Story Published:
Jan 8, 2010
Story Updated:
Jan 11, 2010
So much for the GOP’s “big tent” strategy.
Republican National Chairman Michael Steele last week put his foot in his mouth during an appearance on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show. Describing a Republican Party platform that he contends is “one of the best political documents” in the last 25 years, Steele underscored his point by adding, “Honest Injun on that.” Ironically, he followed by listing core conservative values.
A public apology is well overdue. Steele and the RNC must address his terrible choice of phrase. Disgust and outrage has turned into adamant calls for an apology. Michigan Congressman Dale Kildee, Democratic co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus, issued a statement in response to Steele’s “racist comment.”
“For those of us who have been fighting to reverse decades of mistreatment of Native Americans, we all know what Mr. Steele said and what he meant,” said Kildee. “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.” He then urged the head of the RNC to publicly apologize to the Native American community “for his derogatory comment.”
It is particularly disturbing that Steele, who has endorsed a “big tent” Republican strategy that broadens its party, would so blatantly and easily offend American Indians. Steele’s use of this racist phrase – on a widely viewed national program, no less – disrespects a community that works hard to educate about the true history of the United States and wants to participate in its productive future.
Sharing this sentiment, Ronnie Washines, president of Native American Journalists Association, issued this statement following the televised incident: “I am thoroughly outraged that the leader of the National Republican Party would use such repulsive language on national television. Those of us in journalism have tirelessly worked to ensure that political leaders, newsrooms and the public be respectful to all cultures when speaking publically. 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. I urge Michael Steele to carefully word a sincere apology to the Native American community, which could help stop such uneducated archaic racist remarks from being made in the future. We here at NAJA are available to assist him and his organization with obtaining an accurate understanding of Native America.”
We urge Steele to exhibit better leadership than this if the GOP truly wants to become more inclusive. In this age of instant media, it will be an uphill battle to overcome this image in the minds of Native peoples.
You have indicated this comment should be removed.
The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .
NW Native said on Sunday, Jan 24 at 1:03 AM
Hey J Stoleybogen! The "race card" seems to be all you've taken from this! That is not our point, although some are more upset than others You don't get it!! Lobbying doesn't seem to help. That's the problem...No One listens to us, not the media, our so called elected officials and certaintly, not the Gov't. Besides..this article is about a Black man using "The race card"!! The whole reason for our outrage...just depends on who's "offended"! you don't seem to be.
36232837see yah dahtud said on Thursday, Jan 14 at 7:26 PM
Bald headed ninja
35583739J. Stoleybogen said on Wednesday, Jan 13 at 9:37 AM
Good grief!!! I have never seen so many race cards thrown... We are all Americans. Quit yelling race and work together to defeat racism. Throwing the race card is not going to solve anything. The U.S. is a diverse country. Let's all grow up and respect each other for a change.
35454539ND Chippewa said on Tuesday, Jan 12 at 7:17 PM
ANY term designed to insult, hurt, intimidate, humiliate any other person is a conscious act..premeditated. I know when I'm about to sling the "F' word or flip the finger..I can control that and I know I'm about to do it. An educated person such as M. Steele should know better. Sure, we all make mistakes but hurtful name calling should have no place in ADULT conversation. I have a friend who happens to be Black and co-workers who are White and they are people of Honor. I am Native & Proud.
35417647Forces of Freedom said on Tuesday, Jan 12 at 6:14 AM
To longwind. Lets not forget that Africans to this day and the past have AFRICANS as slaves (SUDAN) and sold Africans into slavery to the European conquerors. Everyone is guilty of this. We all must face this bitter truth. The worst thing in the world is to be the slave of another man. There no honor in being a physical,mental or spiritual slave.
35365159Forces of Freedom said on Tuesday, Jan 12 at 5:56 AM
To African American Girl. All women of color were rape by the European conquest of Africa,The Americas and Asia. You can't deny that without the willing support of Black nanny in the masters house cooking for him and maintaining his house and acting as a wet nurse for is children enable the plantation to function and prosper. Some Black women accepted death. we praise and love their warrior spirits. The women is the center of any race. Defeat only comes when the women has given up.
35364759Longwind said on Monday, Jan 11 at 9:17 PM
One thing we all have to think there is racisum in every race of people. Indians are marrying whites blacks are marrying whites.Blacks and indians should remember who enslave your people. And indians also had black slaves. show me in history where a Black man enslave a white or indian. think about it
35346039The Big Native said on Monday, Jan 11 at 7:57 PM
is this really the biggest threat to native americans? if it is, we are doing pretty good. I hope Mr Steele continues to fight for lower taxes and individual freedom.
35341156Longjohn said on Monday, Jan 11 at 7:46 PM
Mr Steele is doing a fine job of ni**er rigging the Republican Party I mean that in the best possible way so you can't say anything bad about me
35340472AN HONEST AMERICAN AKA: HONEST INJUN said on Monday, Jan 11 at 6:55 PM
Again, we see the ugly head of racism raised, by no less than the HEAD of the Repub's? As an American and an Honest Indian, I'm waiting for this fool of an supposedly educated person to apologize to all people of color, dont u realize HE IS the one w/a problem..
