Reply #16: From Indianz.Com. Nov. 2004

[LiviaOlivia]

URL: http://www.indianz.com/News/2004/005123.asp

Judge bars GOP from watching Yankton Sioux voters
Tuesday, November 2, 2004

A federal judge has barred the Republican Party from watching voters from the Yankton Sioux Reservation in South Dakota.

A Republican testified that he was writing down the license plate numbers of cars carrying voters from the reservation to a polling place in Charles Mix County. But Joel C. Mandelman, a lawyer from the Washington, D.C., area said his activities did not stop anyone from voting. U.S. District Judge Lawrence Piersol issued a temporary restraining order sought by Sen. Tom Daschle (D-South Dakota). Daschle accused Republican John Thune of intimidating Indian voters.

Charles Mix County has a large Indian population but non-Indians make up the majority. In the 2002 Senate election and the recent special House election, Indian voters overwhelmingly chose Democratic candidates. Areas of the county used to be considered part of the reservation but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that tribal lands were diminished.

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Indianz.Com.
URL: http://www.indianz.com/News/2004/005094.asp

South Dakota Lakotas upset over Thune mailer
Monday, November 1, 2004

Residents of the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Sioux reservations are upset over a campaign mailer from Republican John Thune that appears to equate supporters of Sen. Tom Daschle (D) to dogs.

"The dogs are lining up to vote for Tom Daschle," the flyer states. Lakotas said it brought up memories when South Dakota businesses posted signs stating "No Indians or dogs."

Thune's campaign manager apologized for offending anyone with the mailer. Prairie dogs, seen as a nuisance by ranchers but somewhat revered in Lakota culture, have been an issue in the campaign.

Daschle and Thune have actively courted Indian voters but the chief of staff for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe said the mailer turns off tribal members. Both parties have tried to increase voter registration and turnout on reservations, with Democrats claiming greater successes.