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.
"I really do believe this is a question of equity and sovereignty," said Cole, a Chickasaw who has been a House co-sponsor of a federal recognition bill backed by U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii. "And a question of being consistent with the best traditions in American history. We’ve always recognized the right of native peoples to govern themselves."
The Akaka Bill has passed the House three times since 2000 but has never advanced in the Senate. Senate Republicans, including those from Cole’s home state, have described the bill as race-based discrimination and have used procedural maneuvers to block a vote.
"Hawaii has told us again and again, on a bipartisan basis, this is what we want to do," Cole said. "I’d have to tell you, I think it’s incredibly arrogant, whether it’s a Republican or a Democrat that opposes tribal sovereignty — in this case sovereignty for Native Hawaiians — when the people of Hawaii have told us we’d like it. Who are we to impose our opinions?"
U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono and former U.S. Rep. Ed Case are competing in the Democratic primary to replace Akaka, who is retiring. Both Democrats, like Lingle, a Republican, favor the Akaka Bill.
Cole said he believes Lingle would be an effective advocate for the Akaka Bill among Republicans in the Senate.
"Part of it is also not recognizing that this is very consistent with Republican ideals," he said of the GOP opposition. "We believe in self-governance and local governance. What do you think a tribe or a Native American nation is, other than that?"
Chuck Freedman, a spokesman for the Democratic Party of Hawaii, said that while Cole has been a supporter of Native Hawaiian issues, he is "an ultra-right Republican congressman who is against women’s right to choose, wants to privatize Social Security and has a poor record on equal rights.
"Linda Lingle’s sending a clear message to Hawaii residents that once she gets to D.C., she’ll gladly stand with the most partisan Republicans and against President Obama."
Lingle said some of her Democratic rivals appear more interested in criticizing and labeling instead of developing the relationships that could advance the Akaka Bill. She said Cole, a conservative Republican, is known for his advocacy for Native Americans and small businesses.
"He’s able to present it in the way that people maybe haven’t thought of it before," she said. "And that is that when Native American people — just as we believe Native Hawaiian people — have sovereign rights and have recognition, the economic development that occurs is good for the entire state."