35337456African-American Girl said on Monday, Jan 11 at 4:02 PM
I swear I'm almost done... And DANG, everybody is still suffering. I don't know if it's fair to pity one group over the other. For the most part, if you're not White, then you might be suffering. It's a universal struggle that isn't limited to one particular group A-A Girl, age 17.
35324719African-American GIRL said on Monday, Jan 11 at 3:59 PM
And to the fool that left the comment 5 lines below this claiming that Black woman voluntarily slept with their masters, then I suggest you do your studies more thoroughly. Black Women were raped. Plain and simple. I didn't ask to be lighter than African-Americans around me, a rape was committed because if not, then I would be as Black as night, correct?
35324426African-American GIRL said on Monday, Jan 11 at 3:57 PM
Okay, I can't speak for REPUBLICAN Michael Steele, but it's not fair to say that Black people are prejudiced. That's ridiculous. Quite honestly, I don't think I knew that that phrase was offensive until today, and I consider myself to be highly educated. Second of all, I don't think he meant it to be offensive. It wasn't premeditated. It's not like he's sitting around trying to figure out how to offend African-Americans.
35324272jim said on Monday, Jan 11 at 3:10 PM
people you need to get a life
35320607NW Native said on Monday, Jan 11 at 11:40 AM
There's a saying that comes to mind, "politicians are like diapers..they both need to be changed for the same reason!" Thought it rather fitting.
35304314kinajin said on Monday, Jan 11 at 11:11 AM
Tell to come over to Lakota country and say that.
35301802just me said on Monday, Jan 11 at 2:24 AM
I wonder how Mr. Steele feels about John Wayne saying "Shut up or I'll ship you back to Africa" to Miss Blondell's black handmaid in "Lady For A Night"? Perhaps he never saw the movie. Perhaps he should take a course in "American" history.
35287394just me said on Monday, Jan 11 at 2:06 AM
"Honest Injun" implies there is an equal but opposite entity. Hmmm... Mayor Marion Barry comes to mind. Then Tiwana Brawley. The Rev. Al Sharpton. Jesse Jackson. Well, I'll stop at that.
35286944Desatoya said on Monday, Jan 11 at 1:47 AM
Contrary to popular belief, "Politicians are Politicians", party affiliation does not matter, nor makes them any better than the other. It takes a certain type of character to be in politics, but they are all from the same mold. This nation is on the crest of a drop as a result of the moral degradation commonplace in every day life - racial slurs are an example of this decay and lack of concern for the human life, whats new?
35286224White Antelope said on Sunday, Jan 10 at 7:23 PM
The whitemans blackman.
35267654Stormy said on Sunday, Jan 10 at 6:57 PM
To Okpulot Taha, when did you Choctaws become Indians. Indians are from India, fool.
35266231Anonymous said on Sunday, Jan 10 at 4:50 PM
O⋅re⋅o /ˈɔriˌoʊ, ˈoʊr-/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [awr-ee-oh, ohr-] Show IPA Use oreo in a Sentence See web results for oreo See images of oreo –noun, plural O⋅re⋅os. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. a black person who is regarded as having adopted the attitudes, values, and behavior thought to be characteristic of middle-class white society, often at the expense of his or her own heritage.
35259844Anonymous said on Sunday, Jan 10 at 4:46 PM
That Oreo Steele is so confused, he thinks he's white. lol
35259666DC NDNs said on Sunday, Jan 10 at 12:17 PM
People are saying that Harry Reid should step down for his comments about then-Senator Obama, but people say that we should forgive Steele for this racist slur. What a double standard. Steele should step down or be removed.
35246819Dakota woman said on Sunday, Jan 10 at 11:34 AM
On meet the press Jan.10 th , Mr. Steele has the nerves to talk about racial comments . Say What? This shambo should be gagged , It's obvious he is not for all americans. oops!
35244357SGlitz said on Sunday, Jan 10 at 9:16 AM
A new book about the campaign, "Game Change," by Time magazine reporter Mark Halperin and New York magazine writer John Heileman, said Reid, in private conservations, described Obama as "light-skinned" and with "no Negro dialect." But Obama accepts his apology and case closed. Oh the Hypocrisy.
35238186Helen said on Sunday, Jan 10 at 6:52 AM
Y did Harry Reid apologize for his comments re: Obama & not this character, Steele, regarding his insensitive slur?! -he is not be held accountable.
35235254confused said on Sunday, Jan 10 at 3:13 AM
How would it sit with Michael Steele if Mr. White Guy said "sure as a negroe eats watermelon..."? At least "honest Injun" has some ring of truth. As opposed to dishonest Euro invader. One would think the negroe would be offended by stereotypes.
