Senator's wife in Aberdeen to help youths on reservations (Dems "buying" votes on reservations)

Aberdeen American News (Tom Daschle's hometown paper) ^ | Oct. 19, 2002 | Christian RIchardson

[jwalburg]

Children to receive coats, supplies

Some South Dakota children who need a pair of gloves or a new coat to protect them from the winter cold or even a new toy may easily turn to their parents.

But on South Dakota Indian reservations the average annual family income hovers around $4,000, according to the Aberdeen Area Tribal Chairman's Health Board.

With such a low income, many Indian children don't receive winter clothing, blankets or even toys.

But if it's up to Barbara Johnson, the wife of U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., life for these youths will change.

She came to the Aberdeen Area Tribal Chairman's Health Board, 220 S. Main St., Friday bearing good news for children on South Dakota's Indian reservations.

"Today's a day. . . when a dream comes true," Barbara Johnson said.

She officially announced

the beginning of the distribution of $250,000 in supplies for children on reservations across the state donated with the help of Kids In Distressed Situations Inc.

The list of goods includes blankets, gloves, coats, hats and toys.

"The faucet is on," said Mark Gelber, president of Kids In Distressed Situations. "It will continue to flow."

The New York City-based Kids In Distressed Situations, also known as KIDS, is a not-for-profit organization that assists needy children through the generosity of manufacturers and retailers.

The idea to bring the help of KIDS to South Dakota originated on the Pine Ridge American Indian Reservation.

"We had a vision," said Frederick Cedar Face, program manager with Northern Plains Healthy Start on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Cedar Face said the idea first began when Indian officials were searching on the Internet for assistance and found the KIDS organization. Then, he said, they contacted KIDS and Barbara Johnson.

Many speakers in Aberdeen on Friday attributed the success of bringing the program to South Dakota to both Tim and Barbara Johnson.

Cedar Face was enthusiastic about bringing the coats and toys to the children on the reservations.

"I'm touched, I'm honored," Cedar Face said. But "more especially it's for the betterment of our people."

Before the much needed supplies could come to Aberdeen, which will act as the state's supply headquarters for the donations, $25,000 was needed to cover the shipping expense.

Barbara Johnson said she got on the phone and contacted several organizations and companies, such as Wells Fargo Bank, seeking donations.

"Essentially, every person I called came forward and said, 'I want to be part of this program,'" she said.

Gelber said the easy part of the project was sending the supplies.

"Then, the really fun job of getting the products to the kids takes place," he said.

KIDS started in 1985 sending $600,000 in clothes, shoes and toys to children in Ethiopia and mud-slide victims in South America. This year $50 million in help was distributed.

"The fact that we actually pulled this off and had the coats here today is a total miracle," Barbara Johnson said.

[Dengar01]

If she really wants to buy votes she should give the indians booze. South Dakota has a problem with druken indians. Trust me I was almost hit by one who was drinking a bottle of booze while driving.

[Theodore R.]

Nearly 1/3 of adult Indians are considered alcoholic.

Governor Thomas E. Dewey of NY was once accused of trying to outpromise the Democrats. The liberal Republican replied: "A Republican cannot outpromise a Democrat if he tried, because a Democrat will say anything, do anything to obtain a vote."

[YaYa123]

from the same article I quoted a few replies back, which was written in the summer of 2001, "The organization now works in every state but South Dakota, Wyoming and Hawaii." Does that make Johnson and Dashcle look bad, or what?

I'm telling you, if Democrats intend this giveaway as a bribe, then they've handed republicans a great campaign issue. The headline in next week newspapers should read:

"Democrat Senators Johnson and Daschle Delinquent
Delivering The Goods To Indian Children of South Dakota

The charity, K I D S, is recognized as a worthwhile project, the crime is that in this instance, Democrats are misusing it for political advantage. I hope Republicans are smart enough to capitalize on it without looking like they don't want "the children" to go without.

[mvpel]

One of my uncles, a staunch Republican and devout Catholic, has been doing just this kind of thing for years - gathering cast-off bedding from hotels, excess food from restaurants, etc, and bringing it to an Indian reservation near where he lives, without any fanfare or press releases.

I think it was demonstrated at a recent Freep that when there's no camera, there's no charity from Democrats.

[ppaul]

But on South Dakota Indian reservations the average annual family income hovers around $4,000

What?
They haven't discovered casinos yet?

[tillacum]

The trouble is.....a lot of indians will vote for johnson, because his wife is such a "nice lady" because she brought all those things for the kids. I know.........I've seen this type of thing happen in our village. The average Indian on a reservation pays no attention to politics and can't tell who their senator or representative is. So, Johnson will benefit from his wife's schrewdness. I don't believe Mr. Cedar Face thought of KIDS all by himself.

[There's millions of'em]

I don't see where anythind being done is illegal or unethical.

Why haven't any Republicans done this, before this?

The only reservations I have any knowledge of are in NM and AZ. The casino revenues enhance the economics of a few tribes, but many are indeed, dirt poor. There is no reason to doubt the low annual income figure stated.

If we as conservatives continue to scoff and ridicule the success of the liberals in their efforts to recruit more liberals we will be even further behind.

just my 2 cents

[Nebr FAL owner]

The indians on the reservation thats who they think they are fooling & it's working . As a child I got to visit the wounded Knee reservation in S.D. saw folks living housing you or I would be ashamed to keep animals in ! That is what 100 plus years of the govt. giving a da*n whether you live or die gets you . I will NEVER let the govt. 1. disarm me 2. put my a$$ into a ghetto or reservation it is far better to go down swinging than to live like they do on the reservation.

[Nebr FAL owner]

Not all reservation or Indian tribes have casino gambling just those that can pay the BRIBE money to the Bureau of Indian Affiars the single most corrupt agency in the entire United States Govt.

[RadicalRik]

You can be assured that Billbilly & Hillbillery are advising this bunch.
The command from above is: "Victory by any means necessary (short of murder...if it comes to that, leave that up to us)."

[joesnuffy]

Yep ...those millions taken in every week from Casinos just doesnt seem to be making it down to the locals...why is that..
Well it is..but its gettin pissed away...always been that way...and I suspect it always will be..
Dems are pretty compassionate arent they...specially with other peoples money...
These are politicians of the old order passing out a couple of bucks to each hand pumped right on election day...