SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Though ardent supporters and contributors to Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante’s campaign for governor, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians sponsored television advertisements last week that back Republican state Senator Tom McClintock’s campaign for governor in California’s recall election.
The move has prompted the camp of Republican rival Arnold Schwarzenegger to accuse Morongo of attempting to divide the Republican electorate to allow Bustamante, the only major Democrat on the ballot, to win in the event of the recall, a move that the tribe only partially denies.
Though hard pressed by the Schwarzenegger campaign to bow out of the race to avoid a Republican split, McClintock has stubbornly hung on and appears to be making significant headway against the actor turned politician. Recent polls show support for Schwarzenegger eroding with McClintock being the biggest beneficiary of that support.
For his part, McClintock has said that under no circumstances would he abandon his campaign.
Schwarzenegger has steadfastly refused to announce concrete plans for budget cuts and many political insiders believe that he was hoping for a short campaign because his name is widely recognized by the public.
The former body builder and actor has also been increasingly strident in his campaign attacks on Indian tribal donations to both Bustamante and McClintock.
Morongo tribal press spokeswoman Waltona Manion and Chairman Maurice Lyons both say that they are airing the McClintock commercials because the tribe has long regarded him as a friend. Indeed McClintock has often met with tribes and Indian political insiders describe McClintock’s past relationship with tribes as “cordial.”
In addition to the McClintock advertisements Manion points out that the tribe has donated to Bustamante as well as to the anti-recall effort and Lyons said he is a “big supporter’ of Gray Davis. These donation figures are confirmed by the California Secretary of State’s Web site.
“They are all our friends,” said Lyons. “Just because you have more than one friend running for the same office doesn’t mean that you turn your back on one or more of them.”
However, when asked who he would personally vote for Lyons said that he leaned toward “no on recall, yes on Bustamante,” which has been the mantra of the lieutenant governor’s campaign.
Manion admits that a split ticket resulting in a Bustamante win would be an appealing “by product,” but insists that it is not the tribe’s sole motivation.
“Morongo donates to people and causes that they believe in,” said Manion.
Manion points out that Morongo even donated $75,000 to an after school initiative last year that was partially sponsored by Schwarzenegger.
“Apparently Mr. Schwarzenegger had no problem taking tribal money then.”
Lyons said that his tribe would even donate to Schwarzenegger if he would meet with them and show that he recognizes that each tribe is a sovereign government and that he understood their basic issues.
John Stoos, the campaign manager for McClintock said that his boss is pleased with the donation from the tribe and said that the tribe’s support is the result of a 20-year relationship between McClintock and tribes.
“I think it is hypocritical of Mr. Schwarzenegger to accuse anyone of taking special interest money when he is running up and down the state taking money from corporate sources, which are special interests,” said Stoos, who calls McClintock a “populist in the Ronald Reagan tradition.”
Schwarzenegger spokesman Sean Walsh said that while his boss recognizes tribal sovereignty, he claims that Schwarzenegger does not want to be beholden to tribes when tribal issues come before the governor.
“Arnold wants to be able to judge each issue on its merit,” said Walsh of Indian issues including gaming compacts.
Responding to the charges of hypocrisy in collecting corporate campaign donations, Walsh claims that the difference between the two is that the governor directly negotiates with tribes in regard to gaming compacts, but does not deal directly with large corporations.
It should be noted, however, that legislation that effect corporations does go to the governor’s desk.