LA Times: Elizabeth Warren again is pressed on past claims of Native American heritage

[Jose Garcia]

More than 200 Cherokees and other Native Americans have signed a letter urging Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren to fully retract her past claims to being Native and help dispel false beliefs held by many white people that they have American Indian ancestry.

The letter cites a Los Angeles Times investigation that found more than $800 million in government contracts reserved for minorities instead went to companies set up by members of groups with dubious claims to being Cherokee and Creek Indian tribes.

The letter describes The Times’ findings as an example of the harm done when white people rely on family lore and DNA tests to falsely assert Native American identity.

The criticism comes at an awkward time for Warren. The Massachusetts senator did not win any of the first three states in the nominating calendar and faces an uphill battle in the South Carolina primary this Saturday.

In response, Warren sent a 12-page letter to the Cherokee authors on Tuesday night. Her letter repeated past apologies, reiterated that she is a “white woman” and detailed a policy agenda that she said was good for Indian Country.

More: https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-02-26/elizabeth-warren-again-is-pressed-on-past-claims-of-native-american-heritage?_amp=true&__twitter_impression=tru

[abqtommy]

1. Yawn. To me this is a non-issue since I'm aware of how prevalent human multi-ethnic

breeding has been over the millennia. It's an interesting topic and the results are interesting but
apparently that doesn't sell newspapers.

[BusyBeingBest]

2. It really damaged her from the get-go, fair or not.

She didn't handle it well. If she did get the nomination, it would be Fauxcahontas this and Lieawatha that, constantly. tRumpian GOPers excel at name calling and mocking. They'd also probably have more documents from her past that she filled out with a Native American claim.

[Bradshaw3]

6. Nothing to Bloomberg's baggage

NDAs, sexist comments, racist policies, buying support. She is part Native American so this is a big nothing to voters. Bloomberg's past action and comments make him non-viable agaisnt drumpf.

[BusyBeingBest]

8. Think you have it backwards. Bloomberg is completely viable against tRump,

in a GE setting, because his baggage gets canceled out. The Dem Primary is more challenging for him. The Dem primary should be a piece of cake for Warren, she's a sharp debater, super-woke and intersectional and all that stuff. But she's hindered somehow. It's either her M4All plan, her mannerisms and delivery, her DNA test flop, or a combination of all of it.

[Bradshaw3]

9. You have it backwards

His baggage obviates the criticism against drumpf for: his treatment of women, his crude comments, his treatment of minorities, his callousness toward the poor, I could go on and on. One of the main driving forces of 2018 were women sick of drumpf and Bloomberg would cancel all of that out. Why would they go out and vote for someone who is "not quite as bad as drumpf." Same with younger voters, liberal voters, i.e. along with women the base of the Democratic Party.

And she does have NA ancestry, while Bloomberg is a ... Democrat, or repub, or Indenpendent, whcih is it. Hard to keep up with his changing registrations and 10s of millios goven to repub candidates. He would destroy the Democratic Party and lose to drumpf in a landslide. .

[BusyBeingBest]

12. We disagree. I think Bloomberg is much, much, much better than tRump.

For a host of reasons. A flawed guy, to be sure. But way better.

[Bradshaw3]

13. Not as bad as drump is far worse than every other Democratic candidate

But some on here don't care what he has done, or his astro turf campaign, or his arrogance, or misleading or downright false ads and statements, or buying the nomination. I'm glad they are a minority. People know we can do much, much better.

[backtoblue]

10. Agree nt

[Bradshaw3]

11. Thanks

Can't believe they are bringing this up again, esecially with a Bloomberger chiming in. But they do seem to overlook every one of his misdeeds, evne recent ones, while talking about this like it's some big deal. As another poster said, it is probably the repubs in Oklahoma who are doing this. Then this poster (who has posted on this subject many times before) and others try blow it up. Ridiculous.

[DURHAM D]

3. Hmmh

It appears that most of the signers are from Oklahoma.

Native Americans in Oklahoma vote like other Oklahomans - Republican.

I know someone right now who is fighting for tribal rights. He has a lot of proof (including DNA and listings on Dawes Rolls) and they will absolutely not acknowledge his request.

Never forget - with the tribal leaders it is all about the money.

[Blue_playwright]

4. Really bothers me...

I’m a Kansan but family is based on Oklahoma and Missouri- I was told my whole life that I was part Native American. And I gotta say a ton of us in this region (just based on my small circle of friends) have similar family stories. I identify with that history and the people but have no proof that is who I am. I may find out someday that I was told a myth. 🤷🏻?♀️ But when probably thousands of folks in this region have similar family stories and histories - I just find it such bullshit that this is being held against her. Hell, I distinctly remember in college filling out paperwork asking if there were any “Indians” in my family tree. I said I hadn’t done the genealogy but my grandmother said she was half Indian - and I was told to say yes. 🤷🏻?♀️

I wouldn’t be told to do so today. So, regionality and time frame have to be taken into context.

And I really need the DNA test so I can learn more. Lol

[Happy Hoosier]

5. I mean... who cares?

I know a lot of folks growing up who claimed to have Cherokee grandma or some such. Just as many will swear their great grandpa was from Ireland. Some of those claims were true. Others not. Some probably had a kernel of truth.

I don't really care. She apologized for over-claiming her heritage. I think the rest is bullshit. What do people want? Blood?

[Bradshaw3]

7. Fact: She does have NA ancestry

Depending on the tribe her heritage would be enough to be on the rolls. But certain people really have a thing about this non-issue.

[denem]

14. And they released the letter now because ... ?

Timing with sub zero credibility.