I am 1/16 Cherokee. Do I need to apologize to the Cherokee Nation? Guess I should also say sorry to Hungary for being 1/4 Hungarian. And don't get me started on the apologies to France and Germany...
22
Any competent geneticist would have told Sen. Warren her DNA could NOT determine her membership in any particular tribe. If the testing service she used was ethical, she would have been told this.
Any tribal government would have told Warren a specific named relative with a demonstrable connection to the land was necessary for her to consider herself in any way Native American.
Most tribal governments use DNA (if they use it at all) to settle paternity and other legal questions (like inheritance). They know, after 500 years of Europeans in the Americas, that it would be unusual for an individual born in the USA (and even a lot of other places) NOT to have some Native American DNA making up part of their genome.
And they would also know most white Americans have more Neanderthal DNA than Native American.
Europeans have a long history of dishonest and criminal relations with the native population. Oklahoma whites of Warren's grandparents generation murdered several dozen Osage to gain control of oil that had recently been discovered on their land. Then there were all the accessories after the fact that approved the land transfers and failed to prosecute the killers.
Many Oklahomans are familiar with this history and is something Warren should have known long before now.
While I agree with many of her policies and admire her ability, she'll have to publicly educate herself on these issues before this disgrace fades to an embarrassment and her candidacy move on.
5
Move on ...Ms. Warren.... A family story that turned out to be untrue is not a crime ....In the trump family , there is a legend that someone in the gang helped America in the distant past ...Also blatantly untrue ...And the trump syndicate know it to be untrue.
2
Stop apologizing. Millions of people have had their DNA tested. The whole dust up is just more of the currently trendy penchant for martyrdom--and in this one, we apparently have hand wringing martyrs on both sides. So tiresome.
5
Twila Barnes and her ilk are just looking for something to be hacked off about! Their manufactured outrage and insult is doing more harm than good to Warren's image and it's selfish. Their rage would be far more deservingly focused on the man child who continually slandered Warren by calling her "Pocahontas"!
Warren never claimed anything more than having heard a family story and she went to investigate it. All the rantings and the disinformation that have been hung on this is mind-boggling! Native Americans are squandering an opportunity to have a voice on the national stage by supporting Warren and they're blowing it. The Cherokee nation cannot seem to get out of its own way!
8
She does not need to try to run, it’s over for her
7
There's a lot of fear and loathing in these posts.
Keep up the good work Elizabeth.
8
It seems to date that the only person to escape unscathed from contact with Trump is Nikki Haley.
"I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. YOU get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it."--George Bernard Show.
Trump's sandbox exists solely for his own aggrandizement and that of his unquestioning loyal followers, those who would blindly follow him "if he shot someone on Fifth Avenue." As long as the public accepts his kindergarten name calling to belittle any checks on him, he will continue to play his immature demagogue's game. The trouble is he is usurping our form of democracy out in the open with his fan base and Republican support.
3
If taking a DNA test and announcing that she has a small amount of native American ancestry is the worst thing she's ever done, she seems pretty good.
16
Every Native American Indian I have known has had a chip on there shoulder as if it were 1800.
4
She should resign.
10
This is what happens when you play tRump's version of politics. This is why you don't mudwestle with a pig. I really hope the maturity level of our political discourse can recover.
Why did she apologize? Should the millions of people around the world who have paid for DNA results apologize? To whom? For what? Why?
Here's what the Cherokee Nation spokeswoman, Julie Hubbard, said about the apology: "We are encouraged by her action and hope that the slurs and mockery of tribal citizens and Indian history and heritage will now come to an end."
Huh? It isn't Elizabeth Warren who is responsible for the slurs and mockery. It's Donald Trump. An ignorant bully who thinks insulting a woman by calling her by another woman's name is an effective way to gain more followers.
13
Mr. Hoskin is the one who has made the inept political move. He has misrepresented the reason Elizabeth Warren took the DNA test. And he is helping Trump stay on the offensive with his misstatements about why she took the test " “That is why it offends us when some of our national leaders seek to ascribe inappropriately membership or citizenship to themselves."
Warren never claimed membership in the tribe. She was trying to disprove and stop the claim by Trump and many Republicans that she did not have any native american ancestors and had inappropriately benefited by using false claims of minority status to take advantage of affirmative action in being hired by a college. Neither is true. She didn't claim citizenship in a tribe and didn't use affirmative action.
Republicans made the same false claims about Barak Obama - that he wouldn't have gotten into Harvard without affirmative action. No one knows what criteria the admissions officers used. But the fact that he graduated Magna Cum Laude, was selected by his peers to be Editor of Harvard Law Review, became a successful professor of constitutional law and was elected President makes clear he earned admission to Harvard. Not so say racist Republicans - grade inflation explains his success! Everyone was getting honors at Harvard!!
The racists made similar claims about Michele Obama and Hillary Clinton. But, they haven't explained how a truly bad student, Donald Trump, got into Columbia and Harvard - bone spurs?
11
Trump’s got her wound up in a pretzel.
The poor thing.
8
The one time I agree with Trump; Elizabeth Warren fell for his "Pocahontas trap." This just makes her look foolish. Trump has more ammunition on this issue and can use it for further distraction to entertain his base. She is so easily baited by him...not good.
8
Ugh, another political quagmire beset by our reigning man-child. Senator Warren's mistake was to engage the orange-man at his own game. Life lesson: never argue with an idiot. He or she will beat you over the head with experience.
I was born and raised in New Mexico. NM has many many Native American tribes. Native American culture is integral to NM culture. This culture is rich in tradition, spirituality and art. It is a beautiful culture an I'm lucky to have been raised near it. Living amongst these tribes but being neither Native American or a tribal member it is obvious to me that having native ancestry (DNA),does NOT make one a tribal member. If Senator Warren claimed to be a tribal member the that was a mistake. However I'm not aware she has ever made this claim. There is something to be learned here. Our Native American culture spans all of North America. We are one of the few countries to have a nation within a nation. America's tribes deserve their sovereignty and our respect. We all have a duty to educate ourselves about things we do not know and we must learn more about our Native neighbors. Something I truly don't think our current administration cares deeply enough about given the insensitive ethnic remarks by our so-called leader. Just my two cents...
5
I like Warren, but she fell for Trump's trick, gave his moronic "Pocahontas" stuff legitimacy by doing a DNA test, and came out of it looking awkward and defensive. IF she can be suckered this easily by Don the Con, there's no hope for her candidacy.
7
That the President of the United States gets away with calling Senator Warren Pocahontas, while the Senator herself gets attacked for telling the truth of her distant lineage, demonstrates the absurdity of our times.
15
Bengazi, Emails, Indian Ancestry. Has the American political system gone nuts? Can we focus on goals for the future of our children instead.
2
Can we get beyond this kind of clutter? Look what we have in the Oval Office and tell me Warren's little faux pas comes within a thousand miles of the kind of ignorance and organic evil sluicing out of the White House on an hourly basis.
Warren is a scold and tiresome and that's not going to play for long under the lights.
Every single one of us has done and said things that would have better served us by not saying or doing. She didn't do blackface, or dress as a Klansman. She claimed Native American ancestry.
Oh my God!!!!
5
After confirming a DNA match, I'd like to see two siblings submit DNA samples [under pseudonyms] to two different companies and compare the results.
If/Once that has been done the doubts can removed.
2
And stop demanding that Gillibrand apologize for Franken's decision to leave the Senate.
It is Trump who made a racist comment. Why is he being given a pass, as usual. The native American community should be expressing their outrage about Trump's use of a racial slur, not about Warren's legitimate blood line.
8
We are all entitled to take a DNA test to learn about our ancestry. Elizabeth Warren has nothing to apologize for on that score. She should instead be apologizing for boasting of native American ancestry and misusing it to boost her academic and political careers. That is what's disgusting.
