Who Is Bill Sali Working For?

Ouch!  They say all publicity is good publicity, but whoever "they" are probably never intended that to apply to politicians.  At least to conjure up anything resembling good from yesterday's Idaho Press Tribune editorial about Congressman Bill Sali, it would take press wizard skills the likes of which the dual-hatted (campaign and congressional staff) spokesman Wayne Hoffman could only dream about.

Recently, multiple revelations have raised eyebrows and caused Idahoans to wonder if anyone is in charge of the congressman’s staff. [. . .] These issues raise questions about the management of the congressman’s office, his decision-making ability and even his ethics. In order to have Idahoans’ trust, he needs to get his operation in order.

Now, the IPT editorial board isn't just any old editorial board.  This paper's readership includes the most conservative counties in Idaho's 1st District—encompassing the entire western Treasure Valley—and the paper, including its editorial board, generally reflects those conservative attitudes. (Remember, this is the paper that ran the "communist manifesto" opinion piece from state Rep. Curtis Bowers back in January.)

Although Congressman Sali has never received the IPT's endorsement, in either the 2006 general election (Larry Grant) or in this year's GOP primary (neither candidate), it's saying something for this paper to raise questions about the ethics and abilities of the incumbent congressman.

Apparently though, Congressman Sali needs the publicity as he is still handing out (despite some objections) the American Indian headband campaign trinkets, those with the yellow feather and "Bill Sali" emblazoned across the forehead (get pic at Boise Weekly).  Whether or not you find the headbands controversial, it would seem logical to assume that, since he is using a stereotypical Native American symbol, Bill Sali must embrace Native American culture and issues.

That assumption would be wrong, or at least he hasn't voted that way in Congress.  In at least five votes that specifically included Native American issues (although some were included as part of larger bills), he voted no.  He voted against:

• A Native American housing program
• A Native American veteran housing loan program
• A rural housing and economic development program that specifically included Indian tribes
• Legislation providing Indian tribes with federal assistance to prosecute hate crimes
• Legislation increasing access to small business loans for minorities including members of Indian tribes.

You would think that if Bill Sali wants to continue using a stereotypical Native American symbol in his campaign (albeit a controversial one), he'd consider at least casting a vote or two their way.

You'd also think that given how squeezed the middle class is feeling lately, he'd consider casting a few votes to help them out as well.  But according to TheMiddleClass.org, a project of the non-partisan Drum Major Institute for Public Policy (DMI) which tracks and compiles an annual congressional scorecard of votes impacting middle class Americans, Congressman Sali is no friend of the middle class.  He earned an F for 2007.  He's working on a 26% for 2008.

So, exactly who is Bill Sali working for anyway?

Comments

[sharon fisher]

great research!