My Monday column about Alaska Native Corporations has drawn some fire as “offensive.” In defense of my critics, I did include the phrase, “rent-an-eskimo,” which was a name given to the racket by critics on Capitol Hill who believed that in essence, big contractors, ruthless consultants, and well-connected lobbyists were using the Alaska natives as front groups in order to win overpriced no-bid government contracts.

But I’m beginning to suspect that officers of these corporations throw the “offensive” label at everyone who does some digging and reports on the corporations’ shady nature. Here, we get the Native American Contractors Association calling Claire McCaskill and Robert O’Harrow “offensive,” for their exposes on the ANCs.