5
The political party steeped in identity politics is now drowning its own. First Elizabeth Warren and now Ralph Northam. It's only a matter of time before a troublemaker or operative unearths photos or recordings of Senators Harris and Booker in less than pristine situations. There are 640 days till the election. Plenty of hours remaining to destroy all 45 candidates and still have time left for shopping.
7
Warren hoped to de-fang Trump's racist Pocahontas slur, but she wandered into a minefield she apparently knew nothing about.
Large numbers of Americans have claimed Native American ancestry since 1960, and many of these seek admission to sovereign tribes or to establish new ones. The three federally recognized Cherokee tribes face the most of this, and for them it is a serious concern.
I myself have at least 162 genetic relatives who claim a Cherokee ancestor. Of those, only 15 test positive for DNA markers associated with indigenous peoples of the western hemisphere.
There are scientific reasons why these 15 might be an undercount of those with Native American ancestors among the 162. Nonetheless, this simple counting gives a reasonable measure of the scale of the issue facing the Cherokee tribes.
Did the Cherokee tribes overreact to Warren's DNA test? Perhaps. But it doesn't hurt to see why they might have concerns.
4
"culture and kinship is what creates tribal membership — not blood" Well, THAT'S a slippery slope. Essentially, then, anyone that a tribe decides is a Native American IS a Native American, with all that implies re land, benefits, government services, etc. Blood, ACTUAL DNA linking one's heritage to a place and time is now to be disregarded? That's absolutely absurd, the PC eorld run amok.
3
Maybe Trump should be apologizing for his family's claim to be Swedish, he should be asked to show his birth certificate. Why can't we see his tax returns?
3
Warren has way bigger problems than this
She's not particularly likeable, comes off as shrill and, like another Massachusetts liberal Mike Dukakis, doesn't come close to passing the "can you see this person as Commander in Chief" test. Can anyone really imagine her in a leather bomber jacket addressing the troops?
Before you get all sexist on me, Kamala Harris is a woman and I think she's likeable, smart and charming and tough all at once and also passes the "can you see this person as Commander in Chief" test.
3
Perpetuating the pernicious belief in the one drop rule was Warren's real failure.
4
23andme told me I was a full 4% Neanderthal. 4% other species (!), or at least other hominin since the concept of species gets a little bent with that fact. With that awkward truth, the idea of race and tribe seems silly and self-serving. There is admittedly some horrific history in this country, and doubtless others as well, to take my argument down a fair bit, but at this point, when all of us came from somewhere else and many of us carry significant portions of DNA from Denisovans and Neanderthals, maybe we can finally move on.
2
But what about the million dollars that Trump said he'd give to charity if Elizabeth Warren took a DNA test and it showed she had some Native American heritage.
3
I like Elizabeth Warren, she is a very smart woman, however at this point she has zero chance of winning even the primary. At this point it's all about image, all most know about her is trump calling her names, her dna test and now her apologizing... My family had a tourist photo hanging on the wall that had an Native American Indian standing next to my ancestors, and I thought for years it was a relative, lol just found out it was a tourist photo a few years ago ;-p Stop apologizing, do something outrageous like sky diving or something, show some personality and don't go too far left, I believe the centrist democrat will win.
1
When do we stop doing things for political benefit ? Claiming Native American heritage when it was beneficial and then apologizing when its not anymore = this is pretty lame for someone aspiring to high office. Unfortunately, it is the norm. How many editions could the Times fill if it devoted energy to cataloging what they said when and what they are saying now. We can blame Facebook all we want to but - as long as we accept today's story from the knuckleheads who are in our government as today's truth - we are in trouble. While not on the same level - the Governor of Virginia is being crucified for actions when he was in school - no credit for the possibility that he has learned and changed. Yet Warren tries the apology route and will probably get away with it
1
This is absurd. Trump should be the one apologizing. But that would require the admission of false equvalences all over the place.
We're in campaign mode now, folks, so get used to more of this insanity - including declarations that any woman running for office has no right to be more than demure, and every man has the right to compound their lies ad infinitum.
2
Unfortunately, I have my doubts about Trump moving forward with this issue.
He'll continue to goad Warren, should the two go head-to-head.
Despite his onion-thin skin, and an either bruises like a banana, it's a shame Trump,can't (or won't ) crack under any goading, thus far.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth Warren has hurt herself.
She may move forward; but Trump and his sheeple won't.
1
I don't believe Sen. Warren ever claimed tribal membership. She claimed, and subsequently proved via DNA testing, that she had some Native American genetic ancestry. What is wrong with that?
I can understand the sensitivity of the issue with Native American tribal leaders, but piling on a well-intentioned liberal who was fighting back against racist insults from our Bigot-in-Chief is picking the wrong enemy.
2
Political correctness has corroded America from within for the past 50 years and will only continue to divide and devolve the nation. All hope is lost unless the majority center finally summons a spine, refusing to participate in this nonsense. We used to be a country ruled by common sense, at the very least.
1
I am a fan of Elizabeth Warren (although do not think she's electable, and that is paramount...) One wishes, however, she'd have used grade school math on her family lore, and supposed that her native American DNA would likely be less than a percent or two, which in fact it turned out to be. Not much... I do hope she did not inadvertently capitalize on this in her career – can someone please fact-check Jorge's 'fact-check' comment?
She lied about her heritage for politics reasons - what does that tell you about the individual.
Luckily, she doesn’t stand a chance of being elected - she’s a joke .
4
“American”
A politician lately was
Inclined to prove her ancestry
And she took a DNA test
As if t’would answer everything
It did not answer anything
But only served to underscore
That her ancestry was white
Notwithstanding family lore
That said that she might be a sqaw
Though more a Puritan she seemed
This Massachusetts senator
Than any native Indian
And though ten generations back
An ancestor she might have claimed
Who lived in teepees on the plains
And danced for that the sky would rain
The test could not ever explain
All the rich complexities
That come with claimed identities
Like culture and like families
Like tradition and kin
All within the living tribe
Passed down among the generations
The whole just trying to survive
Let no one then themselves presume
A Cherokee themselves to call
Unless the language in your throat
Unless the sorrow in your brow
At a culture almost lost
A nation almost disappeared
The thriving world that once it was
Whose extinction was greatly feared
Their story like the buffalo
In whose thunderous wake they rode
But no such herds run anymore
Or not in numbers as of old
Myself I cannot claim to be
Any tenth of Cherokee
My ancestors from Ireland
Is all my family history
Though Irish I don’t claim to be
At least in any present sense
Though Guinness is my drink of choice
I am simply American.
2
The media's treatment of Warren is sexist, period. Anti-Democratic Party, too. Imagine Schultz, a third party hopeful for President in 2020, making a similar comment about his heritage. How long this would last in the media? Two minutes? What about our President, who derides whole ethnic groups and receives a press pass over and over again? Have we all forgotten the youthful misdeeds of Justice Kavanaugh? It seems so. The Democratic Governor of Virginia is certainly not receiving the "Kavanaugh pass" for his own youthful misdeeds. The media and willing Dems hope to impose the same fate as they did to a long gone Senator for a silly gag picture. It is high time for the media to start reporting the news, and to stop acting like the National Enquirer. It is high time for the Dems to actually fight back against media idiocy. This feels like HRC and 2016 all over again, except this time, perhaps more of us will either give up, or vote third party.
1
If all these senators running for the democrat nomination possessed so much as a thimbleful of integrity, they would resign from the office which they will now spend a year and a half ignoring... while still pocketing a salary of $174,000 per year. Imagine missing much of your job then offering the excuse: "I'm looking for another job."
Tax payers should not subsidize a politician's delusions of grandeur.
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
4
I don't care about Mrs. Warren's apology. The Cherokee Nation accepted it. Over and done.
