Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Palin's Rural Advisor Quits Amid Criticism Over Lack of Native Representation in Administration
Gov. Sarah Palin’s Rural Advisor quit Monday, saying the role would be better filled by an Alaska Native, Associated Press reported. In an e-mail to Alaska Native leaders, Rhonda McBride said, “In all honesty, I have never felt authentic in my role.” Alaska Native leaders have said that Palin neglected them when she made appointments after becoming governor. Alaska Natives are 20 percent of the state’s population. Palin, now the Republican vice-presidential nominee, has two Alaska Natives in her cabinet and her husband Todd is part Yup’ik Eskimo. However, she has been criticized for appointing white people to positions previously held by Alaska Natives and for appearing to tolerate bigoted remarks about Alaska Natives from some of her appointees.
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Having carefully listened to Gov. Palin during the VP Debates, it is not surprising to me to hear of her tolerance for racism among her staff, and her leadership appointments.
ReplyDeleteConservative dogma will never be the friend of the American Indian/Alaska Native. Racism is embraced by the Conservative, the "right-winger", and often, the Republican. And why do they use racism to obtain power? Because it works.
Indians need leaders brave enough to call racism when they see it, and exercise the leadership to alleviate it--no excuses.