Reznet

Searching for a Native Obama

By Kevin Abourezk

Recently, a friend sent me an e-mail with an intriguing link.

The e-mail also contained a forwarded message from someone talking about a Web site where people could suggest an Indian who embodies Barack Obama's qualities.

Thinking it was a Web site where I could vote on a Native American Obama, I clicked on the link. It took me to IndianObama.org, a Web site where people can suggest and vote on Indians (as in those from Asia) who possess the "true Obamanian touch."

"For us Obama is not a man but a concept, a concept which stands for racial and religious equality, a concept which stands for integrity and humanity, a concept which stands for freedom and optimism, a concept which stands for confidence and vision and above all a concept which stands for change," a description of the Web site reads.

Mildly disappointed (I wanted to know whom people had suggested could be a Native Obama), I closed the link. But not before a question came to mind: Who in Indian Country could one day be president now that Obama has paved the way for minorities to enter that office?

I decided to create a Facebook interest group where people could suggest Native American leaders who they think embody qualities associated with Obama.

OK, before I continue, I need to offer a disclaimer: As a professional journalist, I don't endorse the president or any politician.

Knowing that, I struggled for a while before creating the group. Would it appear as if I was endorsing Obama's presidency by creating this group? Maybe, probably. Did the potential appearance of a conflict of interest trump my belief that journalists have always been and should be creators of discussion?

Ultimately, I decided it was just too interesting a question to pass up. And I decided I would be careful in how I described the group and that I certainly would invite criticism of the president on the page. I also decided not to offer any of my own suggestions as to who might be a Native Obama (though I'll reserve the right to take part in discussions that arise on the page).

To distinguish it from the handful of Facebook groups I found that relate to the search for an Asian Indian Obama, I decided to call the group "The Search for a Native American Obama."

Here's my description of the group: "A group created to identify Native American leaders who have the potential to become president one day and who share qualities associated with Barack Obama: optimism, integrity, charisma and confidence."

I went about inviting 50 or so friends to become members of the group and suggest Native leaders they see as embodying the president's qualities.

Now, I plan to step aside and see what people come up with (assuming anyone's interested enough to join the group).

So tell me, who in Indian Country do you think could one day be a Native Obama?

Kevin Abourezk's "Red Clout" columns are available for syndication. Please contact reznet to purchase republishing rights.

Kevin Abourezk, Rosebud Lakota, is a reporter and editor at the Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star. He writes reznet's "Red Clout" political blog and teaches reporting at the Freedom Forum's American Indian Journalism Institute. Abourezk was awarded a Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism in 2006.

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