It is the worst kept secret of the Mississippi Republican Party that they enjoyed quite a cozy relationship with Chief Martin during his lengthy reign as Tribal Miko. An employee of Haley Barbour ran Martin’s last campaign for reelection. You see, even those who claim to have a monopoly on values and morals have their price. That is why in Mississippi you will seldom hear a Republican utter a discouraging word about the Choctaw Indian Nation.
Haley isn't really against expanded gambling; you can tell so by his actions. He's just for whatever is best for his bottom line. Other Republicans appear to follow suit.
Numero uno: When Dewey (Bryant) was running for re-election as State Auditor in 1999, Chief Phillip Martin was his fourth largest contributor! In addition to the Chief’s hefty contribution in 1999, the Choctaw Indian Tribe also made a sizeable contribution to Dewey’s coffers that same year. Furthermore, the Choctaws also contributed generously in the 2003 and 2005 cycles.Somebody made a friend.
Numero dos: When the Tribe gave Chief Martin the boot, so too went his staff. But our man, Dewey Phil, doing his part to recycle, quickly hired the defeated Martin’s chief policy advisor, Scott Mulvaney, to be an advisor on his campaign to become Mississippi’s next Lieutenant Governor. And can you guess what Scott is telling Dewey to do on the subject of Choctaw gaming?The seem to travel in the same circles, circles around the truth.
Numero tres: Don’t be fooled—the bounty flowing from the Choctaws is more than just the checks that bear their name. John Lundy of Capitol Resources, who was the chief lobbyist for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians under Chief Martin, held a fundraiser in his own home in Jackson just this past week for Dewey Phil.Mucho Choctaw dollars.
Dewey has yet to take any official public position on the issue of Choctaw gaming and their potential expansion into Jackson County. However, his silence on the issue speaks volumes about where his true allegiances lie.This is definitely a fair question especially considering some of his public supporters are also some of the biggest opponents of the casino.
For his ability to dodge this issue, almost as well as he can dodge a debate, Dewey is known around Choctaw land as Chief-Never-Takes-A-Stand. And that’s why if you look really closely while driving down Highway 19, on a little rise that is just literally a stones throw from the Casinos, there is a special structure that stands alone and is always reserved for Dewey Phil and his buddy Don Wildmon.Beautiful; you can almost smell the hypocrisy.
It is a teepee made entirely of glass.
Get the full story at Flip Flopping Phil Bryant.
