Senate's vote on Akaka bill draws reaction

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Jun/08/br/br12p.html

Here are some of the statements that have been released following today's action in the U.S. Senate on the Akaka bill:

State Sen. J. Kalani English, D-6th (E. Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i):
"This is a major setback - not only for Native Hawaiians, but for everyone who believes in justice for indigenous people. By misrepresenting its contents and its intentions, the Akaka Bill's opponents have succeeded in keeping the bill from being heard and debated by the full Senate. But Sen. Akaka and his many allies have promised to reintroduce the measure — and they deserve our enthusiastic support. "This setback does not end our quest for justice."

Senate Republican Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.:
"It is a core moral and constitutional principle of the United States that equal protection of our laws and equal participation in our government should never again be denied to Americans because of race or ethnicity. And it is a clear provision of our Constitution that American states be guaranteed a 'Republican Form of Government.' Both would be endangered by Senator Akaka's Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, which was just defeated on the Senate floor moments ago. "Senator Akaka's legislation would have created a new, independent government within our country – a government defined by and composed of a specific racial group. Worse still, Senator Akaka recently made clear that this race-based government would have been under no obligation to remain within the United States or to adhere to the most basic of our political principles: "he governing entity will make a decision as to what happens to independence or returning to the monarchy."

<edit: Fuck Frist>

It sounds like a bill that would give the same status to Native Hawaiians as Continental Indian Tribes currently have.

Frist is such an idiot.:mad:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2330250&mesg_id=2330250

I hope everyone at DU learns about this most important issue.