Posted on 10/09/2004 6:47:03 AM PDT by Libloather
Means, Thune not on the outs
By Denise Ross, Journal Staff Writer
PINE RIDGE -- Longtime American Indian activist Russell Means and Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Thune are once again partners on the campaign trail.
After endorsing Thune and making campaign appearances with him, Means blasted Thune's campaign in July for not taking his advice to heart.
"I tried to help the Republicans. They didn't want my help," Means said two months ago.
Means had said he could guarantee Thune 4,000 new Indian votes in his tight race against Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., if the Republican followed his advice.
On Wednesday, Means stood side by side with Thune as they cut the ribbon on a GOP office in Pine Ridge.
"I am for John Thune because he represents the real South Dakota," Means told the small crowd gathered outside the office on U.S. Highway 18.
Means said he is confident Thune would uphold his oath of office, which means protecting the U.S. Treasury and accounting for the funds the federal government sends to tribal governments.
Thune made a point to mention Means' success in this week's primary election for tribal president.
"Thank you, Mr. President," Thune quipped.
Means faces a run-off election against Cecelia Fire Thunder on Nov. 2.
Thune said Means' primary victory is a sign that residents of Pine Ridge Indian Reservation want change.
"It's time for change in the Oglala Sioux Tribe and in the U.S. Senate," Thune said. "If we work together, we can make this a better place."
Thune campaign manager Dick Wadhams said Means' public airing of his frustrations in late July was not a parting of the ways for the two men.
"He never really left us. His heart was always with us," Wadhams said. "He expressed some displeasure in some of the mechanics of the campaign, and that's fair."
Wadhams said Thune and Means had a talk before the opening of the campaign office on Wednesday and said that "probably" was the first time they had talked since news of Means' dissatisfaction was reported.
"It was just talk about the campaign and about the fact that they still believe in the same things," Wadhams said.
Contact Denise Ross at 394-8438 or denise.ross@rapidcityjournal.com
Bye bye Tommy boy, the chief has spoken!
That many dead Indians are willing to change parties?
Means can be all over the board, but he was a supporter of the Nicaraguan resistance in the 80's (because of Sandinista oppression of the Miskito Indians). Also one of the few causes his friend Marlon Brando embraced that I could also embrace.
Thune better check to see if he's still got his wallet.
Russell Means is also a pro-lifer.
Means goes out and gets support whereever he can find it. Lets face it...the number of senators out there talking about Indian affairs are very limited. So if Thune is a pro-Indian supporter...fine with me. Thats 4,000 more votes to beat the "D" man.
LOL! I'm bringing a case of champagne to a friend's Election night party. I'm planning one bottle when Dubya wins, another bottle if he gets 55% or more of the vote, and a third when Thune beats Little Tommy. Hey, I ain't drivin, and Sir SuziQ can get up early on Wed. and take our son to high school! I'll just sleep it off with lovely dreams!!
Good thing the Argus Leader is preoccupied with Thune's nephew's huge and nefarious vote fraud scandal, or this could actually be a political story.
Considering that Thune was "defeated" two years ago in the other SD Senate race by about 124 votes based largely on late-reporting Indian votes from southwest SD, this is very significant news! And -- if all goes as well as we hope -- the great irony will be that Senate Minority Leader Daschle himself would be out of the Senate entirely, which he would not have lost had his political allies not cheated two years ago and had let Thune win fair and square.
Means has always been against Casinos as the cure-all for his peoples problems and he is right.
Yep, I think we can stick a fork in Little Tommy Dee aka Puff Daschle.
Just watch the SD vote tallies on Nov. 2 - Custer never saw so many Indians...
I hope Thune's people read this post.
American Indians are the most pro life group in the country.
They can not afford to be for abortion. They will disappear if abortion takes hold of their people.
We at catholicsagainstkerry.com have a Dakota lady who volunteered to spread the word for us during this summer's pow wows. She enlightened me. Now I'm telling you Thune people: Talk pro life pro life pro life to our Indian neighbors!
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