Tuesday, February 5, 2008

KFI HOST BILL HANDEL says "only one drunk Indian" is against the expanded gaming props.: NO on 94 No to Pechanga

Wow, Bill, apparently, you haven't been doing your research. "One Drunk Indian" is a ridiculous statement. Probably something you heard from Pechanga, sounds like them. I'm surprised you didn't say, "One stinking Indian" or "One filthy Indian".

UPDATE II: I received a letter from KFI Progam Director Robin Bertolucci. Here is the text:
Thank you for your letter to KFI regarding Bill Handel's discussion of Propositions 94, 95, 96 and 97. Mr. Handel's remark was insensitive but he was not referring specifically to Mr.Gomez. He was expressing his frustration with the person portrayed in the No on 94-97 Propositions. I have spoken to Mr. Handel and made him aware of your concerns. I have asked him to avoid using stereotypes to make his points and he has assured me he will do so.

Thank you again for bringing this matter to my attention.

Sincerely,

Robin Bertolucci
Program Director
KFI

Thank you Robin.


Thousands of Indians in California are against the expanded gaming propositions. Read up a bit. http://www.nounfairdeals.com/ has a list. Probably could have done it yourself, but were too busy doing comedy.

UPDATE: I received a letter from KFI. Here is what it says:

Thank you for your note to KFI. I am forwarding your concerns to our Program Director, Robin Bertolucci, and she will be happy to get back to you.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Kristin Osborn
KFI AM 640

Please continue to write at the emails below. Is this Handel's "Don Imus" moment? Or, because it's Indians, it's no big deal?


HERE IS A LETTER that you can copy and paste or send a version of your own:
Mr. Handel,

This morning shortly before 8:00 a.m. you made and repeated some insulting, racial comments that were totally uncalled for. If you want to refer to yourself as a "Latino-Jew", that is certainly your prerogative.

However, in commenting this morning on your opinion of Prop's. 94 -97 and why you intended to vote yes on them, you repeatedly referred to the "one drunken Indian" who appears in the commercial for the No on Prop 94-97. You made that comment three or four times. You crossed a line with your remarks and your actions need to be addressed. Your comments weren't just a personal attack on that Indian man, they were racist remarks.

That Indian is well respected and happens to be John Gomez, Sr., Vice President of the American Indian Rights and Resources Organization, AIRRO. Mr. Gomez's opinion to vote No on Prop 94-97 was not that of one Indian, his comments were supported by the AIRRO organization as noted on the screen during the commercial. Mr. Gomez is one of over 300 Indians disenrolled from the Pechanga tribe (Prop 94) under the leadership of Chairman Mark Macarro, because he stated they didn't belong.

He hired a respected anthropologist to discount the heritage of those 300 members. That backfired when the anthropologist returned with a report that refuted Mr. Macarro's claims and yes indeed all 300 disenrolled members did belong to the Pechanga Tribe. Mr. Macarro discounted that report as being only 99% accurate and he proceeded to violate every civil right know to man in disenrolling those innocent people. Mr. Handel, disenrollment is a kin to separating you from your country. We take that very serious.

In truth, Chairman Macarro did the math, less members divided by casino profits means more money per tribal member. Pechanga members got a big raise after the disenrollment. They are at about $35,000 per month, per member, at this point in time. Only 8% of California's Indians receive any benefit from gaming. That is not what the voter's intended when gaming came to California.

In the past five years, disenrollment, reclassification and moratoriums in Indian Country are commonplace. Tribal leaders like Macarro use tribal sovereignty as a weapon against their own people. He's not alone. He and others like him perceive themselves as the untouchables. There are over 3000 disenrolled Indians in California and the numbers are now growing by hundreds every few months. Nationwide, it is a travesty. It has to stop.

Rewarding Macarro with more slot machines by voting yes on Prop 94 is not the answer. Those deals with the state need to address all of the issues. It is the only way Macarro will be held accountable for his crimes against his own people. It is the only way change is possible. There is a better deal out there.

John Gomez, Sr. has fought for the civil rights of victimized Indians for years. You disrespected that man with your comments. You disrespected Indians with your comments. You owe Mr. Gomez an apology and I hope one will be forthcoming. I am appalled that you really felt it was OK to spew those remarks out for the world to hear.

