For about the umpteenth time in Oklahoma history, a white politician has vowed to silence Native American voices.
This time, it's surprisingly not Kevin Stitt.
In case you missed it, both YawnDoc and Oklahoma Voice reported yesterday that House Speaker Kyle Hilbert – a guy who looks like a bird that just flew into a windshield – threw a major hissy fit after Cherokee Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin advocated for Medicaid during a speech on the Oklahoma House floor.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what happened.
Last week, Cherokee Chief Chuck Hoskin gave a 20-minute speech to the full House at the Capitol. For about 30 seconds of that speech, he advocated for protecting Medicaid expansion — something House leaders would very much like to chip away at.
Apparently, Hoskin using his time in front of lawmakers to speak about an actual issue that matters upset Hilbert.
Taking the remarks as an insult, the thin-skinned politician sent Chief Hoskin a bitchy letter complaining about how “inappropriate” it was for him to use his time on the House floor in front of decision-makers to – instead of just providing canned ceremonial remarks – advocate for actual policy.
Yep, that’s right. He respects the chief’s opinion and calls the tribe a great partner to the state of Oklahoma, but the second that opinion touches a real, contentious issue affecting his people, it’s suddenly out of bounds. I guess you’re only supposed to say nice, hollow things when dealing with thin-skinned, can’t-handle-another-opinion asshole lawmakers now.
In response to Hilbert’s letter, Hoskin provided a very succinct response:
That’s pretty badass!
Sure, Hoskin could have spent a few more paragraphs laying out the long history of Oklahoma leaders ignoring Native voices and perspectives – and how Hilbert’s letter fits neatly into that tradition – but brevity is the soul of wit, and I like it.
Anyway, I guess these old-school, dueling letters were leaked to the press. Even though his staff can leak letters too, Hilbert – like many white men before him – blamed the Cherokees and responded by uninviting Chief Hoskin from ever speaking on the House floor again:
“This is clearly self-promotion by Chief Hoskin,” Hilbert said. “My letter was only distributed to him and his staff. The letter speaks for itself. He will not be invited back to the House. I will always defend the institution of the House of Representatives. I do appreciate Chief Hoskin leaking this private communication, bringing more attention to the drain on tax dollars Obamacare has been and continues to be for Oklahomans.”
In response to Hilbert’s accusation that the Cherokee Nation leaked the letter, Hoskin had another great one-sentence response:
“Those who smelt it, dealt it.”
Okay, I just made that up. Chief Hoskin didn’t actually say that, but it sure would have been funny if he did.
Here’s what he really said:
“I hope I’m welcome again in the House of Representatives,” he said. “In fact, to effectively ban the leader of a sovereign tribal nation from a chamber of the Oklahoma House is a pretty strong position. I almost wonder if it shouldn’t be put up for a vote. But I suppose that’s the speaker’s purview, not mine.”
As I wrote in a previous Dumpster Fire, is there a way we can get Chief Hoskin to run for Governor of Oklahoma? Not only is the dude smart, courteous, and insightful, but it would be nice to have an elected official who wants to work with tribes and listen to their voices – instead of picking fights with them and trying to shut them up.
Anyway, while we ponder that, I guess you can read all about the controversy over at YawnDoc or Oklahoma Voice.
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
