Senate passed the bill late Thursday. It increases vehicle fuel mileage
standards and encourages energy efficiency in federal buildings and in electricity-guzzling appliances. The House is expected
to take a final vote next week. But passage was assured only after negotiators removed provisions that would set a requirement
that 15 percent of electricity come from renewable sources by 2020. Also gone were extensions for investment and production
tax credits set to expire next year for generators of geothermal, wind and solar power. 'From the standpoint of renewable
energy, the compromises were certainly a missed opportunity, and they were out of step with much of the support we get from
across the country,' said Gregory Wetsone, director of government affairs at the American Wind Energy Association."

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Plan Popular – Democrats

Democrats advocate for Native American policy – courting their vote

Francisco Tharp, intern for High Country News, 7/16/08, “Dems reach out to Native Americans,” High Country News,
http://www.hcn.org/articles/17590

Women and African-Americans aren’t the only demographics receiving extra attention from Democrats this year. The party has also
been reaching out to Native Americans.
“In the past, Native American voters have been ignored, or thought of in the last minute,” says Laura Harris of the Comanche Tribe.
“What (Democratic National Committee Chairman) Howard Dean has done is incorporate us into the process, not just for our
vote, but for our participation and economic support, too. It’s an exciting time to be a Native American and take our place in the
political process of the U.S.”
Harris, who serves as the executive director of the nonprofit Americans for Indian Opportunity, is one of an “unprecedented” six
Native Americans appointed to the Democratic National Convention’s standing committees. She’s just one example of how the
Democratic Party is recognizing Native American issues and courting Indian voters.
When Dean took his seat as chairman of the Democratic Party in February 2005, he initiated the party’s “50 State Plan,” in order to
“not write off voters who we didn’t expect to win, and not take for granted voters we thought we already had,” according to
Democratic National Committee spokesman Damien LaVera.
The national party is working with state parties to hire full-time staff to reach out at a state level, rather than engaging only voters in
key demographics or during election years. Every state, says LaVera, now has at least three full-time party employees. And four states
– Arizona, Oklahoma, Alaska and New Mexico -- have full-time Native American party organizers.
The 50 State Plan also encourages American Indians to seek office. “The Democratic Party has always said everyone deserves a
place at the table,” says La Vera. “But Chairman Dean said that wasn’t enough. He said Native Americans needed a place on the
ballots.”
The plan is working, he adds, noting that in 2006, a record 64 Native Americans were elected to state legislatures in 14 different states.
Democrats are also helping Native Americans financially. Last August, the party chose the Native American Bank in Denver,
which is owned by 26 federally recognized Indian tribes, as the depository of $2 million in federal grant funds.
“The money provides the Native American Bank with a little bit of publicity and support for the great work they’ve been doing,” says
Natalie Wyeth, a spokeswoman for the Democratic National Convention Committee. “They have a long track record of working with
tribal and other underprivileged communities, and helping them in start-up efforts.”
The party’s convention committee has recently begun depositing a portion of its federal grant funds in “minority and woman-owned
banks” in the convention’s host city, instead of keeping it in New York or Washington, D.C., says Wyeth. In Boston in 2004, the party
used OneUnited, the largest African-American bank in the U.S., and Asian American Bank, which provides financial support to small
business owners and the Asian American community.
Democrats hope that by the time the funds are withdrawn -- a few months before the convention begins in late August -- their
economic and political support will have encouraged Native American voters to continue supporting Democratic candidates.

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Plan Unpopular – Republicans

Turn – American Indian assistance is unpopular, there’s no way McCain could
spin it as a win for him

Mike Graham, citizen of the Oklahoma Cherokee Nation, 8/04/06, “Republican party declares economic war against Native
Americans,” American Chronicles, http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/12126

Although the U.S. Federal Government today does not issue bounties for Indian scalps and calling for their extermination, the
Republican party is waging a national political economic war against the Native American community through their anti-
Indian politics.
Republican party elected representatives, state and federal are fully supporting anti-Indian groups like "One Nation United" and
"Citizen's Equal Rights Foundation" by enacting new legislation and changing laws to block Native Americans' economic well
being and advancement.

Turn – Economic assistance to Natives is way unpopular with Republicans

Mike Graham, citizen of the Oklahoma Cherokee Nation, 8/04/06, “Republican party declares economic war against Native
Americans,” American Chronicles, http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/12126

The republican party's attitude toward Native Americans' economic well being is "Why can't Indians live in Death Valley and
be happy?" While federal and state governments offer well endowed financial incentives for businesses to operate in America,
that attitude is not offered to the Native American community. The federal government has failed miserably in it's lawful duties to
ensure the economic well being of all Native Americans! The Indian Federal Trust Fund has been robbed of around one hundred
billion dollars. The federal government wants Indians to settle for eight billion. Americans are not hearing about this issue on CNN &
Fox national TV news for a good reason. Our government wants the myth "Indians don't pay taxes." to continue.

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Energy focus -> MC win

More focus on energy would cause MC to win.

Kris Alingod - AHN News Writer. AHN is a leading provider of news, weather, and other content for web sites, wireless, digital
signage, interactive applications, broadcast and print use. July 24, 2008 McCain Winning Support In Battleground States. [Alex
Kats-Rubin]. http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7011716138
Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is gaining ground against Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) in four swing
states, a new poll said on Thursday.
The Republican nominee-in-waiting leads Obama in Colorado, 46 percent to 44 percent. He overtook his rival, who was ahead,
49 percent to 44 percent, last month.
McCain trails in Michigan, 42 percent to 46 percent, but his deficit is smaller than the previous survey's 42 percent to 48
percent.
In Minnesota, the Arizona senator has also made gains, getting 44 percent support compared to Obama's 46 percent. June's
numbers were 37 percent to 54 percent for the Democrat.
Obama is ahead in Wisconsin, 50 percent to 39 percent, but his lead against McCain has dropped two points.
"Sen. John McCain has inched ahead of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in Colorado; come within inches in Minnesota and
narrowed the gap in Michigan and Wisconsin," Quinnipiac University said in a news release.
One reason for McCain's progress may be the energy issue.

Proving their stance on the economy is make or break for the republicans.
Wall Street Journal. By JOHN D. MCKINNON, ELIZABETH HOLMES and STEPHEN POWER July 28, 2008
Republicans Seek to Capitalize On Drilling Support [Alex Kats-Rubin]
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB121720971265788915.html?mod=special_page_campaign2008_topbox
Republicans are upping the ante on their bet that energy issues -- especially increased domestic oil production -- will be
key to closing Democrats' imposing advantage with voters on the economy.
This week, President George W. Bush heads to two election battleground states, Ohio and West Virginia, to draw attention
to congressional inaction. Senate Republicans are planning a floor fight before August recess to try to win authorization for
more production.
It is a potential make-or-break move for Republicans, who, in the latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, trailed
Democrats by 16 percentage points when voters were asked which party they thought would do a better job handling
the economy. That is a slight improvement for Republicans from the 18-point lead Democrats held in January, but still a big
deficit to overcome.

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