Daschle Rival Drops Bid After Promise on Land Return

Talon News ^ | 4/21/2004 | Jeff Gannon

[ConservativeMajority]

(Talon News) -- Tim Giago, a Native American activist and newspaper publisher bowed out of South Dakota's senate race on Monday following a weekend meeting with Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD). Giago originally wanted to challenge the incumbent Democrat in the June primary, but later decided to run as an independent so he could stay in the race through November.

It was only a few weeks ago that Giago, a member of the Lakota tribe, told Talon News that Daschle phoned him following his announcement and asked, "Do you want to be the Ralph Nader of this race?"

Daschle was suggesting that Giago would siphon off enough traditionally Democratic votes to allow Republican challenger John Thune (R-SD) to win.

Giago told the Associated Press on Tuesday that he would now back Daschle. He indicated that at his meeting with the senator, he was able to lay out his concerns. Giago said that Daschle agreed to hold an August meeting with South Dakota tribal leaders to discuss a settlement of the Black Hills issue.

Sometimes referred to as the "third rail of South Dakota politics," ownership of the Black Hills has been disputed for over a century. The Lakota claim they own the land taken by the federal government in 1877, an act that violated the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty. The Supreme Court awarded them $105 million in 1980 for the loss of the Black Hills, but the tribe refused the money, saying the land was never for sale.

The Daschle campaign did not respond to a call from Talon News to clarify Daschle's position on the Black Hills. Support for the return of the Black Hills to the Sioux Nation would be a significant shift for the senator and likely have considerable political fallout.

Thune's campaign manager Dick Wadhams told Talon News, "Whether or not Giago is in or out of the race doesn't change the overall problem Daschle has on the reservations."

Wadhams added, "Giago's candidacy showed that there is significant discontent with Tom Daschle on the reservations."

Wadhams pointed out that the Thune campaign is working hard to appeal to Native American voters. The candidate hosted a charity basketball game Tuesday on the Cheyenne River Reservation. Wadhams also noted that Thune has received the endorsement of Native American activists Russell Means and Bruce Whalen.

Copyright © 2004 Talon News -- All rights reserved.

[Patrick1]

"Do you want to be the Ralph Nader of this race?"

"Sure, and you can be the John F Kerry" replied the Indian.

[The_Victor]

Giago said that Daschle agreed to hold an August meeting with South Dakota tribal leaders to discuss a settlement of the Black Hills issue.

Sucker!

He only agreed to discuss, not solve.

[theDentist]

Someone's been bought off.

[Old Sarge]

Daschle phoned him following his announcement and asked, "Do you want to be the Ralph Nader of this race?

And the hate spawned from the Florida 2000 election rolls on.

This is one of the ONLY reasons that explains the hate.

[RightWhale]

The Lakota claim they own the land taken by the federal government in 1877, an act that violated the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty.

Give it all back except that small piece of carved rock.

[DBrow]

AAnd he'll fix Medicare AND Social Security too!

[jocko12]

Indains get the shafted again.

[Tacis]

The sale of Congressional influence by his bag lady wife has made Dashole a very, very rich man. Rich enough to easily buy off this red skin. You gotta figure that it cost Tommie (the Commie) at least three cases of reasonably good fire water to get this guy to go back to his teepee.

No bribe involved? What does this guy know now that he didn't know when he announced he was going to run? "I didn't realize the potential consequences of my independent candidacy?" He knew exactly what he was doing and must have gotten exactly what he had hoped for from Dashole.

[ken5050]

I don't think Deeply Saddened pulls it out this time around....Johnson won in 2002, in large part because of appeals to keep Daschle the SML..and bring power and pork to SD...but now..looks like the Dem Herseth with win the Cong seat, so, does it make sense for a stae that heavily supports Bush, to have all Three elected representatives Democrat?.. I think not...

[Sir Gawain]

The good news is, Daschle has to produce now that the tribe is expecting concessions for Giago bowing out. If Daschle fails to come through, it sounds like he'll lose their support.

[Sunshine Sister]

This is going to be interesting to watch. I hope Daschle gets whipped this time.

[Rushmore Rocks]

"Give it all back".

Hold on now......they're not getting MY home and 40 acres here in the Black Hills.

Actually, the Sioux were not the first Native Americans here.
They stole it from other tribes. And Giago is pretty gullible if he thinks he can trust Daschle. I knew Daschle must have bargained with something to eliminate his "Nader".

[mabelkitty]

Wonder if there is a memo somewhere with Dashcle's Indian strategy on it.....

[zbigreddogz]

Tim Johnson didn't win. Becky Red Earth Vilda won.

[Digger]

This could be news if it wasn't so predictable. Dashole will win. Sphenter beats out possibly the best non-incumbant, Toomey thanks to this "Two-Party Cartel" & the RINO White House. And watch Nader pack it in to give Flip-Flop the momentum to send GW out. If this happens GW has no one to blame but himself & his out-of control spending to public school & drug prescriptions combined with the total lack of controlling immigration.

[pointsal]

What is the dollar per vote cost in South Dakota?
This must be the busy season at the cemetaries in this state.

[MegaSilver]

YEAH!!!!!