Editor,

After reading your editorial, “Playing the race card,” I feel compelled to respond so Lakes Region Suburban readers have another perspective.

In your article, you accuse Rep. Gary Moore of Standish of “playing the race card” before a Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee vote to enact in the Legislature a Citizen Initiative for a Tribal-owned Racino in Washington County. Your comments implied that by Rep. Moore bringing up recent negative remarks that were made about Native Americans in Augusta, he was playing politics. And you went on to say, “His statements had the chilling effect of intimidating opponents of the racino from speaking their minds out of fear of appearing racist.”

The fact is, the 12-1 vote that came after Rep. Moore’s comments had nothing to do with intimidating opponents. The 12 votes were made by people who believed in what they were voting for, not because they were intimidated. The one dissenting vote made by Rep. Pat Blanchette had to do with her connection to Hollywood Slots as a legislator and city councilor from Bangor. Rep. Moore never said that she was racist and will speak openly that he respects Rep. Blanchette. Also, Rep. Moore never said you are racist if you don’t support Tribal Gaming.

During the 2003 Referendum for a Tribal Casino in Sanford, some opponents of gaming did put out to the public many racist overtones regarding Native Americans and immigrants that “may move to your town if a casino is built.” Although I admit that, at the most, only 5 to 10 percent of Maine voters who I spoke to across the state while I worked for the Tribal Casino campaign spoke with prejudice degrading the Tribes.

Rep. Moore’s timing was relevant because he responded to an issue as it was happening. He wanted to educate the public while the press was at the committee hearing. It is a small minority of legislators and advocates who made the recent remarks that Rep. Moore exposed. As was the case during the 2003 Tribal Referendum and is the case now with your editorial, the status quo has been maintained when instead of dealing with documented prejudice you claim that people trying to illustrate a problem are at fault by using the “race card.” The only one using the race card are those who continue to tell others not to support a group of people based on their mere existence.

For complete disclosure, I am a lobbyist for the Penobscot Nation and they are pursuing slot machines of their own. I also was a legislative aide for the Maine Democratic Majority Office several years ago and I do know that a small number of Democrats also have had negative views of Native Americans, not just the conservative individuals Rep. Moore exposed.

Although I don’t agree with Rep. Moore on many issues, I know him to be a legislator who is fair and I know his statements were for the good of our state and not for a few cheap votes. The Tribes have overwhelming support and I do know that those who don’t want them to succeed will be the ones who will play the race card for a few cheap votes, although again they consist of just a small percent of overall opponents.

Benjamin T. Collings

Portland