Indians will cast pivotal ballots on reservations in South Dakota

Washington Times ^ | Sunday, September 1, 2002 | By Dave Boyer

[JohnHuang2]

RED SHIRT, S.D.

[JohnHuang2]

Sunday, September 1, 2002

Quote of the Day by freedomson

[Ann Archy]

WAKE UP you Fools!!!! What has voting for Democrats done for you??? NOTHING!!! You are STILL on their PLANTATION!!!

Look at your people and look at the black people and what do you see?? MISERY and HOPELESSNESS because you are being kept by the Liberal Masters who tell you that you are TOO STUPID to take care of yourself, so they will dole out a little money to you from the Hated RICH!

SMARTEN UP!!!

[johnny7]

Yea... I was out to Hardin Montana a few years back. Big Crow tribe reservation.

No business to speak of. Lots of cars leaking oil in the backyards of 2-bedroom ranch dwellings. Some still w/outhouses.

The Crows own property all-around The Little Bighorn Battlefield and have done nothing to get tourism dollars from the flock that arrives yearly.

From mom, dad and the kids to biker clubs they line up to get into this National Park.

I saw a few native Americans in Billings, near the RR tracks, hoping to get hit. Go figure.

[Ann Archy]

Ever notice that every broken down car has a Gore/Lieberman sticker on it...or some other Democrat crap?? "Nice People Suck"..."Mean People Suck"....'It's MY choice"....These idiots dig there own hole deeper every day they keep supporting Democrats.

[Texas_Jarhead]

If an indian trbie is sovereign then how can its members votte in a federal election much less participate as a candidate?

[Destro]

Commonwelath status territories can vote in one federal election (for president).

[Verginius Rufus]

The Commonwealths do not cast votes for President in the general election because they don't have any electoral votes (although a native of one of the Commonwealths may vote for President if residing in one of the states or in the District of Columbia).

The political parties hold primaries in the Commonwealths and other territories and allow the residents to choose delegates to the national convention.

This does not apply to the Commonwealth of Virginia or the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which do have electoral votes.

[crystalk]

I don't know what commonwealths have to do with Indians.

The fact is, that 8.6% of South Dakota's population consists of Native Americans, or Indians as they mostly still are called both by themselves and others.

This vote is somewhat parallel to Hispanic voters in states having them; S Dakota has had few historically.

Alcohol is responsible for every problem mentioned on this thread so far.

[Verginius Rufus]

Commonwealths have nothing to do with Indians per se and only a negligible number of American Indians live in one of the commonwealths or territories. I was responding to the claim that commonwealths can vote for President.

American Indians are citizens of the United States and should vote for whomever they choose; unfortunately the 'Rat Party is using the same methods to bamboozle them as they do with other minority groups.

By the way, the only American Indian to be Vice President of the United States was a Republican (Charles Curtis, 1929-1933).

[Jack Black]

That's ridiculous. The President isn't even elected by popular vote. He's elected by the electoral college, which is composed of State's electors. Even Washington D.C. doesn't get to vote for president, much less places like Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and Guam.

[Verginius Rufus]

Actually, Washington, D.C., does get to vote for President, but only since the ratification of the 23rd amendment in 1961.

[Jack Black]

Ooops. I stand corrected. 3 electoral votes.

[monkeyshine]

I think they vote, but don't get electoral representation. I could be wrong though.

[Jack Black]

Yes, that's right. They get electoral votes equal to the smallest state, but no Senators or Reps, though they have "shadow Senators" who attend but don't vote. A ceremonial position. (!)

[monkeyshine]

Actually I was referring to the protectorates like Guam and Puerto Rico. They don't get electoral votes, but do they get to cast votes for President? and if so, are these totals included in the popular vote tallies?

[crystalk]

No, and no.