Oklahoma City, OK – Todd Goodman, chairman of the Oklahoma State Democratic Party and vice-chair of the Caddo Nation, released the following statement in response to RNC Chairman Michael Steele's use of a derogatory expression toward Native Americans earlier this week. On Fox News, Steele stated, "Our platform is one of the best political documents that's been written in the last 25 years, honest Injun on that." [Video: http://mediamattersaction.org/blog/201001050001]

Goodman’s statement:

"RNC Chairman Michael Steele just proved in one sentence how out of touch and insulated the Republican Party is today. As the first tribal member elected as a State Democratic Chair, I take particular exception to the use of such a blatantly offensive and cartoonish phrase by the Republicans' national leader. Chairman Steele is their party's current standard-bearer, and if this is the GOP's standard, then their party is in a sad, sad state.

"The racial slur Mr. Steele used may have been 'just an expression' many years ago, but he should know better than to drag out that worn and offensive phrase which hearkens back to a time when Native Americans were regarded as second-class citizens. Especially in Oklahoma, we know how our rich tribal history has been marred by centuries of unchecked prejudice and broken promises. Native Americans still face incredible challenges today, and as Chairman Steele has demonstrated, the racism of days past has not disappeared.

"There are 562 federally recognized tribes in the U.S., and Mr. Steele owes every nation and everyone in Indian country an apology."