Cramer’s Disastrous Record on Native American Issues Can’t Be Covered Up By Election Year Spin

(BISMARCK, ND) – Kevin Cramer claims he’s been on the front lines of supporting Native American issues, but his record tells a different story.

Here are the facts:

• Cramer vocally opposed the inclusion of a tribal provision in VAWA that allowed tribal councils to prosecute non-Indian defendants accused of violence against American Indian women, arguing that it was unconstitutional and claiming he would feel unsafe as a non-Native man going onto a reservation.
• At a meeting with the Spirit Lake Tribal Council discussing the inclusion of the provision, Cramer’s remarks grew violent with him allegedly saying he would like to “[w]ring the tribal council’s neck and slam them against the wall” as he addressed a domestic violence survivor.
• Now that it’s an election year, Cramer is trying to paper over his record but, as ThinkProgress points out, “his own record would also seem to contradict his support for this legislation.” 

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