I'm certain there are others like myself who have a great concern when a microphone is provided to an individual who uses that power irresponsibly.

Robert Edwards,
Chairman Indians of Enterprise No.1
former Vice-Chair, Enterprise Rancheria
disenrolled November 2003

Cc. Robin Bertolucci, Programming Director, KFI 640

Their emails are:
bill@kfi640.com
programming@kfi640.com

10 comments:

SNAKE HUNTERS said...

Pechanga Natives!

Wow! The wife & I played there when
it was a mid-sized Bingo Hall.

We were employed at both Sycuan &
Viejas Casino & Turf Club. We quickly determined that Anthony Pico was a fine, ethical Chief at Viejas, that served his people well; a fine gentleman.

Have you secured your Legal Status
and Casino Gaming License? We retired from Viejas in 1998. Now
old & groovin' in Tennessee! reb
__________________________________
www.lazyonebenn.blogspot.com

'aamokat said...

I left a message at the KFI sales office and at the KFI programming office demanding an apology from Mr. Handel for his stupid remarks.

I also sent Mr. Handel an E mail demanding the apology.

Because no matter what side of this issue you are on, there is no need fot this sick pathetic attempt at humor.

Can you imagine how far Mr. Handel would get if he had referred to Barack Obama as "the only nigger on crack" opposed to whatever it is Mr. Obama is opposed to?

Answer, not very far as he would be fired and run out of town on a rail and rightfully so.

The numbers for the sales office is 818 566 6431 and the number for the programming office is 818 566 6746

OPechanga said...

I have sent in my letters. Paulina posted it on my space.

Creeper said...

According to Mr.Bill Handel's statement, the Las Vegas Casinos and the Racetracks could find only one drunken Indian to oppose the proposition 94-97, I wonder if he ever met Mr.Gomez sr., a fine and good man. You would think that Mr Handel would have enough guts to meet him and see for himself how stupid and racist this drunken Indian remark was. Would he call Obama a stupid nigger? i think not, because his job would be on the line. Mr. handel needs to apologize for this racist remark or maybe the KFI 640 AM RADIO is on the same wavelength as he is.

Creeper said...

What i want to know is this: Why is it ok to insult the Native American and why is it not called racism ? How many more years does it take for this to stop. Our Ancestors suffered for this , and we hear it all over again, in a radio show with listeners all over California. It never ends.

OPechanga said...

Could it be because John Gomez, SR is a tribeless Indian? After Pechanga threw the Manuela Miranda's to the curb, it's easy to cast aspersions. Even our legislators do not care about those who have been disenrolled from their tribes.
Maybe the new crop who come in to replace those who have been term limited out will be better.

sosumi said...

I have also sent KFI a letter.. and will X-post this at TW - thanks for the heads up.

'aamokat said...

Robin Bertolucci, program director for KFI radio, called me and I spoke with her about Mr. Handel's comments.

She said she was sorry that I was offended by his "drunken Indian" remarks and that she spoke with Mr. Handel about his comments and that it will not happen again.

However, she said nothing about Mr. Handel apologizing for his remarks and she went on to say that he makes remarks about every group of people and that basically it is his brand of humor.

Well, I wonder if he is going to refer to Barack Obama as that "N" word on crack or Oprah Winfrey as a "scanky Ho" anytime soon, which would be very derogatory remarks about high profile black people?

I doubt it very much as he would be fired was his job and rightfully so.

He does seem to feel he can pick on Indians though and get away with it.

The issue is not Mr. Handel's position or anybody else's position on the gaming propositions as it is a racist insult to all Native Americans whether they are for or against casino expansions for those four tribes.

Anyway, Robin Berolucci's direct line is 818 566 6409.

Luiseno said...

The reason they can get away with statements like this is as plain as the nose on your face.

No one cares about indians, they never have, and never will. We are nothing and have no influence in this nation. What do you think would happen if someone made a statement like this about blacks (we would be hearing about it from border to border).

We are a TRUE minority, a minority amongst minoritys and someday will disapear (Pechanga has a helping hand in this).

Anonymous said...

WHEN WILL ROBERT EDWARDS WRITE HIS OWN COMMENTS? These are not his words....the Mrs.... must be a mind reader !!! or is it that she KNOWS he can't put two words together by himself? Think for yourself Robert Edwards. Why was Robert Edwards disenrolled from his tribe ??