35232342NATIVE WARRIOR said on Sunday, Jan 10 at 2:21 AM
he would not like it if we were to remind him of his past and say "your name is toby" my people were RIPPED OFF, AND KILLED,it makes me angry,my native brothers and sisters are still suffering today.
35231159NW Native said on Sunday, Jan 10 at 12:57 AM
Ya know, I really don't think we have the luxury to pick and choose "what are more important issues", not if we are to evolve away from what holds us all back. Every "issue" matters if we are determined to right a history of wrongs against Native (indigenous) peoples. You can be indifferent and not care, or you can come out of your safe/"everythings good in my world" closet and get informed as to what we face if we don't come together and act before we reach a point of no return..For our future!
35228064Just another Minority said on Saturday, Jan 9 at 8:30 PM
You all need to dwell on more important issues. I didn't consider this a racial slur. It was a term used in the past and was not considered a negative connotation. Get real.
35217954greenriverkate said on Saturday, Jan 9 at 4:15 PM
You know what really p!sses me off? Natives are non existant in this country until someone want to make an ugly reference to them. For a black man (minority) to make this remark, NO EXCUSE but ignorance. Why am I offended? The republican party has been nothing but detrimental to natives and the biggest liars we know and yet they say "honest injun"? How offensive can a person get when we know what bsers theyare and what bigots they have always been.
35208629anonymous said on Saturday, Jan 9 at 3:26 PM
Two years ago, I had an experience with a college English teacher. He said "Don't act like a bunch of..." then broke off his sentence and changed the subject. He was on American Literature & Laura Ingalls Wilder's writings. As native people, we know what she writes about but specifically what the publishers selectively omitted from her writings on Indians. Sometimes it feels we're still in 18-19th century, so many uneducated people even though they may have doctorates degrees.
35206542NW "Native" said on Saturday, Jan 9 at 2:45 PM
Okpulot Taha. So do you also think its okay to refer to Blacks as the "N" word? American Indian!? You can refer to yourself as anything you wish, (you've heard of C.Columbus..Indians?) The term "injun" was created by a non Native used to slur our people..thats somehow ok w/you? Centuries of pain cannot be erased unless we say enough! Your priorities are tarnished by your misguided "honor" I am Chippewa..not "Indian". The fed. gov. did "label" us and thats where it started. Apology? YES!
35204924Okpulot Taha said on Saturday, Jan 9 at 2:07 PM
What I find offensive is so many of our peoples using this federal government label "Native American". We are not. We are American Indians or more simply, Indians. My preference is to be labeled "Choctaw" as a matter of tribe pride.
You folks have your priorities all backwards and are dishonoring our ancestors by not standing up and being truthful. Steele committed no offense, this is truth. Claiming otherwise is deceitful.
Okpulot Taha
35203199Choctaw Nation
Puma Politics
NW Native said on Saturday, Jan 9 at 2:05 PM
What really gets me is, is it arrogance or ignorance that he felt it was okay to use that slur? Suppose the shoe was on the other foot and he was to witness say, a white person use the "N" word while referring to a Black person...how would he feel? same difference Mr. Steele! Man up and apologize!
35203122Okpulot Taha said on Saturday, Jan 9 at 1:57 PM
Within the overall context of Steele's words, use of "Honest Injun" is not racist in nature. Any word or expression is only racist when wrapped within a hateful context. Steele expressed no hatred. Steele is free to speak as he chooses just as we are free to agree or to disagree with him.
What I am reading here is voluntary enslavement to political correctness and voluntary squashing of our right to free speech.
Okpulot Taha
35202651Choctaw Nation
Puma Politics
Grammy said on Saturday, Jan 9 at 4:12 AM
Just a Mom -- I'm so glad you told the school. Your daughter is blessed in having you to show her the right ways. Migwetch.
35185994Just a mom said on Saturday, Jan 9 at 2:02 AM
My daughter has had her own teacher tell children they are acting like a bunch of wild Indians. She is a Native student who lives outside the Siletz REZ When we brought it to the schools attention,the older women had not even stopped to think how it made her and others feel.
35183416Grammy said on Saturday, Jan 9 at 1:51 AM
. . . and he is supposed to be one of our nation's leaders. Where do they find such hollow hearts? -- and why do we vote them into office? I guarantee he won't be kissing any of my grandbabies when he's out there posing for the cameras!
35183094NW Native said on Friday, Jan 8 at 11:58 PM
Has he himself not been a victim of intolerance? Given that Black Americans have had to endure themselves, a history of struggle. This is appalling, especially coming from someone in his position.
3517892221st century Native said on Friday, Jan 8 at 11:45 PM
Nothing short of a sincere apology to the entire Native community will do!!! I am so sick of these antics by obviously ignorant politicians! This is the 21st century!! get informed Mr.Steele!! We are not going to tolerate this ANYLONGER!!
35178404A ole Native said on Friday, Jan 8 at 10:30 PM
As u can see & hear even black people are prejudiced against other races. They call prejudice against them, even while they talk "twofaced".
35175422Add a comment
Most Popular