I do care about her self-identifying as Native American thus being listed as a minority teacher at various universities. "Given the association’s process of sending the form to new faculty, it is possible that Warren filled out that form three times: once in 1986 when she was at the University of Texas, in 1987 when she moved to the University of Pennsylvania, and a third time when she spent a year as visiting faculty at Harvard in 1992. In 1995, when she moved to Harvard, she no longer appears in the minority teacher list.' https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2017/dec/01/facts-behind-elizabeth-warren-and-her-native-ameri/
Two of Warren's cousins said they had heard the same stories; other cousins said they had never heard of any Native American link.
Warren self-identified as Native American when she already had a law degree. She should have verified before identifying herself as Native American. (She's a blue-eyed blonde for Pete's sake!)
As lawyers learn in law school, facts matter.
5
Elizabeth Warren is an opportunist with bad judgement .The whole Cherokee fiasco was self inflicted and shows political instincts on par with HRC.
Her endorsement of Hillary in the presidential primary was another sign of pure opportunism and bad judgement.
I hope in the primaries people will consider her lack of character.
4
Warren's grandma said they were Native Americans. This is a source of culture and values for her family. Big deal. Who can criticize her for that?!
Goodness.
The whole issue is petty and trite. That means you, Cherokee Nation leader. And that means you, Warren. Stand up for yourself. Say this: the Native peoples have provided a source of culture and values for my family. I will not apologize for that.
1
What, exactly, is she apologizing for then? As far as I remember she took a DNA test which showed Native American ancestry; she never claimed to be a member of a tribe or nation, she wasn't "claiming to be family to gain a spot at the table". Now, if she actually did those things, I'm wrong and some apology is in order.
If I took a DNA test and saw "oh look, I have some Italian ancestry and some Scottish ancestry" and then I shared that result to show someone I had that ancestry, it doesn't mean I'm claiming to be an Italian or Scottish citizen.
This is just like the Clinton email server. So much gets written about the controversy and updates and an apology and how wrong Warren is when TRUMP IS THE ONE BEING RACIST ABOUT THE SAME TOPIC. He's literally mocking someone by calling them "Pocahontas". But what we get is "oh my...Ms. Warren really has been offensive in showing that she has Native American DNA...I feel she might have implied that she was a member of a Native American Nation!"
All that said I think Warren can serve the country best from the Senate. If Dems get a majority back she can really help move a people-centric agenda instead of rich- and corporate-centric agenda.
1
This has to be the most ridiculous issue in the news and does no credit to Native Americans. DNA scans are science. My daughter, who came up with Native American genetic content is no threat to the Cherokee Nation or any other tribe. Up until this hoohah over Sen. Warren, she was happy and excited about her Native American genes.
1
Would Warren be chastised if she claimed a Black ancestor 6 generations in her past? How about a Swede or ....? My lovely wife claims a Mayflower ancestor. I just don't get the criticisms from Native Americans. Does that mean that I'm not properly respectful? Or just a little slow. It's clear people are offended.
2
What's the big issue here? She wanted to know her ancestry. She took a DNA test. She found out she has Native American ancestors. Now we all know. She's not trying to be a Tribal Leader.
2
Like the Governor of Virginia, Senator Warren is apologizing. Who cares? Who can even believe these politicians?
As for Warren, she will always be known as “Pocahontas!” She’s all over social media with her native American claims and the rebuttals in the form of great satire.
We need new American hats. Saying make America honest again!
5
The whole business provides a useful guide to dealing with Trump. He is always going to be setting a new standard for going low. You cannot, as Senator Warren has, try to mud wrestle with him because he is a professional mud wrestler and you are not.
Unfortunately, Ms. Warren's campaign for President has incurred a fatal injury in the process of composing this guide. What is needed in a candidate is the ability to stand side by side at a podium with Trump and, in a calmly dignified manner, point out with facts that he is an ill-informed, pathologically narcissistic madman who is driving American Democracy into the ground.
Then, when he reacts with his standard 4th grade ad hominem attack on the opponent, the response is:' that's nice. But, you didn't refute a single thing I said. Next issue, please'.
Note how this paper, given a Harvard professor of law with real chutzpah and a drive to serve, must measure her by various interactions with their favorite clickbait human being on the planet, Trump. I refer the video about "trading barbs."
This paper is simply not up to the task with respect to American politics.
1
Warren leads the charge. Now EACH of us need to apologize.
I don't even know for what, but clearly an apology is needed.
Everyone is doing it. Leadership sets the example for the rest of us to follow. None of us is nearly as sensitive as we should have been.
Here I go...
(...ready?...)
okay ...
I'm sorry.
No, really. I mean it.
Thank you for your continued support.
2
Enough enough ENOUGH !
Apologies for this you did a lifetime ago are great for your soul but enough apologizing to people because they demand it. Glass houses all.
1
She had nothing to apologize for! It’s a non issue.
1
Claiming a bloodline is by some considered to be a qualification for the presicency. Barak Obama was the first 'Black' president - despite the fact that his mother was white, and he was raised in a white house hold. It cannot be disputed that his race influenced a lot of voters. The fact that Elizabeth Warren is at most 1/64th American Indian certainly will not carry her into the White House.
It's a shame, but many people put a lot of weight on the race of the candidate.
2
I took a DNA test just recently and found I was an old, white, Anglo Saxon, American male. Taking all that into consideration, I would like to apologize for Donald Trump.
1
...“For Senator Warren to admit that she did something wrong shows she’s thoughtful and she wants to do the right thing.”..
Perhaps this same philosophy should be extended to Gov. Northam of Virginia. Inspire of him clearly stating that it was stupid and wrong every Democrat from here to the moon is howling for his resignation. Northam was a college student 34 years ago when he did something stupid. Ms. Warren is a full-on adult and seasoned politician who should have better judgement.
Perhaps the Democrats see Ms. Warren as the best option for the Oval Office and are willing to be more generous?
1
"...her October decision to take the DNA test gave undue credence to the controversial claim that race could be determined by blood" (the author) .....No, in the best of all worlds, indigenous proclamations should be determined by who keeps the culture alive and thriving---not blood, but this is how the federal government, colleges and indigenous nations have decided who is a member of a tribe for centuries----by parentage/blood. DNA tests are just the modern way of determining that. Warren, a born and raised Okie, had a right to defend herself against Trump---and it turned out she was correct, but it would not have mattered either way---because ever since the Cherokee Will Rogers became famous--- all Okies were told by their parents that they had some "Indian" blood in them. I live in Tahlequah, OK, the Cherokee Nation's Capitol and most people I know here do not blame Warren, but Trump, the media and Hollywood for this racist, soap-selling and "Pocahontas" melodrama. Warren and all Okies are proud of any indigenous heritage we have. There is much this heritage, their past and present cultures, can teach US.
53
Unfortunately Warren used her claim of American Indian heritage to get admission to college degree programs and jobs. It was and is important for schools and employers to meet minority participation requirements. We can wonder where Warren might be today if her claims had been dismissed. There are only a limited number of spots. And those whose chance for a spot in a top university or great job were lost because of Warren’s tenuous claim, can wonder what might have been if instead of Warren, they were chosen.
3
There are many ways to disrespect Native Americans, and Senator Warren seems uniquely qualified to find them. First, she claims to be Cherokee, then she claims that a sloppy DNA test "proves" that she is, and now she "privately" apologizes but seems incapable of publicly admitting her arrogance. What would be better would be for her to encourage a public dialogue on what we can do, right now, right here, to be fair to Native Americans and to work, together, as Americans for justice between Native Americans and everyone else. It's a long, troubled history but we cannot change the past, only the future.
4
In OK, many have Native American ancestry, and that is celebrated today. Ms. Warren May have believed her family lore, but this became an issue not due to Trump but to her claiming to be a Native American and the first person of color in her Harvard position. That is the issue and it is sad. Should she withdraw from the presidential race and perhaps resign from the Senate. Her claim, and her use of “ Native Ancestry” is worse than the indiscretion shown by the Virginia Governor.
