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Dino Rossi: A leader who listens
by Rod Van Mechelen
Conservative American Indian Republicans—ConservativeAIR.com™
Posted December 10, 2004 5:10AM PST
Is healing generations of bitter shame worth a day?
In Washington state, Democrats have filed suit over the gubernatorial race:
OLYMPIA — The state Supreme Court could decide as early as Friday whether it will intervene in the second recount of the governor's race, ordered yesterday by Secretary of State Sam Reed. … On Friday, state Democrats filed a lawsuit insisting that Reed must instruct county election officials to review all ballots previously deemed invalid. — Governor's race could hinge on high court decision, by Chris McGann, Seattle Post‑Intelligencer, December 7, 2004
The votes were counted once, and Republican candidate Dino Rossi won. But because the results were so close, the votes were counted again. And again, Dino Rossi won. But the results were even closer. So the Democrat candidate, Christine Gregoire, ordered a second recount.
This is controversial because the race is so tight that the result is within the margin of error. Consequently, as many have pointed out, in a recount each candidate has a 50‑50 chance that the count could go their way. At some point, we have to say it's good enough. Republicans say we have won twice, and that's good enough. The Democrats say they want a third count. It's their right to request and pay for it, more power to them, I hope they lose.
But then they filed suit demanding to reconsider all the ballots that had previously been tossed out. That's against the rules, as confirmed by Attorney General Gregoire's office in 1996:
OLYMPIA — Attorney General Christine Gregoire's office has already answered the central question Democrats have asked the state Supreme Court on her behalf in the governor's race recount, Republicans said yesterday. … Should votes previously tossed out by county elections officials be re-evaluated? … Gregoire's office said "no," according to a 1996 memo from then-Secretary of State Ralph Munro. — GOP likes '96 Gregoire advice on rejected ballots, by Chris McGann, Seattle Post‑Intelligencer, December 8, 2004
So what the Democrats are seeking is permission to change the rules in mid‑stream, which is a blatant attempt to steal the election. Nevertheless, it is a question that the state Supreme Court will decide. But not today. Reason: State Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerry Alexander was previously scheduled to preside over a special Historical Court of Inquiry and Justice regarding a 146‑year‑old case:
A Historical Court of Inquiry and Justice will convene one week from today to rehear the murder case against Leschi, chief of the Nisqually Indian tribe. … Earlier this year, the state House and Senate called on the state Supreme Court to vacate Leschi's conviction. … Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerry Alexander declined, saying too many legal hurdles exist to overturn the conviction. … Instead, Justice Alexander will convene and preside over the historical court. Justice Susan Owens will sit on the court along with five others. … Together, they will review the written record and listen to conflicting legal arguments presented by tribal attorneys and Pierce County prosecutors. — Court will investigate Leschi case, The Olympian, December 3, 2004
The timing could scarcely be more inconvenient. Yesterday, both conservative talk show hosts Kirby Wilbur and John Carlson humorously grumbled that this will delay determination of whether Gregoire gets to steal the election.
They have a point. Thousands of people participated in this case, and some 150 people paid to witness the event at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma, but millions await the court's decision regarding the ballot issue.
So what are we to do? First, let's clear up a misconception.
One of Kirby's complaints, was that the case is intended to make whites feel guilty. Wrong. It's about exonerating the memory of a revered member of a prominent local tribe. Race has nothing to do with it.
In fact, being a member of an Indian tribe isn't really about race, anymore, because nearly every race is now represented in Indian tribes. While there are a few pure blooded Indians left, most of us are mixed blood, and nearly every tribe has white Indians, black Indians and Asian Indians.
Tribal membership is something you inherit, and being a member is about good conservative principles, like community, continuity, custom, family and property. The progressive agenda to promote hatred of white men notwithstanding, it has nothing to do with the bashing white men. To the contrary, as publisher of The Backlash!, I appeared on national TV opposing the bigotry directed at white men.
Canadian and American men are among the finest, noblest, most caring and responsible people in the world. Let me rephrase that: White Canadian and American men are among the finest, noblest, most caring and responsible people in the world. This is not to say blacks and other minority men do not share these attributes. But sometimes we just need to say what is so often not said: white Canadian and American men are among the finest, noblest, most caring and responsible people in the world. — The history of white guys in America, by Rod Van Mechelen, The Backlash! December 1993
I think Americans are the best people in the world. But I am also a distant relative of Leschi, and I do not see the trial of Leschi as an attempt to make white people feel guilty. What's more, the people of rural King County, whose property is being taken by liberal land grabbers, can probably relate to what happened to Leschi. He was a potato farmer whose farm was taken from him. Historical context aside, his was a property rights case, for which he was framed for murder and hung.
So it's important to many thousands of us to see that his memory is exonerated, which is why this hearing—or mock trial—is important to finish.
However, I am also a Conservative Republican who very much wants to see Dino make history as Washington state's first American Indian Governor, and I'm as anxious as anybody for the court to decide on the ballot issue. So I straddle the line. On the one hand, I want justice to be done for our great Tyee, Leschi. On the other hand, we have another great leader who is waiting on the outcome of the invalid ballot case.
What are we to think of this? Here is what I think.
This is about knowing what's important in life and keeping our priorities straight. And from experience, I learned that Governor‑elect Rossi is one of those rare individuals who understands this.
A few months ago I was talking with him at a local function. To me, our conversation was important. But then an aged grandmother approached. In my tribe, when an elder approaches we stop talking to hear what they have to say. So we stopped and turned to hear her. She spoke softly, so softly that Dino had to lean down to listen. On and on, she went, until I thought she would never finish! What's this? Dino and I were talking, it was important and I was growing impatient. But Dino waved me off, took her by the hand, and led her to a quiet corner.
Suddenly, I felt ashamed for my rudeness, and I knew that Dino was a true leader, because he is a man who will set aside the pressing rush of issues to listen to our elders. To Indians, as it is to all traditional people, listening to our elders is not something to be taken lightly. Nor is the hearing for Leschi, no matter how symbolic it may be.
The case over the ballots is pressing, we want to know how the court will decide, and we want to know it now. But Leschi's case is about the honor of a tribe, the outcome of which will reflect on every one of Leschi's descendants.
Just one day to begin healing 6 generations of bitter shame? I think the ballots case can wait.
Postscript
Yesterday, as expected, Leschi was exonerated:
Leschi, a revered leader to his Nisqually people, is a known namesake throughout the state. But his name in the historical record, his supporters said, has been a source of sorrow and anger, and historians have long questioned the original verdict. With the exoneration, it is time for the world to know Leschi means "warrior, leader, hero, innocent," said Nisqually tribal chairman Dorian Sanchez. — Historic Nisqually chief exonerated , by Florangela Davila, Seattle Times reporter, The Seattle Times, Saturday, December 11, 2004
During his trial, Leschi had many prominent champions, including the military and Ezra Meeker, an important man in Washington state's history. The hearing can't change history, but it does change our teaching of it. Now, Leschi will be celebrated as a heroic figure in the clash of cultures that ultimately created this greatest of nations.
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