AIM Support Group of Ohio & N. KentuckyUpdates and Announcements
Saturday, January 09, 2010NAJA president criticizes Republican Party head for 'racist remarks' By Staff Reports TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The first African-American head of the Republican Party, Michael Steele, has come under fire for a comment he made recently on a FOX News show. Describing the Republican Party's platform, Steele said, "Our platform is one of the best political documents that's been written in the last 25 years, honest Injun on that." Native American Journalists Association President Ronnie Washines urged Steele to carefully word a sincere apology to the Native American community that "could help stop such uneducated archaic racist remarks" from being made in the future. "I am thoroughly outraged that the leader of the National Republican Party would use such repulsive language on national television," Washines said. "Michael Steele's scurrilous tongue does no service to his group and only undermines the positive work of those who sincerely seek to respect one another in all of our working relationships." Washines added members of NAJA are available to assist Steele and his organization with obtaining an accurate understanding of Native America. Steele has not responded to the criticism he has received since making the remark on Jan. 4. Rep. Dale Kildee, D-Mich., the Democratic Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus also slammed Steele for his remark. "I am outraged and disgusted that the head of the National Republican Party would make such a derogatory and offensive statement about Native Americans on national television," Kildee said in a statement. "In an effort to cover up Michael Steele's racist comment, FOX News altered the transcript online to read 'honest engine' instead of 'honest Injun.'" Kildee also demanded an apology from Steele. "His insensitive comment undermines and threatens to reverse the progress we have made to correct those wrongs. A cursory look through a dictionary or even some knowledge of Native American history would show Mr. Steele that the term is a racial slur for Native Americans," Kildee said. "I strongly urge Mr. Steele to publicly apologize to the Native American community immediately for his derogatory comment." http://www.cherokeephoenix.org/21010/Article.aspx posted by Webmaster@ AIM Support 11:20 AM Last updated:
|