2
Big deal. I'm 5% Native American by DNA. 5% is the minimum for federal recognition for business. Here we go again eating our own over not too much. If she has the DNA, good for her. Let's move on. We have more important issues to deal with then who is DNA-ably correct.
2
Senator Warren apologized only after she was caught using a false narrative about having a Cherokee heritage for personal and political gain. Apologies don't erase memories and serve to solidify the anger of those hurt by her transgression. Like it or not the Cherokee heritage claim is permanently attached to the Senator and will per part of her legacy. Her lack of good judgement in this matter opens the door to what else in her personal/political life that she may have taken the similar liberties.
4
The one certain thing Donald Trump's despicable behavior has done is revved up the cultural search and destroy mechanism. As we search for ways to destroy him, we are obliged to search for ways to destroy anybody who raises their head to a public profile.
Every person who has lived through adolescence has something in their past they wish they didn't. Most of us have moved beyond those things, made amends, changed our behavior and found a reasonably ethical way forward in life. Some have not. It's important that we acknowledge our mistakes, learn from them, do our best not to repeat them. It's equally important to make a distinction between those who make the effort, and those who continue to embrace behavior that is offensive, insensitive and self-serving.
Elizabeth Warren has raised her profile and, in these times, has rightfully come under scrutiny and criticism for this mistake and for the way she handled it. When it comes to apologizing and making amends these days, it seems like a more robust mechanism, something beyond a quiet apology and a private phone call, is required. Senator Warren needs to apologize with the same level of public profile that she is using to run for president.
Still, we need to be careful we don't drift into an area where no mistake, of any kind, is tolerable, and where no apology, of any magnitude, is acceptable. Our tolerance for bad behavior may have been stretched to its limit, but our capacity for understanding and acceptance should not.
3
Whatever it is that Warren is claiming to be true about herself, why does the Cherokee Nation have the standing to criticize her for making the claim or to determine the truth of it? Even if it has authority to determine tribal membership, she is (if I understand correctly) not claiming tribal membership. It is perhaps vague what she is claiming to be true of herself. In this day and age, doesn't political correctness imply that everyone is authoritative about their own identity and that it is presumptuous of others to dictate to a person what they should say it is? If a transgender person says they are a woman, do women have some special authority to tell that person whether they are?
I think we need to apply the principle of charity. Arguably, Warren is claiming no more and no less than whatever is confirmed by the DNA test that she took. If tribal leaders are angered by that, they should mind their own business.
1
What needs to be realized is the major reason the tribes are fighting the idea that DNA cannot determine race or tribe.
If it is recognized tribal affiliation can be determined by DNA, then proceeds from Casino's could be diluted by people who prove their tribal ancestry through DNA.
1
I was brought up around people who called and still often call themselves Indian. And yes, the hackneyed 'One of my best friends is Indian' phrase applied to me. What's more, I spent five years on the staff of a Native American neighborhood development agency.
I say all of this to give myself some cred when I say I am somewhat outraged by the response of some Cherokees to Warren's DNA test.
Who gets to choose their ancestry? Are all those DNA-based Ancestry and 23 and Me tests irrelevant? According to my own results, not to mention the testimony, accents and personal stories of all four of my grandparents, I'm Norwegian and Swedish. Am I unable to claim this heritage because I don't live within their cultures? I moved from a small town in Minnesota where many of the Scandinavian traditions were upheld. Was I Scandinavian then, but not Scandinavian now that I live in a city where the predominant heritage is Irish?
My experience and politics lead me to side with the Native/American Indian viewpoint on many issues; however, I strongly oppose the anti-scientific attitude that leads them to discount the reality of blood heritage. As if it meant nothing.
Warren is descended from one or more Native Americans of the Cherokee culture. She is not Cherokee--nor did she claim to be--but her ancestry has been scientifically proven. Natives and those who defend them are doing themselves no favors by denying science and clinging to political correctness on this issue.
5
Has Professor Henry Louis Gates come out on this supposed controversy? His "Finding Your Roots" PBS series is predicated on the very idea that one's blood can determine not only one's race but a great deal about one's cultural background. The folks who seem nervous about this are those who question their own group affiliations.
2
I took a DNA test recently and it turned out that I have some Mongolian ancestry but I would never use that attenuated information in a professional, political, or social setting to try to curry favor or ascertain advantage. Warren's own family members have discredited her, she called herself Cherokee in a cookbook in the 80s, and used that information while applying for employ at Harvard. Regardless of any benefits that were bestowed because of the information, it is obvious that she has tried to use this false narrative to foist herself into the spotlight and gain an edge in all of her endeavors. When Warren was called out she should have profusely apologized and moved on, the DNA test was a further insult to actual Tribal Members and pretty much proved that she is no more Native American than anyone else in the Continental U.S which at this point is a melting pot of ancestries.
We need to stop defending the unscrupulous and unethical actions of politicians and start holding them accountable regardless of political affiliation or the current political climate!
2
If she does the hard work to gain trust and tribal leaders start endorsing her bid this might be resolved politically.
1
The real problem for Democrats is that identity politics is not a unifying theme. After emphasizing all our differences is that a coalition? Not at all.
7
Blood has always determined ancestry. I would hope that Native American Indians would be calling out Trump for his slurs and bigotry, not Warren for wanting to prove her ancestry
It sounds as the Democrats who are critical of Warren do not want her as the Presidential Candidate.
I do not think this issue should prevent Warren from running
And perhaps the press should back off this issue and concentrate on the problems that Warren is fighting for. Such as Economic fairness, Healthcare for all, Voting Rights. Good Education for all and common sense in the Congress.
The Press gave us Trump. Now they need to focus on Candidates who actually will put this country back on its feet.
3
This matter is bigger than just Ms. Warren. Earlier published reports and media broadcasts indicated that Ms. Warren somehow benefitted from her "minority" status. That's fine as long as it's true. However, candidates for various offices should be 100% transparent as to whether or not they ever took advantage of or benefitted from their "minority" status. Former President Obama never acknowledged (that I am aware of) whether or not he ever used Affirmative Action policies for college admission purposes, etc. Let's judge people on merit and not the genetics that produced them.
3
Not that it matters, but she just lost my vote. So much for truth, backbone. Oh, and all those native, indigenous bones in all the museum collections....no close family connections, so why bother with claims. Keep them.
I so admired Native, Indigenous, First Nations- their culture, their survival, their tenacity. Now....
2
I for one am over the perpetual explosive outrage that social media allows to blossom beyond all sense of proportion or discourse.
how many more whiny voices will we as a nation tolerate that serve no point other than to declare themselves a perpetual victim?
2
My grandmother was born in northern Michigan - French Canadian & Native American father & mother with NA ancestors. She said she was at least 1/4 Chippewa. I was told some stories - like how my full blooded Chippewa ancestor was a Medicine Woman in her tribe. I was also told that due to rampant discrimination they didn't openly discuss it. I have found some records confirming what I was told. Local tribes don't want to help despite assurance I am not after casino $$$. I may be only 1/16 Native but I have been robbed of any "cultural" affiliation to my ancestor's tribe due to societal & legal pressure to assimilate over the years. That should not result in my being unable to embrace that part of my heritage openly & learn about it.
Like Senator Warren, I don't claim to have Indigenous cultural experience, and don't seek to profit from ancestral affiliation. The notion that by proudly acknowledging my Native ancestors I am insulting Indigenous people is ludicrous! I am proud of whatever amount of Indigenous blood I have, no matter how small. White European invasion of North America sought to eradicate Indigenous people & memories of them. By denying those of us with Indigenous ancestors the ability to learn about our ancestors, their ways, & openly embrace them is fulfilling the goal of genocide of Indigenous people.
This attack on Warren is ludicrous.
