Nat’l GOP Still Opposes Akaka Bill

Thanks to Willes Lee, part of the Hawaii Republican Party, for pointing this out.

In an email to Civil Beat Thursday (Aug. 31), Lee directed us to the following language in the national party platform:

As a matter of principle, we oppose the creation of any new race-based governments within the United States.

However, the platform section on Honoring our Relationships with American Indians begins with this statement:

Based on both treaty and other law, the federal government has a unique government-to-government relationship with and trust responsibility for Indian Tribal Governments and American Indians and Alaska Natives. These obligations have not been sufficiently honored. 

Hawaiians are mentioned a little later on in the section:

We support efforts to ensure equitable participation in federal programs by American Indians, including Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians and to preserve their culture and languages that we consider to be national treasures. 

Lee was in Tampa this week sending reports from the Republican National Convention.

—Chad Blair