GOP congressman blasts colleagues on Akaka Bill

Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole, a Chickasaw, is in Hawaii to campaign for Linda Lingle

By Derrick DePledge

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, May 24, 2012

~~<p>U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, the only Native American in Congress, said Wednesday that Republican opposition to federal recognition for Native Hawaiians is based on misunderstanding and arrogance.</p>
<p>The Oklahoma Republican, who is campaigning in the islands on behalf of former Gov. Linda Lingle, who is running for the U.S. Senate, said Native Hawaiians have the same constitutional right to self-governance as American Indians.</p>
~~

U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, the only Native American in Congress, said Wednesday that Republican opposition to federal recognition for Native Hawaiians is based on misunderstanding and arrogance.

The Oklahoma Republican, who is campaigning in the islands on behalf of former Gov. Linda Lingle, who is running for the U.S. Senate, said Native Hawaiians have the same constitutional right to self-governance as American Indians. Login for more...