Indian Leader’s Endorsement May Sway Nevada Primary To Clinton

WASHINGTON -- Senator Hillary Clinton may gain an edge in Nevada’s early primary election with the endorsement of an influential Native American leader, reports Indian Country Today. Arlen Melendez, chair of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony and a member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, announced that except for Sen. Clinton, no other leader could unite the nation while advancing diverse cultures. The Indian vote will be pivotal in sparsely populated Nevada, where the early primary is expected to be closely contested, Indian Country Today reports. For Melendez, Sen. Clinton has demonstrated a steady commitment to issues important to the native community, such as health care. In 2004 Clinton headed up a Democratic forum on Native issues and as president her husband appointed some of the government’s greatest champions of Indian causes, including Attorney General Janet Reno. ''She knows the issues already, and she'll hit the ground running,” he says. Melendez will press a Clinton presidency to reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, which has been blocked by the Bush administration.

http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=88addc379422611bbae013dd72be9822&from=rss

:sarcasm:

Seriously, she's working with a 20ish point lead. That state's the least of your worries.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/nv/nevada_democratic_caucus-236.html

It's a caucus. Big difference...

I guess all the Indians have to vote for her now that a Reno chairman of an Indian colony says so... you know 'dem injuns'...

:sarcasm:

There is a great deal of hype and celebration whenever Obama gets an endorsement but when HRC gets an endorsement it is bitterly downplayed as irrelevant. :rofl:

That "Indian Leader’s Endorsement May Sway Nevada Primary To Clinton"?

Be honest.

There is a consistent hypocrisy from supporters of one candidate on endorsements. Sure, this endorsement will not deliver Nevada to HRC but neither will any magic endorsement deliver a state to Obama...

Hypocrisy is even revealed by those who point out the hypocrisy of others.

So there.

;)

invitation for "Prez on the Rez"

Just knee jerk reaction...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3387011

The hypocrisy and hyperventilating is hilarious... :rofl: ;)

about yourself

Or whenever HRC gets an endorsement? Or when anything else that is positive happens to the HRC campaign? They seem to be on knife's edge... Relax. He is in second place. He has a ton of money. He will be there in the end but the reality is that HRC is the most popular Democratic candidate right now. Why is that so hard for some to accept?

she may be unstoppable. i wish mrs edwards was running. i think our love for bill will hand her the nomination.

Welcome to DU! :bounce:

bills influence will put hillary over the top

I'm not saying it to be mean. But, if things don't work out you could feel a bit silly.

also, representing the twenty-seven tribes in the state of Nevada as vice president of the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada.


http://www.usccr.gov/cos/bio/melendez.htm
Arlan D. Melendez

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid appointed Arlan D. Melendez to the Commission in September 2005. Mr. Melendez is Chairman of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, a Federally recognized Tribal Government representing Paiute, Washoe, and Shoshone tribal members. As such, he oversees a Tribal Government employing approximately 300 people. Mr. Melendez was elected Chairman of the nine-member Tribal Council in 1991.

He is the second American Indian to serve on the U.S. Commission of Civil Rights.

Mr. Melendez also is Vice President of the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada, representing the twenty-seven tribes in the state of Nevada; he is a Board member of the National Indian Business Association. In addition, Mr. Melendez serves as the Western regional vice president of the National Congress of American Indians, and Co-chair of its Taxation Sub-committee. He is a strong advocate for a strong tribal tax base, which has enabled the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony to build a viable tribal economy.

An Armed Forces Veteran, Mr. Melendez served in the United States Marine Corp during the Vietnam era.