2
This is a little hard for me to understand. If "cultural kinship" and "tribal sovereignty" are what determine someone's "nationality," if you will (I despise the term RACE), than couldn't anyone claim to be Cherokee or part Cherokee? Where is the dividing line? I could claim to be African American with that definition. I feel this dilutes the diversity and completely defeats clarity and understanding of one's origin and heritage.
“...claiming to be family to gain a spot at the table is unwelcome.”
I’m not sure what this phrase means and am still unclear why a person can not publicize their personal DNA results if they wish. I wish the author explained this a bit more. Is it because it is wrong to claim you suffered like others who did suffer, or to protect claims against tribal revenue, or some other reason?
2
I may be a little dense but I don’t understand why Native Americans are offended by Senator Warren having her DNA tested. She did not “ascribe inappropriately membership or citizenship” to herself or claim any benefit from it. I would think they would be more offended by Trump using Warren’s ancestry to imply that she is less qualified. She merely responded to Trump’s childish taunts. Unfortunately, by doing so she only lowered herself to his level. She should have responded by offering to publish her DNA results if Trump published his tax returns.
3
Many seem to be missing the point of the apology. Being 1% Native American does not give her the right to list herself as a minority Native American in order to gain career advantage in Ivy League academia desperate for diversity, even if it's fake. She felt guilty about it and she apologized. I think it's appropriate.
1
There is lunacy in this "controversy". Senator Warren has nothing to apologize for. We are all human beings derived from primates who first evolved in east Africa. There is nothing native about Native Americans, and nothing indigenous about Indigenous Peoples. Put another way, we are all Kenyans; we came to this continent by different routes and at different times and for different reasons. Isn't it time to embrace the commonality of humanity rather than to draw distinctions?
2
I don't understand what Elizabeth Warren has to apologize for. She was told from her family, that she has a Native American ancestor. She took a DNA test that shows genetic evidence of this. We all have complicated ancestry. If any one of us looks back ten generations, we each have as many as 1,024 ancestors. Humans migrated! We all are a rich tapestry of this. Taking a DNA test can shed some light on this. It's a new and evolving science. We should celebrate this shared diversity, not apologize for it.
1
Does Trump know who Pocahontas was? I doubt it. Her story -- and young death -- provides a tragic (and often embellished) account of what happened when Native Americans interacted with the first European settlers. Pocahontas was said to have acted morally in the face of violence, and she was later paraded in front of England's ruling class as a noble savage. While many in the English upper class refused to regard her as royalty -- she was the daughter of a chief -- the commoners rightly called her a princess. When she tried to return to America, she died of disease. Trump's turning the name Pocahontas into an insult is more proof of his deep ignorance and cruelty. Warren did nothing wrong, and she should not apologize. All the factual reporting on the issue shows she identified as Caucasian until after she was hired at Penn, a well-established and respected legal scholar. She got where she is by hard work and brains, not heritage, and today she is among the most cited scholars in the area of bankruptcy law (a topic Trump should know something about). The tragedy of Pocahontas actually has some terrible resonance in Warren's own story: After waiting tables at the age of 13 and working her way through public universities, Warren finally arrived in the Ivy League as a shining example of American meritocracy. Now she is being punished for taking pride in her own family's underdog story. Somehow or other, the monied, ruling class will always make the working class pay.
2
My father was born in Oklahoma City.
It is very common for “Whites” in Oklahoma, even the most conservative ones, to believe they have — and be proud of -- some Native American ancestry.
I supposedly do: a great-grandfather whose wife was Cherokee. This, by the way, is the most common form the family myth takes.
Any Oklahoman might find a DNA test an interesting way to confirm or deny a surmise that has been passed down for years as vague family lore.
I personally haven’t had a DNA test. But I see the appeal. Sen. Warren did what any woman in my extended family might have done. I joke with my cousins that if enough of us get together, we might be able to open a casino.
The best science currently estimates that millions of European‐Americans have a small amount of Native American ancestry.
So a rational reaction to a positive finding would be, interesting, but so what? European‐Americans also have Neanderthal DNA.
The tragic part is seeing DNA testing becoming fodder for the Known-Nothing echo chamber.
Not many years ago, whites obsessed with racial purity believed in the “single drop theory.”
This isn’t how inheritance works, but the Known-Nothings don’t know and don’t care.
They are only delighted they can summon up this old trope, mix it with good old sexism, and capture the news cycle for a day or two.
Ignore them.
3
This makes no sense. She never claimed citizenship. She claimed heritage.
3
This is all a lot of fluff about nothing. Warren's original claim was that she had Native American ancestry--which her DNA test shows is correct--not that she was a tribal member. I see nothing that required or suggested an apology was in order. If anyone should apologize it would be Trump, who denigrated both Warren and all Native Americans with his racist name-calling.
3
There was ABSOLUTELY NO REASON for Warren to apologize. She has always claimed her heritage as a proud one. She wasn't trying to gain access to the Casino money.
It is Trump who must apologize for his constant racist attacks against the Indian nation.
1
There is the sense that the Left eats their own. Lack of "idea purity" is pervasive and it gets to the point a rational person simply backs away from them knowing they will never be good enough. It's a type of Maoist conformity. We need to stop.
3
It would be unfortunate for this sorry episode to derail her attempts to become president.Frankly,she was unwise to have taken the DNA test and was clearly badly advised.That said, let's hope she ( and her advisors) have learned from this and think before further rash actions,in the knowledge that this president will scrape the very bottom of any grubby barrel to gain an advantage.
2
The irony in all this is that, according to the latest independent evaluation of the accuracy of consumer DNA testing, up to 40% of the results may be false. A few clicks should convince anyone that these tests are only reliable as entertainment.
As a longtime admirer of Sen. Warren, I am saddened by this debacle. I do not see a way for her to prevail over Trump, because the very virtue that recommends her, her forthrightness, when not combined with political guile, makes her functionally naive. And that would be very dangerous for our country. If almost-candidate Warren can be so easily suckered by Trump, how would a President Warren deal effectively with adversarial foreign leaders or even Mitch McConnell?
That is not to say that I would not want to see her in a position of influence in high government. I think she would make a great Attorney General. She is a fearless advocate and has a kind of prosecutorial charisma that would benefit a reform-minded president, but she is not toe-to-toe presidential material.
10
I have looked into what I consider "reliable" information about Senator Warren and her alleged Native American heritage. It's my understanding that Harvard did not hire Warren as a minority candidate. The hiring committee hired her believing that she was an Anglo woman. It is also my understanding that at some point while still at Harvard, she was identified as Harvard's "first female professor of color" in materials published in legal journals. Presumably this was because of her alleged Native American heritage. What I want to know is who came up this? Harvard's administration, that wanted to demonstrate diversity in its faculty? And more to the point, why did then-professor Warren agree to be identified this way? I think that I would not have consented to this, had I been her.
4
@Health Lawyer
She said nothing because she knew she benefited from it.
4
@Health Lawyer
You must be joking. If Ms. Warren could dump this giant mess on Harvard Law and Harvard University -- you don't think she would have, already?
Think. Now. Please. Thanks.
2
Warren was told by her family that she had Cherokee heritage. She did not know how citizenship is viewed or probably even that citizenship was a factor. She acted based on her long-held childhood knowledge and family history. She now has more knowledge and is more sensitized. As are others--like me.
All Americans should learn about Native American culture, and a little about all the cultures and religions in the world. We may not be members of all of these cultures and religions, but they are all members of a larger and more fundamental family.
13
I was told I had Indian blood for years. I took a DNA test 10 years ago and found it was not true. I understand how Warren totally messed up her response.
Warren is a great woman, we need to support her!
Glad to see most of you are read to move on. However ...
Why is Trump not honoring his promise to make a donation if she proved she had Cherokee blood?
I think that is the story, not this.
Warren is doing her best to move on, and she's a wonderful woman. Let's focus on that.
12
"Why is Trump not honoring his promise to make a donation if she proved she had Cherokee blood?"
