The Republican Party of Wisconsin has pulled a controversial video clip about Indian gaming from its satirical Web site after American Indian groups and others complained.
The clip, which aired on the site http://www.bobbleheadjim.com, criticized Gov. Jim Doyle's handling of tribal gaming negotiations. The portion that attracted concern showed a white man running from a tomahawk, while a voice-over read, \as taxpayers, we got scalped.""
State Sen. Gwendolynne Moore, D-Milwaukee, state Rep. Frank Boyle, D-Superior, and the Forest County Potawatomi publicly objected to the clip. Forest County Potawatomi spokesperson Tom Krajewski said the clip is offensive because it forwards inaccurate stereotypes of American Indians scalping whites.
""The image we develop when we hear the word 'scalp' is a lie brought to us by our literature, by John Wayne movies and unfortunately, an inadequate knowledge of history,"" he said.
On another level, Krajewski said, the clip wrongly portrays the compacts as a raw deal for taxpayers. The compact Doyle negotiated with the tribe actually gives the state more than five times of what they currently pay, he said.
""I hope [the RPW] pulled it down because they realized how wrong they were, but they may have pulled it down because they were intimidated,"" Krajewski said.
RPW spokesperson Chris Lato said people should consider the context of the clip. He said the questionable portion is only two seconds of a 45 second video.
""We do not believe the cartoon is offensive; it is not,"" Lato said. ""If a few people were taken aback by it, that was not our intent.""
Republicans objected to Doyle's compacts, which determine the amount of gambling revenue tribes give the state, partly because they extend indefinitely rather then coming up for review every five years.
Lato said the satirical Web site went up Monday and the clip was pulled Tuesday. In addition to videos, the site also shows graphics of Doyle as a bobblehead doll and as a slot machine with dollar signs over his mouth. Elsewhere, articles and editorials culled from newspapers criticize Doyle's policies.
Doyle's spokesperson Dan Leistikow said the governor was not concerned with the site.
""The governor believes that instead of working on Web sites, Republicans should work on proposals to solve the state's $3.2 billion budget deficit,"" he said.
