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RNC Official Says NM Governor Disrespected Custer by Meeting American Indians
WASHINGTON – Pat Rogers, a Republican National Committee (RNC) leader, is facing calls for his dismissal after telling the staff of Gov. Susana Martinez, R-N.M., that because she agreed to meet with American Indians, she disrespected the memory of Col. George Armstrong Custer.
Custer is infamous for being a U.S. Army commander in the mid-1800s who killed many American Indians during what are historically known as the Indian Wars. He was killed at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876.
Rogers is a GOP lobbyist and partner with the Modrall law firm of Albuquerque, New Mexico. A recent member of the RNC Executive Committee, he is also an RNC National Committeeman for his state. He is currently in Tampa, Florida preparing for the upcoming Republican National Convention.
Rogers was appointed to the GOP executive committee by former RNC Chairman Michael Steele, who faced his own Indian-themed controversy after using the phrase "honest injun" in 2010.
Rogers made the Custer-friendly statement in an e-mail obtained by Independent Source PAC and publicized by ProgressNow New Mexico, a liberal advocacy organization that is urging his exit from the RNC. Organizers with the group say his writing was a “tactless and bigoted statement.”
“The state is going to hell,” Rogers wrote in part of the e-mail. “Col. [Allen] Weh would not have dishonored Col. Custer in this manner.” Weh was a Republican candidate for governor of New Mexico in 2010 who ran against Martinez.
The e-mail was sent following a meeting in June between Martinez and the state's tribes, according to ProgressNow. It was directed to senior members of the governor’s administration. The governor’s office has not responded to requests for comment.
“George Armstrong Custer may be regarded as a kind of military hero by Pat Rogers, but to the Native peoples of America Custer represents the bellicose imperialism that was responsible for the systematic slaughter of American Indians throughout this continent,” according to an e-mail being circulated by ProgressNow.
"Such a blatantly racist statement against our Native people is offensive from anyone, but to come from a national GOP leader and lobbyist for some of our country's largest corporations is indefensible," said Pat Davis, executive director of ProgressNow New Mexico, in a statement.
"These e-mails show the contempt and disrespect New Mexico's Republican leadership has for our Native people. Unless they drop Pat Rogers immediately, we can rightly assume that those organizations he speaks for, including the RNC, Modrall Sperling and his lobbying clients, feel the same way."
“Well, there’s an entirely different angle to this," added Chris Stearns, a Navajo lawyer and chairman of the Seattle Human Rights Commission. "I think you could argue that when Gov. Martinez met with Pat Rogers, she disrespected the memory of intelligent people everywhere.”
ProgressNow New Mexico has posted an online tool that allows people to e-mail RNC leaders and the corporate CEOs of Rogers' law firm and lobbying clients to call for his firing.
Rogers was forced to resign in July from the board of a state group, the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, after his role in a separate e-mail scandal was investigated. He had been criticized for using personal e-mail accounts to contact state government officials attempting to influence their decision-making--a practice that carries questions under state law.
The RNC and Rogers have not responded to requests for comment, although they have previously taken umbrage with ProgressNow New Mexico for its activism.
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Modesto Martinez
Bert Kaulaity
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What an ignorant & bigotted
What an ignorant & bigotted washichu! I will not even mention the evil one this bigot even named. Needless to say, this one whose name shall not pass my lips got EXACTLY what he deserved in 1876!
Too many in this western society deem those of us who do not agree with their idea of what makes someone or some society civilized to be the enemy & needing conquered & destroyed.
I have news for these ignorant ones. OUR peoples were far, far more civilized than any of them ever were in those days. We helped these weaklings to survive the harsh winters. We taught them how to hunt the game, plant gardens, etc.
OUR peoples are the ones who have been offended when maligned with such nonsense as this washichu spouts. After all these years OUR peoples are STILL being taken advantage of, lied about, our women & children harmed & our elders disrespected.
Just recently I read a news article from a native newspaper that was about an election. This woman who is native, went door to door asking folks to vote for her. Some of the ignorant ones she ran into at times flat out told her they would not vote for her because she WAS Indian! I was shocked to read this since this was on a reservation. Needless to say, this woman won the election in spite of the adversities she ran into while running for election! I applaud this sister in overcoming the odds. Hoa!
Brothers & sisters far & wide, our many peoples STILL come across ignorance, bigotry, racism even in this day & age. What can we do about it? Live each day with pride, grace, respect & living in a manner that reflects who we all really are: A people with honor in spite of all we face in this world among those whose hearts & minds are turned evil generation after generation. March on brothers & sisters far & wide.
We have no one to please but our Creator. Remember, when you hear ignorant things about our peoples, prove the ignorant ones wrong about who we as a people are. Live with honor, with respect, decency & proud of your tribe & where you come from.
Two Bears Growling Buffalo's Thunder
I dont know who raised you a
I dont know who raised you a Nazi maybe.My kiya was full
blooded native american(Puyallup Tribe) and the very thought that u have no respect and find it funny to make snide remarks about a whole race of people being massacred, which wouldnt of happened if we would of only been as condesending,self righteous,and greedy as the very people we taught how to survive. I bet this Weh guy also probably wouldnt have opened his mouth with a comment that obviously was demeaning and condescending to a whole race of people even if he had racist feeling toward them cuz most people just arent that stupid.
I dont care if he gets fired for his comment toward us native americans i think he should be fired cuz of lack of intelligence.He obviously cares about what this Weh guy would do so thought Id add that in maybe will make a light go off in his head.