Trump said "Indian", and there is no such thing as "Cherokee blood".
This is the real problem:
"Warren changed her listed ethnicity to Native American in December 1989, nearly three years after she was hired as a white woman by the University of Pennsylvania Law School."
Ethnicity not a factor in Elizabeth Warren’s rise in law
By Annie Linskey
The Boston Globe
September 01, 2018
Elizabeth Warren is being swift-boated and her campaign ruined and sadly, some of this is self-inflicted. She overdid the DNA test-reveal, true, and shouldn't have responded to trump's goading. Now it is a huge mistake for her to apologize when she did nothing wrong and it makes her weak. Like others who have commented, I have been suspicious from the beginning as to the origins and reasons for the criticism and wonder who has been paid off. Also, the media need to stop blowing the criticism out of proportion and not noting how few have actually criticized Warren's DNA test and mention of what to her is cherished family heritage. All of this shows how very afraid the right wing is of her progressivism and popularity but, sadly, the damage may now be beyond repair.
21
@fg
The elephant in the room is the idea that a DNA test can determine one's character. The notion that a collection of body chemicals can make or break an individual's career should be repellent to everyone who claims to abhor racism. But here we are. Candidates (and their fans) are again using race as both a weapon and a shield against their ideological enemies. Those chickens always come home to roost.
2
We can't afford to destroy politicians of Ms. Warren's intelligence and ability. If we do destroy such politicians we shall end up with more politicians with little intelligence and ability. E.g.: what we now have.
26
Unfortunately Warren used her claim of American Indian heritage to get admission to college degree programs and jobs. It was and is important for schools and employers to meet minority participation requirements. We can wonder where she might be today if her claims had been dismissed. There are only a limited number of spots. And those whose chance for a spot in a top university or great job were lost because of Warren’s tenuous claim, can wonder what might have been if instead of Warren they were chosen.
3
With all due respect to Native American tribes, I think that this has been completely blown out of proportion. She took a DNA test that showed that she had some Native American blood. That is personal, and that is science. She is not claiming citizenship with any tribe as a result. She is what she is I took a DNA test that says that I'm 14% Native American, 16% African, and 70% European, including Scandinavian of which I had no clue. I'm not claiming to BE any of these things, but they are part of me, and I appreciate that. So I don't understand what the problem is with Elizabeth Warren's DNA test. Demonizing her is simply following Trump's racist example.
42
Want to know why we are falling behind competitively in all aspects, and our national leadership is a zoo?
This is why. This is NOT a controversy. This is just ridiculous. Warren did not need to defend her family history; and does not need to apologize for her DNA, or her DNA results.
If we continue to be an entire nation of offended people we will be a nation of useless people. There have to be better ways to advance oppressed populations than the offense/apology cycle.
33
I think I agree. It seems to me it was a strategic mistake on both Warren and principal chief Bill John Baker's end to not make allies of each other. Wouldn't her identifying with Native heritage make her a good ear to have in office? Wouldn't that be better than Trump? We need to understand the difference between inevitable hiccups in human interactions, and of wickedness. Warren is a human with her heart in the right place. don't a bridge because you wanted a boat.
Any liberal who feels they need to apologise for every human misstep they have made would do well to stay out of politics. Warren should consider getting out now. She's smart and has her heart in the right place, but Trump will eat her alive.
8
I don't think so.
Most of the voters dislike Trump.
That's unlikely to change.
At this point I believe she should back out and put her support behind another candidate.
15
Senator Warren, in trying to fight back against Trump's racist characterization of her Native American ancestry, has stepped into a minefield. Everywhere she steps another mine explodes. It speaks to the explosiveness of race relations in this country, and how Trump has exploited it to his advantage. Warren is just one of many examples of Trump's racist hatefulness and how he uses it to hurt people.
Warren's apology to Cherokee Nation makes sense, and should be taken out of context of the incessant bullying of her by Trump. The apology should be understood as a gesture between herself and Cherokee Nation that was meant to heal a rift not create a new one.
Trump loves the diviseness this is creating. He loves all the little explosions it is causing because it gives him more fuel to mock her and in doing so use racist imagery and language.
I hope Warren and Cherokee nation come to an understanding, then convey healing and solidarity. This would undermine Trump, undermine the racist beliefs he profits from and reframe the entire narrative to show how people in this diverse nation can get along and heal old wounds.
6
If a person, Sam, born in France, say, or in Germany, immediately following WW2 doesn't know who their biological father is, but their mother told Sam she had a brief relationship with an American GI called Bill Smith, a DNA test whose results are posted online might help Sam track down Sam's American relatives, cousins, and siblings.
If it turns out that Sam's father belonged to the Cherokee Nation, say, then the DNA test has helped to establish that fact.
A DNA test can help to establish paternity. Hence, a DNA test can help to identify one's biological father, other family members, one's forebears, distant relatives, and possible or likely ethnic background(s).
4
This tribe is awful.
It’s clearly about them wanting to control who gets in like some sort of country club.
Is this about who gets the casino dollars? Must be.
9
@Jane
Not all Cherokee tribes - or other Native American tribes - get casino dollars.
It's about identify - with millions of people claiming to be descendants of Native Americans.
It's about facts: if you know you are part-Native American and can prove it, then claim it, say it. If you don't know it, don't claim it and don't say it.
2
I'm sort of confused. If she implied that she is a member of a tribe, and is not, then an apology is in order.
If she implied that she is of some native american ancestry, and she is not, then, an apology is in order.
If she implied that she is of some native american ancestry, and that having a tiny component of native americanism in her blood some how on its own entitled her to an implicit understanding of all that it means to be native american, than an apology is in order.
Beyond the above, can we move along?
7
So not important. She never claimed tribal membership, however, so let's keep this in perspective.
10
Warren apologizes.
How about a presidential apology from Donald Trump for insulting Native Americans using the “Pocohantas” label?
My husband has taught on a Wisconsin Native American reservation since 1978. We brought up our kids during that time. They saw their dad joining in veterans pow-wows on the reservation, invited to all veterans. This honors a service Donald Trump would know nothing about, military service, which many Native Americans honor and provide.
We have attended many events through the years and my husband knows hundreds of tribal members over many generations. We know what many think of this administration, and for good reason.
I absolutely hate the dishonor Trump shows that require some sort of explanation, including his Pocohantas line, to my grandkids. We brought up our kids to respect Native Americans, their traditions, and we’ve shared this tradition with our grandkids, too. They are struck with this president’s disrespect.
I don’t quite get why Warren should apologize. I don’t still understand Native requests for it. But I really don’t get how a president gets away with slurring Native American people with his Pocohantas performance. He should be the one getting called out.
21
Getting that DNA test was political suicide, she handed tRump a nice win.
She didn't have to prove or apologize for anything, now she does.
Senator Warren was my favorite... RIP
4
Warren hasn't changed. She's still fighting for the issues that drew your support.
The act of stating one has Native American ancestry, even to the extent of naming one nation or another as the source of one's DNA is hardly interchangeable with claiming tribal membership. Perhaps I missed it in all the noise, but I recall no time when Elizabeth Warren claimed such membership in the Cherokee Nation.
The oral histories of my parents, both mother and father, include ancestors with ties to both the Cherokees and the Choctaws. But at no time have (or did) any of my parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents claim tribal membership. At the turn of the 20th century there was still very much in existence a societal prejudice that viewed anyone who claimed, or even looked like, they were "Indian" in a negative light. It was not as pronounced as the "one drop rule" for having black ancestry, but it was there, nonetheless.
From my vantage point, Sen. Warren, as long as she did no more than state her conviction, based on the oral genealogy of her family, did absolutely nothing wrong in staking a claim to a Cherokee heritage. Even if she did intimate tribal membership, it still hardly rise to the level of any of thousands of Trump's "useful hyperbole[s]" (I believe this was the phrase he used) in promoting himself and his businesses, not to mention what he has said as president.
