Posted on 06/26/2009 12:37:53 PM PDT by greyfoxx39
Diane J. Humetewa, the first female Native American U.S. attorney in history, will soon be out of a job – and not because she’s doing a bad job, either. Instead, she will become a casualty of the political appointee process that comes with each new presidential administration.
Humetewa took the oath of office to become a U.S. attorney from Arizona in December 2007 and was formally sworn in a month and a half later.
Indian country found big reason to celebrate.
Not only was the longtime tribal justice advocate breaking a glass ceiling, she was rising to the heights of a system that had recently experienced the controversial firings of several U.S. attorneys by the Bush administration and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
Many of the fired U.S. attorneys happened to be strong in the area of tribal justice, so Humetewa was seen to be filling a big void – and she was doing so under the Bush administration, which wasn’t exactly known for going out of its way to promote Indian faces to positions of power.
Humetewa would ultimately oversee a plethora of tribal justice issues in her state, and she made it part of her agenda to highlight Native safety and justice concerns on the national level, too.
In an interview with Indian Country Today in June 2008, Humetewa noted that she had previously served as a tribal liaison under former U.S. Attorney Paul Charlton, and once she was promoted to the position herself, she joined the Native American Issues Subcommittee, made up of U.S. attorneys who have Indian country jurisdiction.
-SNIP-
Democrats who had ties to Obama’s campaign and transition team said in mid-June the replacement would likely be Dennis Burke, a former top aide to former Gov. Janet Napolitano, who now serves as Obama’s homeland security chief.
Burke is not widely known to be well-versed in Indian justice issues.
When asked why Obama would replace a history-making Native American tribal justice official – when the president himself has noted the need for more American Indians in top political positions – White House officials noted that it is not unusual for presidents to want to fill political appointee positions with allies.
It may be a political reality, but it is not one that sits well with those who know Humetewa and her work.
-SNIP-
“It’s unfortunate that the political appointee process is going to remove a really qualified U.S. attorney.”
Still, Heffelfinger noted that it would have been unusual for a Bush appointee – even a Native American U.S. attorney – to hold on to the job.
That is the question people need to ask.
Well, the suit served its purpose, didn't it?
Isn't that the district with Navajo and Apache counties?
Yeah. And I live there. I’m pretty PO’d about the whole thing. The “media” loved it though.
Black man speak with forked tongue!
LOL - grrrrrrrrr
I was typing as fast as I could before someone else posted it. :)
Is the 0bama administration known for it? What American Indian face has the Zer0 appointed?
>More racism from the most racist administration since Andrew Jackson.
Oh, I thought it would have been the most racist admin ever... Sotomyer is a good example of such racism.
LOL
Come on, I almost NEVER get it first! ;)
“Endeavor to persevere.”
No, this time it isn't the palefaces doing the Indians.
The noble red man has gone from Hopi to no Hopi.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.