Elizabeth Warren getting grief for listing herself as Native American before getting hired @ Harvard

[Liberal_in_LA]

Warren explains minority listing, talks of grandfather's "high cheekbones"

(CBS News) - Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren on Wednesday sought to explain her controversial decision to list herself as a Native American in a directory of law professors for nearly a decade before getting a job at Harvard Law School and said she is absolutely qualified for her job.

Republican Sen. Scott Brown's campaign last week accused Warren of "participating in Harvard's diversity sham" by allowing the school to list her as a minority.

"I listed myself directory in the hopes that might mean that I would be invited to a luncheon a group something with people who are like I am. Nothing like that every happened. That was absolutely not the use for it and so I stopped checking it off," Warren told reporters in Braintree, Massachusetts.

On Monday, he called for her to "come clean" on the issue.

According to a Boston-area genealogist's report, Warren is 1/32nd Cherokee.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57427355-503544/warren-explains-minority-listing-talks-of-grandfathers-high-cheekbones/

[blm]

1. Has Brown ever attended a St Patrick's Day parade where every one claims to have some Irish in them?

Is this all he's got?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

[Enrique]

2. "I busted my tail" says Scott Brown

[catbyte]

6. Ewww, Enrique

[wendylaroux]

3. 1/32 Cherokee

isn't enough to say u are part Native American??? I am 1/32 Cherokee,I'm not part Cherokee?

[yellerpup]

8. Warren hails from Oklahoma, formerly Indian Territory.

Last edited Thu May 3, 2012, 05:55 PM - Edit history (1)

Considering that the Chief of the Cherokee Nation, John Ross, was 1/8 in the early 1800s, a 32nd degree of blood quantum would give Warren the same quantum as Chief Ross' grandchildren had in the mid-1800s. You are absolutely Cherokee no matter what your blood quantum is if you have Cherokee ancestors. Blood quantum rules were made up by the Federal Government as a way to avoid reparations (should reparations ever be awarded--which they won't). After the US government effected the genocide which wiped out many tribes whose names we will never hear again they knew it would not take long for the blood quantum of the survivors to dip below the Federally set rule of 1/4 blood for eligibility for reparations. The Cherokee Tribe claims its mixed-blood children. Of course you are Tsalagi, wendylaroux, and so is Elizabeth Warren, and so am I. Osiyo!

[sabrina 1]

18. Maybe you could send this comment to the Brown campaign?

Btw, I did buy your book 'Weep' and read it. It was excellent, I've been meaning to tell you that.

[yellerpup]

22. Thank you so much for buying my book!

Do you think I should send it to the Brown campaign? I get the impression that they are grasping at straws with this attack and already have their minds made up which 'truth' they will believe.

On edit: I didn't mean send the book, just send the clarification...

[ieoeja]

19. Isn't 1/32 the automatic limit to "rejoin" the tribe?

My mother was 1/32 Cherokee, but was not a tribal citizen. It was our understanding that she could qualify for citizenship which would then make my siblings and I 1/2 Cherokee. If we assumed citzenship that would again reset the counter.

Since my mother did not, I believe that I no longer qualify. Though I still tan red instead of brown, can't grow chest hair, and my facial hair is sparse.

But I could be wrong.

I say "automatic" in the subject line because the Cherokee have been known to accept immigrants. The Jewish Greek actor who portrayed the "crying Indian" in that famous '70s environmental commercial is probably the most famous adoptee.


On edit: I found some rules. One is that an ancestor had to be on the Dawes Roll which was only open to those Cherokees relocated to Oklahoma. I am pretty certain that my Cherokee ancestors were never on the reservation.

[yellerpup]

20. If your mother was 1/32, you would be 1/64

Last edited Thu May 3, 2012, 05:49 PM - Edit history (1)

unless your father was also Cherokee, and then we'd start figuring again... You are correct that being able to join the tribe is predicated on having an ancestor on the Dawes Rolls. Those lists were closed in 1907, but if you have family names you could look on the Dawes Rolls and see if they are listed. The Cherokee Nation West (which is now Oklahoma) is not a reservation but you should also know that there is also a Cherokee Nation East in North Carolina. I am not sure of their rules, but if you find family names there you may find a way to join. Osiyo, ieoeja!

Edit to clarify: You can join the tribe at any blood quantum figure because that is not what the tribe cares about. Find an ancestor on the rolls (East or West) bust your butt getting everyone's birth/death certificates, affidavits, or whatever you need and you can get in.

[plcdude]

41. excellent

no more need be said. Wa do

[yellerpup]

46. Osiyo, Dinadanvtli!

Wado for your reply.

[nolabear]

44. Can a Mississippi Choctaw get a little love?

I'm 1/16th, and like Warren stories of my g-g-grandmother sustained me through a troublesome childhood. I know a surprising amount about her and take great pride in having her blood. At one time I'd have qualified for the tribal rolls but no more, as opportunists have created a wariness.

I've occasionally checked that box myself, in honor of Theodocia. So I say claim it,

[yellerpup]

45. Big love to you, cousin!

I'm part Chocktaw, too, on my mother's side.

[jwirr]

21. Some tribes require a percentage blood quantom in order to enroll in the tribe but they do not claim

to deny the Native American status of others with less. She is Native American.

[yellerpup]

26. Yes, my Cherokee tribal membership card

does not list blood quantum. My Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood card, issued by the Federal Government, does.

