September 6, 2003
BUSTAMANTES FLUSH:
Bustamante: Family's ties to Indian gaming surface (ALAN SCHNEPF and BEN SCHNAYERSON, September 04, 2003, San Bernardino County Sun)
Indian gambling is a family affair for the Bustamantes.Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante has collected $2.4 million in campaign money from tribes, and a younger brother, Andrew Bustamante, is the general manager of an Indian casino.
Andrew Bustamante has operated the Mono Wind Casino in Auberry for seven months. The casino, near Fresno, is owned by the Big Sandy Rancheria of Mono Indians.
Casino boss Bustamante defended his position.
"You really think the little brother's views are newsworthy?' he asked Thursday. "You need to check the record. Cruz has been in support of gaming and Indian rights since the beginning.'
He said the lieutenant governor's policy decisions regarding casinos would stay the same, regardless of his employment in Indian gaming.
Given that the Lt. Governor has said that gambling should be no more regulated than any other industry, such an assurance from his brother is hardly encouraging. Given that his gubernatorial campaign is being almost entirely funded by Indian casinos, the assurance isn't terribly believable either. Posted by Orrin Judd at September 6, 2003 7:57 AM
Indian gaming has become a political scam of huge proportions. Gambling is permitted on reservations since they are assumed to be autonomous. The ability to contribute, in vast quantities, to U.S. politicians is a contradiction which seems to fly in the face of such a status. How convenient for all the politicos whose interests may diverge just a bit from their consituents. Anyone surprised that this expanded to such an extent during the Clinton administration?
Posted by: Tom C., Stamford,Ct. at September 6, 2003 1:35 PMTom:
I'm not sorry we slaughtered them and took their land, but in exchange I don't get to complain about them tricking dumb white folk for a change.
Posted by: oj at September 6, 2003 6:10 PM