This entire blow-up is but a hurricane in a thimble.
Perhaps apologies should flow both ways.
8
Judging by the vitriol aimed at Warren over this tempest in a teapot, the trolls must have been encouraged to let loose by Trumps republican handlers.
Fear is a potent motivator.
Bottom line is that Warren, on her worst day, has more integrity in her little finger than a dumpster full of Trump. Or any other candidate fielded by the party of Trump.
The republican party of Trump.
12
The intellectual dishonesty of Warren's critics is staggering. Perhaps their culture has a different concept of honesty? If so, I apologize.
3
Will native Americans (and most Americans for that matter) fare better under a warren presidency or another Trump term? Shouldn’t that be the only question?
6
I'm still not sure why taking that DNA test requires an apology. It did indicate a tiny amount of Native American ancestry, right?
5
There are two female Democratic leaders who I believe have what it take to challenge Trump: Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar.
1. Their performance in the Kavanaugh hearings showed me they will not be cowed by the likes of Trump- or any other angry white male for that matter.
2. They make their cases to the public with conviction and confidence.
3. They have the temperament not to take Trump's bait- no matter what he says.
Elizabeth Warren fell right into his trap- and the one who is getting the most pleasure about this is our bully-in-chief.
We need a Democratic opponent who will treat Trump like what he is- a mosquito flying around their face- and they need swat him away and just ignore him.
5
@EB
Haven't made a decision yet, or course, but I did watch Ms. Harris and while I don't agree with all her proposals, I can NOT imagine her looking to each side in a debate and assgining infantile names to her co-candidates, or speaking in non-snetences.
And, it's abundantly apparent that she can read.
Ms. Warren...if you can't take this heat about a silly DNA test, you will never withstand a verbal assault on the national stage by the infant in chief.
Leave NOW so the better qualified and stronger candidates can move ahead. You don't have what it takes. Women who constantly apologize are a detriment.
You cannot just ignore Trump. He's the incumbent, a decided advantage.
He has to be politically destroyed.
Can't the Dems find a candidate who doesn't have to apologize? Not for any position or vote on a given issue or controversial decision while in executive office, but for just stupid acts well into adulthood or allowed yourself to be played. Goodbye Northam, Warren and any others who can't or couldn't hold back.
3
Every Republican in office owes the American working class an apology.
Warren owed an apology to no one. The tribal leaders who made this an issue ought be ashamed.
1
Her false claim to Indian heritage is typical of lying politicians. She needs to say that she is a liar. That she lied to garner benefits at Harvard. That she did it knowingly. And she is willing to pay retribution for any benefits she gained. Then her integrity will slowly move in the right direction. For now she is just an actor trying to play presidential. Not working. We are not fools.
14
We all know that she did not lie, but only passed along what she had been told by her family.
We also know that she received no special treatment at all by Harvard or anyone else. Harvard did not know about her ancestry until she had already been there for a while.
I suggest that you stop believing the lies about her.
The worrisome thing here was Warren’s lack of judgement and homework about how DNA vs culture and kinship matter to actual Cherokee, or those of any other group or race. She blew this big time. If she is going to have a chance for 2020, she will need to heed better advice, and also figure out a way to inspire a larger swath of Americans. If she wants to come off as the “college professor” in the room lecturing everyone, then she will not last long once the debates begin. The election of Obama showed that people will vote for smart, but that of Trump showed not always. It takes more Senator Warren. Please figure this out.
3
I've never seen members of any other group act offended by claims by outsiders of common ancestry — especially so because such claims are made with pride, not denigration.
Warren offended no one. The Native Americans who claim to be offended are simply wrong.
I'm still struggling to understand what Senator Warren is apologising for and whether that is what the Cherokee activists want her to apologise for.
4
"People can make of it what they will".
Warren falsely claimed to be Native American for her career advancement which disadvantaged others who did not make false claims.
The last thing Americans need is another self serving, egotistical, dishonest politician like Warren.
As Senator Blumenthal ironically stated
"false in one, false in all."
11
@jck
Warren is no different than Trump when HE claims he was a "successful businessman" or any of the thousands of other lies in the last two years.
1
This is the silliest controversy ever, the perfect example of political correctness gone nuts. She has probably one Native American ancestor. So what? Did she ever claim to be a "citizen" or "member of a tribe"? I don't know why she ever brought it up, but her DNA relation is a fact, however irrelevant to any of the country's problems. Now the Trumpites have a perfect cause to ridicule Warren, Native Americans, identity politics, and the whole political left of the spectrum. That will keep the Fox News crowd entertained and able to avoid confronting the fact that the President is even wackier than this "controversy." Well done.
4
For gods sake! Is this what we are going to be subjected to for the next two years!? Attacking each other and then apologising whilst being obsessively covered as though it’s a national conversation in need of this much attention? Followed no doubt by the media following this obsessively like the Clinton emails throughout the whole campaign like some of false equivalence to trumps racism? If the media keep going on this they will create another situation where half the public know nothing about this candidate but what Trump want them to concentrate on. If you (press) set this narrative and don’t let this go no-one is going to know a thing about this intelligent and considered woman’s policies. Policies that need to be discussed- Trump wants nothing more Than to make another election about personalities- despite his own lack knowledge of those policies and the desperate need for an election about the type of policies this candidate can bring to the public conversation.
This debacle has now been dealt with. Let this nonsense be. For your own sake America
5
Public statements of remorse by men become front page news. They're woke! Let's welcome them back.
Warren's apology was private, but getting the same scrutiny.
Why do we applaud men for false apologies and lambast women for genuine ones?
Let's please make sure the wheels of false equivalence do not crush another worthy female candidate.
5
As someone who also possesses a significant amount of Cherokee DNA that could be proven only by a blood test due to long lost family records, I have to ask - does the Cherokee Nation grant citizenship to whites raised in the culture and kinship to which they ascribe true citizenship? Does this mean my great grandmother is no longer my relative? What about my very white neighbor who proved her geneaology and was granted citizenship, yet has never stepped foot in the Cherokee Nation?
6
I can’t stand Elizabeth Warren but she doesn’t deserve this. DNA is what it is, no way around that and there’s nothing wrong with talking about - and being proud of - your genetic mix. How a person identifies themself on a cultural basis is another matter all together. You can claim any racial identity you choose but you run the risk of looking foolish if your DNA doesn’t match your self-proclaimed identity.
3
Why would she need to appologize? She hypothesized that whatever amount of Native Ancestry she has must have come from the Cherokee based on where her family was from.
4
To personally apologize during these divided and conflicted times with its decreasing mutual trust, respect and its daily lack of civility in an ongoing, fostered WE-THEY culture which violates, by words and deeds, created, selected, targeted “the other(s)”- people, values, norms, ideas, etc., is no small occurrence. It deserves acknowledgement and praise. An additional consideration when one chooses to be aware of the additional culture of personal unaccountability manifested by many of our policy makers. At whatever levels and wherever. It is useful to distinguish between the dimensional issues, and their implications and outcomes of:
“I apologize to you,” and “
“I ask you to forgive me.”
The former leaves the “power,” with The violating-seeker. Individual or group with a range of actual/potential types and levels of powers.The latter scenario acknowledges the power to forgive is with the “victim,” individual or group, who all too often have been disempowered for so, so long. The victim can choose not to forgive, whatever the consequences, now or in the future. South Africa’s choice of s process of “ mass” reconciliation accomplished much of what it was designed to do re preventing a racial blood bath. Preventing or minimizing the ensuing and ongoing societal- political corruption was not the planned objective. Different processes were needed for that.
Sadly, current political ”unaccountables” in the US, and globally, ask neither for forgiveness,nor do they apologize!
