One Nation (US)

One Nation in the US - which is totally unrelated to its Australian namesake - is headquartered in Oklahoma.

On its website it openly proclaims that it was formed to '"push back" against the massive expansion of tribal authority and the various disruptions and inequities created by sovereignty-based policies." [1]

Adopting the rhethoric of 'equal rights for all', One Nation advocates the removal of sovereignty for the first nations. "One Nation stands for equal treatment under the laws governing our state and nation. We will impact public debate in an effort to correct inequities created by virtue of special treatment afforded businesses and industries owned by Native American tribes. ... One Nation will be an outspoken advocate on issues relating to how Native American tribal authority and power is distorting the free market American economy," One Nation proclaims on its website.

History

In Oklahoma, One Nation is campaigning against 39 Indian tribes. However, state equivalents of the founding organisations (see below) have been instrumental in forwarding anti-indian agendas in California, New York and a few other states.

Various Oklahoma politicians have used the One Nation theme against tribes. Republican activists view ensuring the retention of the Nickels/Coburn seat as important in extending its conversion of Oklahoma beyond the traditional Republican strongolds in the urban areas into the historically-Democrat dominated rural areas.

In 2004, Kirk Humphreys' unsuccessful race for the seat of retiring US Senator Don Nickels would have been the beneficiary of this sideswipe race-baiting. A survivalist group with links to Timothy McVeigh and links to an Arian Nation group endorsed successful Republican Senate candidate Tom Coburn in a mass-mail using the One Nation language. However, Coburn's win is not attributed to the racist tie.

In September 2005, State Republican Kevin Calvey sent out a Capitol Update which fielded his bid for a contemplated upcoming race for the US Congressional seat of Ernest Istook, who is rumored to be running for Oklahoma Governor. Calvey's Update upbraided Incumbent Governor Brad Henry (D) over tobacco compacts with Indian nations, using the One Nation rhetoric that tribes are subjugate to state taxation. Tax equity is the guise--an emotionally compelling idea in a state facing war-inspired budget cuts, as well as vast tax credits for select petroleum industry beneficiaries.

One Nation claims 180,000 members. Truth be told, Oklahoma Farm Bureau members did not, until November 2003, know they were being counted just because they were insurance policy holders or local farmers. At the November 2003 state Farm Bureau Convention, a representtive coalition of Native Americans from tribes across the state greeted Farm Bureau delegates and passed out flyers in hopes that Farm Bureau's uninformed members would withdraw support from the stealth pac.

Every year tribal governments lose millions of dollars in tax revenue to states. Tribal members shop at non-Indian owned businesses, yet those businesses are not held to the same standard as tribal business who must collect non-Indian taxes. By law and treaties, tribal governments are superior to the governments of the states.

If the tribes must collect taxes of non-Indians shopping or living within their jurisdiction, then the states should be required to do as well.

These compacts should not be so one-sided. If the states do not pay the millions annually lost in taxes from tribal members shopping at off reservation businesses, then why should tribes pay them? This compacting business is just another way for the state to rob tribes of their sovereignty, yet One Nation and the states claim they want a level playing field.

When two groups work together that is called a compact. When it is only one group benefiting from the compact and only one group paying it is called unfair.

Ripples have been heard thruoughout the Native American community nationwide, and the issue is being closely watched. A web site has sprung up in order to clearinghouse relevant responsive information and warn the voters about One Nation's complex linkages to inside pressure-spin and push poll artists, i.e. Wilson Research Strategies in D.C. and Qorvis Communications.

A spoof website formerly existed "One White Nation" to warn Oklahoma voters about One Nation, using humor and parody to spread the word.

Corporate History: One Nation, Inc. was incorporated October 21, 2002; Suspended by the Oklahoma Tax Commission in March 2003, and Reinstated in March, 2003. It is incorporated as a Domestic For-Profit Business Corporation. Registered Service Agent is Mickey Thompson, 312 E. Federal, Shawnee, Oklahoma 74804. As of May 2003, it solicited tax-deductible contributions but did not show up in IRS records. In 2005, it claims 501(c)(4) IRS status. No investigation has been made to determine whether true 501(C)(4) status was granted to an entity incorporated as a domestic for-profit business corporation. It was originally incorporated by the Kerr, Irvine, Rhodes & Ables Law Firm of Oklahoma City: J. Angela Ables - As of 5/20/2003, a registered lobbyist with the State of Oklahoma. James W. Rhodes Kevin R. Wisener.

Funding

Founding Coalition members [2]

• Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association (Bruce A. Stallsworth, [registered lobbyist]http://election.sdrdc.com/cgi-bin/ok97/loblist04)
• Oklahoma Petroleum Marketers Association
• Oklahoma Farm Bureau
• Southern Oklahoma Water Alliance
• Oklahoma Grocers Association
• United Property Owners

Personnel

Early on, the co-chairmen of One Nation were Jeramy Rich, the Director of Public Policy, Oklahoma Farm Bureau and Rusty Shaw, Owner, Shaw's Gulf, Inc. In 2005, its local leadership in Oklahoma are Mickey Thompson and Mike Cantrell.

Mike Cantrell as of May 2003 worked in Fundraising for Cothran Development Strategies, under President Somerlyn Cantrell Cothran.

The National Director is Barbara Marie Lindsay.

Somerlyn Cantrell Cothran is the website email contact for One Nation. As of May 2003, she was the Vice President of Organizational Development for Wilson Research Strategies, with a background in marketing, public relations, and fundraising. She worked in the legislative office of (R-OK) Congressman Wes Watkins.