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Opinion
Smoky Mountain News
Tillis should refuse to confirm High Court nominee W
A champion of our mountain way of life To the Editor: How do we decide whom to vote for? As a recent letter to the Smoky Mountain News says, we should examine actions, not just words. My criteria: The candidates’ careers prove they make life better for all their constituents. They participate in mainstream community organizations. Their family life shows that they love them, foster their happiness, and guide young people. Their education and experience match the qualifications of the office. Their degrees represent deep knowledge of history, the Constitution, and law. They practice professional integrity. Applying these standards, I found candidates I happily support. Here is an ideal example: From day one in the N.C. General Assembly, he started fulfilling every campaign promise. A lifelong member of First United Methodist Church of Waynesville, Joe Sam Queen has taught Sunday school over two decades. He’s led Boy Scouts and coached youth soccer. Joe Sam is an architect, a farmer, and a businessman. His wife Dr. Kate Queen, a rheumatologist retired from Haywood
nominee doesn’t bode well for Indian Country. Barrett has explicitly stated that she shares the late Justice Scalia’s judicial philosophy, whom she clerked for, and who ruled against Tribal interests more than 86 percent of the time. The vote of Indian Country could be a deciding factor in this election, and we deserve a chance to make our voices heard on a Supreme Court nominee who will have an immense impact on Indian law, Tribal sovereignty, and on our Native peoples’ wellbeing. Putting forward a nominee like Barrett is a direct afront to one of the things late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg stood for: protections for women. In Indian Country, we know that women Guest Columnist are still without protections. Violence against Native women has reached epidemic proportions with 34 percent of Native women experiencing rape in their lifetime and 39 percent experiencing domestic violence. Examining Barrett’s record, her past actions indicate that she does not support the protection of women. Just last year, she ruled in a way that made it more difficult for sexual assault and harassment survivors on college campuses to bring their perpetrators to justice. Her ruling in Doe v. Purdue University allowed a male student who was credibly accused of committing multiple acts of sexual assaults and was suspended from the university, to advance a Title IX lawsuit against the university on the basis that he was discriminated against based on gender. She allowed the weaponization of a sex discrimination law to work against protections for female victims of sexual violence.
Terri Henry
hen President Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sen. Mitch McConnell did an about-face on his past policy to deny consideration of Supreme Court nominees in an election year. As you may recall, Sen. McConnell refused to consider the nomination of Merrick Garland back in 2016 on the basis that the American people should be able to opine on the next Supreme Court justice through their vote. Sen. Thom Tillis agreed. At the time, Sen. Tillis said, “We are in the middle of a presidential election, and the Senate majority is giving the American people a voice to determine the direction of the Supreme Court. This is about the principle, not the person.” At that time, the election was still eight months away. Now, we see Sen. McConnell and Sen. Tillis upholding a clear a double standard by rushing through the nomination of Judge Barrett weeks before the election, when many North Carolinians have already voted or are in the process of doing so. Tillis is telling constituents that this is normal and has happened many times in the past, but the fact is that he is misleading North Carolinians and twisting the narrative to serve the interests of Sen. McConnell and President Trump. His clear and simple past position was that no Supreme Court nominee should be confirmed in an election year. Period. As much as Sen. Tillis and Sen. McConnell try to mislead us on the “normalcy” of their effort to confirm Barrett, the fact is that the situation is very abnormal. If they succeed, this would be the first time in history that a Supreme Court nominee is confirmed after voting has already begun. How is that giving “voice” to the American people? I’m also quite concerned about Judge Barrett’s past record and affiliations. As a former Tribal leader, this Supreme Court