[catbyte]

4. It's insulting that we're really the only racial group that has to prove

our ethnicity. I understand special status w/government and all that, but unless you have paperwork going back at least 3 generations they assume you're lying. Luckily I had the paperwork to prove I was 3/4 Ojibwa with a dash or 2 of Lakota thrown in, but not all people are as lucky.

Diane
Anishinaabe in MI & mom to Leo, Sophie, Taz & Nigel, members of Dogs Against Romney, Cat Division
"We ride inside--HISS!”

[Kaleva]

17. The local tribes enforce this as well.

Over 10 years ago, there was a real big fight at a nearby reservation when the Tribal Council tried to purge over a 100 members of tribe off its rolls by increasing the requirement of ethnicity to 1/4 and other things.

[a la izquierda]

43. My aunt is Ojibwa and Dakota

She´s the reason I study what I do, though we´re not blood relatives.

[virgogal]

5. Self identifying as a minority for 11 years is a bit disturbing,especially

when benefits can be attained by that claim.

[catbyte]

7. Not unless you can prove it. We don't get ANYTHING without proof

[yellerpup]

13. Exactly.

Good point.

[Scuba]

10. Huh? Claiming benefits to which you are entitled is "disturbing"?

[virgogal]

28. And what exactly are the benefits that a person who is 1/32 Cherokee

entitled to?

[Scuba]

29. Beats me. You brought it up.

[yellerpup]

31. A person with 1/32 blood quantum

is entitled to every benefit to which any other Cherokee tribal member is entitled.

[yellerpup]

12. To receive benefits as a Cherokee

you must live within the Cherokee Nation which is made up of 13 counties within the state of Oklahoma. The Cherokees don't write checks to their tribal members, but instead provide education, healthcare, job training, low cost loans, housing, and many opportunities for our people to make the most of their talents in life.

[brentspeak]

14. What benefits has Warren ever received?

The University of Texas had her listed as "white" during her tenure as a professor. Furthermore, Charles Fried, the professor who recruited her for Harvard, has said that not only did the issue of Warren's ancestry not play any role in her hiring, but that he wasn't even aware of her ancestry.

[gratuitous]

15. And if she hadn't checked the box

You can bet the nontroversy would have been that she is ashamed of her own heritage or some such nonsense. It's a classic "damned-if-you-do-and-fuck-you-anyway" sort of trap the Republicans constantly try to spring. If Brown thought his campaign for re-election was sailing smoothly ahead, he wouldn't be hyperventilating over this non-issue. His internal polling must be looking pretty shaky to try this three-rail bank shot of a smear job.

[Scuba]

30. +1

[peace13]

16. If you go to www.whitebison.org you will learn much.

Hit daily meditations on the left column. They have some neat stuff.

One thing they have taught me is that there is no such thing as being 'part Indian'. If you have Indian blood then you are an Indian. Sooo.... if she has Indian blood in her ancestry she has a right to check the box.

I tried to find the exact Meditation for you but I have about 400 in my mailbox and was unable to put my finger on it. Sorry.

[yellerpup]

27. "If you have Indian blood then you are an Indian."

LOL! Most people don't appreciate what that means until they throw a party. The honoree is the one who pays!

[jwirr]

24. Most tribes give benefits to only those who are 1/4 blood. All 9 of my great grandchildren are

Native American but only 3 of them are enrolled. But they are all Native American.

[peace13]

32. I guess it's in the way you look at it.

Monetary benefits really can mess with the message can't they. I think the focus of the meditation was including all with Indian blood to pass on the values to others. Eventually, if you have to be 1/4 blood there won't be too many real Indians.Yet, those who respect the values can live on forever.

My great grandfather was an American Indian. I'm happy about that. I don't expect to make claim or lay stake, simply live in a way that is respectful of our planet and try to be caring to those I meet.

[jwirr]

39. Yes, tribes are presently beginning to realize that their numbers are going down. The only way

any of my great grandchildren will continue to be enrolled will be if they marry other tribal members. But we are making sure they are proud of who they are and will teach their children.

[LASlibinSC]

9. It's a non issue!

Gee Scotty, thats sorta lame. oooww.,I know,...library books everybodys had overdue books! Well almost everybody...Jackass!

[Thrill]

11. Silly shit like this is what turns people off of Politics

.

[jwirr]

25. This is the kind of shit that makes me fight harder against people like Brown who does not even

know what he is talking about.

[Mass]

23. Brown is an idiot, but this would have been a one day story if she had reacted better.

[The Second Stone]

33. She's part Cherokee and proud of it, good for her

Brown is 100 percent porn star and proud of it.

[JI7]

34. do people really give a shit about this ?

[fascisthunter]

35. cool... I didn't know she had native american in her

[MerryBlooms]

36. With any luck,

Brown will be erased from public memory once he's obliterated by Warren. If we never hear from him again, it'd be too soon.

[frylock]

37. much ado about nothing, but would be curious to see DU's reaction..

if it was Scott Brown checking that box.

[Nye Bevan]

38. It was worse when W pretended to be a cowboy (nt)

[politicasista]

40. That's silly

and sounds and smells like desperation on Brownie's part.

[Bruce Wayne]

42. As someone who's 1/64th Haudenosaunee, I'm not surprised.

I just expect that kind of stunt from those Cherokees. Grrrr....