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Maine tribe ponders defeat8 November 2007PLEASANT POINT, Maine -- As reported by the Bangor Daily News: "Several members of the Passamaquoddy tribe said Wednesday they believe racism played a role in voters' rejection of their efforts to build a racino in Washington County. "It was a day of bitter disappointment for many tribal members just hours after the votes were counted from Tuesday's statewide referendum. Most of the political signs that read, "Vote Yes on 1" were gone. Faces were grim. Conversations were muted at the elderly meal site. "The tribe had hoped to build a harness racetrack, casino, hotel and conference complex in neighboring Calais. The plan called for a multimillion-dollar destination facility on 700 acres. "But they ran into organized opposition in the form of CasinosNO!, a political action group which ran a highly effective advertising campaign urging the measure's defeat. "...'My friend, coming from the heart, I really truly believe that it is racism,' the soft-spoken Cleaves said. 'You have naturally born Indian-haters, that's the bottom line.' "...Pleasant Point Chief Rick Phillips Doyle said it is difficult not to think racism played a role in the outcome, given the history of the now 1,400-member tribe..." |