Election 2008: Tribal gifts near $900K

Election 2008: Tribal gifts near $900K
Campaign contributions from state tribes are second only to California's
Comments 1BY NOLAN CLAY and PAUL MONIES
Published: November 3, 2008
©Copyright 2008, The Oklahoman

Oklahoma’s American Indian tribes donated almost $900,000 to local, state and national candidates up for election in 2008, ranging from Barack Obama to Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel, records show.

In the last two years, they donated another $1.16 million to state and national political committees and political parties.

Most donations come from just three tribes — Chickasaw Nation, Cherokee Nation and Choctaw Nation.

They have the potential to do even more.

"You look at the California tribes, for example, who give huge, huge sums of money both nationally and locally into ... politics. Oklahoma doesn’t even begin to compare,” said Kalyn Free, founder of INDN’s List, which is a Tulsa organization that recruits and trains tribal members to run for political office.

"For the most part, Oklahoma tribal leaders are more conservative in their political giving.”

Federal records show Oklahoma is second only to California in federal tribal contributions.

"I don’t think it’s fair,” said state House candidate Eddie Fields, a Republican from Wynona, whose opponent, Rep. Scott Bighorse, collected $27,400 from Oklahoma tribes. "They’ve become a force to deal with. ... You can’t ignore it.”

Bighorse, D-Pawhuska, said he doesn’t solicit tribal donations. "I’m Osage and Cherokee, but that’s not who I go down to represent,” he said. "I go down to represent my district as a whole.”

Bighorse complained he’s a victim of dirty politics with his foes saying: "He’s not one of us.”


Buying elections?Tribal leaders say they donate to candidates who share or understand their views.
"A working government-to-government relationship is integral to achieving our mission of enhancing the overall quality of life of Chickasaw people. ... We support candidates who have similar policy views,” said Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby.

"Are they buying elections? Strictly speaking, no,” said Keith Gaddie, a University of Oklahoma political science professor. "What they are doing is they’re buying access to elected officials. ...

No one anticipated this ... because we never counted on Indian tribes being rich, and gaming has made certain tribes wealthy.”

The Cherokee Nation once had a policy against making political contributions, but its leaders changed their position.

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