While Hillary has declined to participate, other candidates have also not yet committed, so singling her out is misleading. There is a reason for this, which is that the Prez on the Rez event is scheduled to take place at a casino on an Indian reservation, and for that reason California's powerful labor unions are opposed to it. I'll quote an excerpt from an AP story. Here's a link to an AP news digest that includes the story:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/05/24/state/n18252...

"SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) _ The organizer of a Democratic presidential forum that is expected to draw American Indian leaders from around the country to Southern California says that opposition from a labor union has prompted top contenders to shy away from attending.

The fate of the event, called "Prez on the Rez" by its organizers, has become embroiled in a state political dispute sparked by an attempt by wealthy gambling tribes to expand their casino operations.

Labor unions, close allies of the Democrats who control the state Legislature, are opposed to most of the tribes' efforts because they say the expansion deals will make it more difficult to organize casino workers."

So this is why these candidates, not just Hillary, but all the candidates except Richardson, are backing off this event. No candidates except Richardson and Gravel have accepted, and yet you single out Hillary? It is unfair. Obama and Edwards also haven't committed and won't likely risk losing potential union endorsements by going to an event they haven't approved. These organizers must know that in democratic politics you have to play the game, and you can't jeopardize your chances to win in an entire state by pissing off the local labor unions. So I think it is unfair to blast Hillary as anti-Indian over this, when the reasons for her declining are perfectly clear, which is the unions don't want the event taking place at an indian casino where they can't organize the workers. The organizers were negotiating with the unions and those negotiations fell through. If the unions give their approval, Hillary and the other candidates will probably show up.

As for DFA, Hillary has no chance at that endorsement and has a well known rift with Howard Dean, over Dean's 50 state DNC strategy. I think she should have responded and hope she still will. There was no deadline given. But if she declines to respond, given limited resources and time, to a group that she believes for the most part is dead set against her campaign, its not like you can blame her.