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Most polls over the years show Native Americans’ substantial support for Democrats. But that hasn’t stopped strong representation in Congress by Native Republicans. That includes U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (Chickasaw Nation/R-OK), who recently took the reins of the powerful House Appropriations Committee. He is also the longest-serving Native congressman in history. We’ll get perspectives from some notable Native Republicans about what they see the party does for their Native constituents in the first of a series of profiles shedding light on political positions heading into the general election.
GUESTS
U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (citizen of the Chickasaw Nation), U.S. Representative of Oklahoma’s 4th District
Wes Nofire (citizen of the Cherokee Nation), Native American Liaison for the State of Oklahoma
Break 1 Music: Going Back (song) Paula Nelson (artist) C.H.A.N.T. Cherokee Hope and New Traditions (album)
Break 2 Music: Alligator Boots (song) Danny T and the Stealing Thunder Band (artist) Fantasyland (album)
> 2024 will make one hundred years since Native Americans were granted US citizenship, yet Representative Cole has not made an effort to bring this to his fellow Congressional members. Why?
> Why has Representative Cole failed to respond ‘truthfully’ to the following questions:
~ Were the election results of 2020 the actual results and if they were why has
Representative Cole failed to call out fellow Congressional members who say
the opposite and proport the ‘big lie’?
~ Was and is President Biden duly elected and is he the President of the US?
~ Why has Representative Cole not called January 6th an ‘insurrection”?
~ Why has Representative Cole not called out fellow Republicans who support
Donald Trump and his racist, misogynistic, and anti-Constitutional rhetoric?
~ Why has Representative Cole not called out Donald Trump’s dismissive rhetoric
and ridicule of veterans?
~ Why has Representative Cole not called for and sought to have an increase to
the Indian Health Care Service budget, to come up to date for inflation?
~ Although Representative Cole had not voted to confirm Secretary Haaland, why
does he continue to voice negative statements as to what Secretary Haaland
works to protect and promote stewardship of Native lands?
~ Why does Representative Cole not call out fellow Republican South Dakota
Governor Kristi Noem and here false accusations against the Indigenous
communities of South Dakota?
Rep. Cole is a powerful and brilliant leader and not only in the Republican party. He represents and protects his district and Indian issues. Being conservative and pro-Indian is not a contradiction.