A Campaign Promise Delivered, With a Bow. [View All]

Okay, I'll tell all of you the truth about something: When then-Senator Obama promised to re-open the doors to America's Indian tribes and other Native American peoples, I didn't really believe he'd back it up. Too many times I've seen the best intentions left on the front mat once the new President took office. The last guy didn't even know what tribes are.

Today, after reading the transcript of President Obama's remarks to tribal leaders yesterday, I called up a couple of old friends in the business, and they tell me this is the real deal. Not only did the President deliver on his promise to re-engage tribes, he rattled off a list of specific plans, every one of which is desperately needed, heartily welcomed, and totally unexpected. In the days before his speech, the President reputedly put every Department on notice that they had better have a plan to deal with tribes, equitably, as soon as possible, and tribal leaders have been meeting with federal officials all over town, all week.

It's easy to be cynical about how Washington works, especially after eight years of the stupidest, most malicious treatment of tribes anyone had seen in the past fifty. Hell, Bush's people couldn't even find a person of Indian descent to run the Bureau of Indian Affairs--besides that guy who ran a chain of barbecue restaurants. For the past three years they were effectively breaking the law by having the Bureau run by a bitter old white guy.

I think that I'll be able to look back on yesterday as The Day Something Changed in Washington. Thank you, President Obama, for caring enough about America's most disadvantaged people, thank you for taking the time to understand the issues, and thank you for delivering on your promises. You made my week!