So I have written about racism many times, both the "Angry White Man [1]" Republican style of racism, and the "conveniently compassionate" liberal style of racism. Joe Biden seems to be putting his foot in his mouth these days making what sure sound like racist comments about Indian-Americans and Obama, but in his case he seems to just be really stupid about the jokes he makes and he apologizes afterwards. But the "Angry White Man" Republican style of racism seems far worse to me. You get an anti-Semitic pogrom in Delaware, blatantly racist Virginia politicians Virgil Goode [2], Jerry Kilgore and Bob McDonnell [3], and recently ousted Senator George Allen, and racism so blatant in Arizona [4] even the national Republican Party abandoned a Congressional candidate.

Racism is a problem everywhere in America, including my own nice little liberal neighborhood of Park Slope, as I have written about before. But it really seems like racism is particularly bad in the Republican Party and often is defended by the Republican Party and their media lap dogs.

The latest example is in Montana. This comes from the Indigenous Democratic Network [5]:

Montana’s Ed Butcher, a Republican state representative, demonstrated once again the persistent racism and racial insensitivity endemic throughout the GOP rank and file. In a recent committee meeting, Butcher derided fellow legislator and a friend of INDN’s List, Democrat representative Jonathan Windy Boy (Chippewa Cree) by referring to the veteran lawmaker as “Chief Windy Boy” and inquiring whether he would wield his vice-chairman’s gavel as a “war club.”

Rep. Butcher dismissed the complaints of lawmakers from both parties, calling the whole matter a “side issue” that represents an “absolutely absurd” attempt by Democrats to play politics. Fellow Indian lawmakers, Reps. Margarett Campbell (Assiniboine) and Shannon Augare (Blackfeet), who are also friends of INDN’s List, deplored Butcher’s insensitive remarks. “Many people in this body don’t know what it is like to feel the effects of racism,” remarked Rep. Campbell to the Native American Times.

Sadly Butcher’s comments were only one in a long line of racist Republican remarks coming out of the Montana circles of power. In 2006, voters proved that bigotry would not be tolerated anymore when they sent serial-racist Sen. Conrad Burns cleaning his D.C. desk. Write Rep. Butcher today (SENATORBUTCHER@aftco.net [6]) and tell him we demand legislators with standards of common decency and mutual respect shared by the overwhelming majority of Americans.

We’re working hard at INDN’s List to fight the racism that pervades the halls of our state capitols by electing Indian legislators. We are building a platform from which Indian voices are heard while promoting the interaction and diversity among our leaders that fosters a spirit of cooperation and tolerance.

While President Bush thinks he’s the decision maker, we at INDN’s List know we’re difference makers. In 2006, INDN’s List endorsed two successful Montana candidates, Norma Bixby (Northern Cheyenne) to the House and Carol Juneau (Hidatsa and Mandan) became the first Indian woman to serve in the Senate. We also strongly supported the unopposed campaigns of Windy Boy, Campbell, and Augare. Our success would not have been possible without your continuing support. Help us retire racists like Rep. Butcher by giving today [7].

A note to the Republican Party: if you want to appeal to minorities, stop insulting them. Note to Joe Biden: see my note to the Republican Party.

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