LETTERS Medical, now leads a clinic in the Triangle providing wellness-focused health care for all. Their daughter Sara followed her dad’s profession, architecture, and teaches it at NCSU. Son Charlie is a chemist in the Triangle. All his family are proud products of North Carolina public schools and the state’s public university system. Both his parents were teachers who instilled a love of learning in him. He is endorsed by the N.C. Association of Educators (NCAE). Acting on a passion to bring affordable universal broadband and internet to every rural home and business, Joe Sam led in drafting HB1122, which invests $85 million in the successful GREAT Grants Program for universal rural broadband and supports crucial partnerships with local governments. Broadband is needed in this pandemic more than ever for children to learn and adults to work, and online doctor visits (“tele-medicine”). Again, his deep understanding of education and health care inform his advocacy for people throughout WNC. He’s been a champion of Medicaid expansion so our tax dollars stay in N.C., bring quality employment, keep rural hospitals and nursing homes open, and enable 600,000 more people to have health care. Along with these and other programs bringing new employment, he voted for Cherokee gaming
How would she rule on the Tribal authorities in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which are strengthened in a bill currently pending before the U.S. Congress? Would she uphold Tribal authority to hold non-Indian sex offenders to justice if the issue were to make its way to the Supreme Court? It does not appear likely. Her nomination is also concerning because of her highly conservative affiliations, including a close affiliation with the right-wing Federalist Society. In the past, the Federalist Society has aligned itself with the Goldwater Institute, a likeminded conservative organization that has worked for years to overturn the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). ICWA is necessary for the protection of our Native children and a court challenge to the law is making its way through the courts right now. What will happen if Barrett is the tie-breaking vote on a Supreme Court ruling on ICWA? Will Tribes lose their ability to protect our children? It is likely, and the implications are unacceptable. Judge Barrett’s past statements and actions paint a picture that is dangerous for Indian Country. It’s true that we never know the true nature of a judge’s judicial philosophy until they take the bench, but the evidence points to grave concerns for our Tribal Nations, our Native women, and our Native children. Sen. Tillis should honor his past commitment to give the American people, including Indian Country, “a voice” to determine our next Supreme Court Justice and refuse to consider Judge Barrett’s nomination until the next president is elected and inaugurated. (Henry is the former chairwoman of Tribal Council for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. She was born and raised on the Qualla Boundary. terri.henry@icloud.com)
laws to add hundreds more jobs. These actions prove a dedication to improving everyone’s quality of life. Joe Sam co-sponsored H.B 1105, COVID19 Relief. It passed the House with Republican and Democratic backing. (The Senate Republican majority then adjourned indefinitely.) Some of its components are a $50 increase in weekly unemployment (N.C. has the nation’s lowest), a $335 tax credit for families with children, $52 million for public schools, a block on penalizing schools for pandemic-caused enrollment drops, $30 million to expand high-speed internet throughout rural areas, $13 million for farmers hit hard by weather extremes, $38 million for mental health, $59 million to expand COVID19 testing and contact tracing, $14 million for PPEs, and $23 million for services to seniors. Joe Sam’s opponent? A single man, he had an honorable career as a Charlotte fireman. He earned a two-year degree. As District 119 representative for one term, he describes himself as a states rights advocate” and opponent of “common core” standards for learning. As a retired teacher I know he doesn’t understand what the N.C. Common Core is although it’s easily found online. I judge candidates individually by their actions and character. That’s why my husband and I voted for Joe Sam Queen. Mary Jane Curry Haywood County
Stealing political signs is illegal To the Editor: Here’s a message to the “concerned Republicans of Haywood County” who have paid for the “Law and Order Trump 2020” billboards I’ve seen. I don’t know what your concerns are, but what you really need to be concerned about is the unlawful acts Trump supporters are committing. The following is just a partial list: • Recently a vandal(s) removed all signs displayed in front of Democrat Headquarters. • Trump signs are being affixed with wire to official highway signs and to phone poles. • Conservative Voter Guides and other Republican campaign material has been placed in mailboxes — a federal offense. • Last week a Republican activist (who shall remain unnamed) attempted to place Republican candidate signs in front of Democratic signs displayed at Democrat headquarters. • Democratic candidate signs placed along roadways have been damaged/destroyed by moving vehicles. • Vandals are trespassing on private property (porches, lawns, etc.) to steal signs and banners. Five Biden-Harris signs have been
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