Ms Warren has Native American blood from her ancestor, period. My first wife's father was N/A, born on a Navajo reservation, he was 1/2 N/A and white, but back then you didn't always register. Such were the times. My daughters still have N/A blood in them. It doesn't matter if the ancestor didn't register back in the day, Ms Warren is still part N/A. So, if her ancestor had registered, then Ms Warren would be correct to be associated with N/A? We are what we are and we shouldn't have to apologize for it.
6
She had relationships with Native American groups? I did not know that. And I'll bet most Natives didn't know that either. She should have apologized long ago, not when she's about to announce her candidacy. It's too politically expedient, slimy even, especially when she defended her actions previously. I won't be voting for her.
2
Really? Perhaps self-flagellation is in order. Maybe she should kneel on dried legumes while recited the rosary. Warren's only mistake was allowing Dirty Don to make her feel "guilty" and politically vulnerable because of something she did in her youth. Like declare bankruptcy six times and tank three casinos. Oh, wait.
4
There will always be those who believe her rise in academia is due in part to her claiming minority status. Harvard loved listing her as a minority (woman and Native American) in their diversity reports. Good thing she didn't claim Asian ancestry.
12
It's a shame that Senator Warren did not find a more effective rebuke to the President. It's a shame that we all collectively haven't found a more effective rebuke. There is a simple honest story to tell. Warren's oral family history includes distant native American lineage. A DNA test has proven that, Although Warren has never sought advantage from this heritage, her employer did use this information to bolster diversity reporting. Attempts to make this a scandal are political. We have orders of magnitude larger actual scandals to be focusing on. The only thing this episode shows is that Senator Warren's political infighting skills, while prolific, still have room for improvement. Speaker Pelosi has had the best results on stopping Presidential name calling, so there is some hope that we can all get better results going forward. We might start by getting more outraged that the President is calling Senator Warren Pocahontas than Senator Warren is claiming Native American heritage.
126
@Rusty Carr
Your assertion that "Warren has never sought advantage from this heritage" is simply false.
Do you dispute that she checked the Native American box on her applications to the professoriate of both Penn and Harvard law schools?
If not, please explain why, (i) given the proclivity of U. Penn. and Harvard for social engineering in their application processes, and (ii) given both universities' subsequent use of Warren's employment to "bolster their diversity reporting", why Warren's conduct did not constitute seeking an advantage.
7
@Rusty Carr Warren did seek advantage. She listed herself as the member of a minority in a Harvard Law School directory. It has been claimed that this did not actually lead to any advantages (hiring, promotions, etc.), but that does not address her intent.
6
Oh good Lord, THIS is what we're focusing on? Tempest in a teapot. Move on. We have far bigger problems and we need to assess these candidates on policy.
21
The Cherokee nation played right into Trump's hands by going into the mental rut of indignation mode and condemning Warren instead of responding with a mix of polite acknowledgement followed by education. It would have been so much more nuanced and less predictable to respond as follows:
"We congratulate Senator Warren on learning more about her heritage. Her test results do not specifically link her to our tribe over any other, and citizenship in the Cherokee nation is a matter of lineage and culture, not just genetics. All the same, more knowledge about our connections, however incomplete, can only strengthen us as Americans."
40
Very well said. No need for outrage, and a great opportunity for gentle education where the Senator wasn't well informed about tribal identity. Warren had every right to be curious about her ancestry and no need to apologize to anybody but the Native Americans who were unintentionally offended.
3
Ironically enough, their outrage was based on being labeled, registered, and separated from the rest of the US for generations. Often with nasty consequences. This was an opportunity to leverage that Other status (with all its ugly history) to condemn someone who incorrectly & ignorantly assumed that it was no big deal to say they were "part Native American". Even though DNA supported the claim at the most basic level later. Righteous indignation is how we conduct our discourse these days. And it never fails to make things worse. With the media (who are leveraging their own interests) failing to clearly state what the complex situation is, the public falls back on their own bias. The end result is that EW is labeled an insensitive, opportunistic liar. (How grand for you NYT, eh?) When really all she did was accidentally kick a political hornet's nest. And then she fumbled containing it. Whether she holds the blame for that is another bias fueled debate...
1/2 Native American, 1/4th African American, 1/4th European American. Ancestors from four different tribes- Omaha, Winnebago, Saux and Fox. Great-Grandmother cousin of
Jim Thorpe.
Member of none of the Tribes but still proud of all of them.
When will the Identity Politics ever end ?
21
@John Brown
You're "proud" of those tribes, but you lament the continued existence of identity politics? Being "proud" of race or gender or ethnicity or religion is the essence of identity politics. It's what got us to this idiotic controversy in the first place.
1
Okay, it looks like Times has decided to do what it can to derail Warren as a candidate. Deja vu all over again.
This time, instead of “But her emails!” It’s going to be “But her DNA test!”
The Times is easily spooked by progressives - and never more so when they’re women. I guess her suggestion that rich people really need to pay more in taxes must have hit a nerve - which is why some people would like this to be the only coverage of Warren.
Meanwhile Trump and the people around him can spew outrageous things every day, and get no pushback.
For shame.
38
American Indians are especially sensitive about race and blood degree in part because of the wide blood quantum disparities of their members. For example, to qualify to be a Cherokee citizen one has to trace back to at least one relative who was on a membership roll back in the early 1900s. Consequently, many Cherokees share most of their DNA with Europeans. There will always be some Indians who are opportunistically critical of democratic leaders such Senator Warren but most of Indian Country supports Senator Warren.
13
Well, should I ever discover that there was a Native American among my (I think) Jewish ancestors, I’ll be sure to keep it to myself.
8
Oh for crying out loud!!
We all have family lore and mythology, some fabrication that parents, for whatever reason, foster and perpetuate. It’s human nature and in our long tradition of storytelling.
I have family from Oklahoma. Yes we have Creek connections in the past with a “family story “ about that connection. It is very common in Oklahoma. Ask Twila Barnes why she has an Anglo name? I’m sure it is more than name assimilation. Why do so many African-Americans have European dna?
It was also very common for Universities in the 70’s and 80’s to try and get all staff and students to claim whatever minority heritage they could to more easily meet federal goals and guidelines in hiring and enrollment. It was part of playing the game of federal dollars. It’s common. Ask the Creek tribe why they disavowed all the “black Indians” that marched the Trail of Tears with them. It’s all about federal dollars.
So enough with the disinformation. Senator Warren did not say anything untruthful. President Trump on the other hand lies like breathing and welched on his bet with the senator.
This ignoring of context is truly disingenuous and I hope people will stop pretending that Elizabeth Warren ever claimed tribal membership.
20
@Loren Jenkins
Sorry you saw fit to use the derogatory term "welched."
2
Why apologize? My granddaughters are descendants from Chief Stone Child (Asiniiwin) and I’m not apologizing to anybody for that.
4
Research has determined Warren is actually from the Lost Fuckowee Tribe, last seen crossing Mount Washington in New Hampshire headed towards the coast, it is believed the first birch bark canoes were seen landing in Scotland with 6 dozen Fuckowees… through multi-generational interbreeding with the savage Scottish all traces of the Fuckowees were reduced to less than 1 percent DNA. Some of these Fuckowees showed up in Harvard University under the Fuckowee Affirmative Action program and achieved great success in the New Old World even making it to the highest offices of the land.
7
I'd rather hear about her policies than this canard again. Give us the numbers on her healthcare plan and explain the Green Deal to all of us. This old canard about her dna is just wasted print space.
13
To: Those people and commenters who are criticizing Warren for falling into Trump’s “Pocahontas Trap” (Trump’s words in NY Times interview)
Was Warren supposed to stay quiet when someone called her a liar and challenged her family story?
What would you do?
Forget that! What would Trump do? He’s no political genius who thinks he’s “trapped” Warren. Have people forgotten Trump sued Bill Maher when Maher challenged his ancestry and called him the offspring of a baboon?
Yes. Trump sued, in court, to prove he wasn’t of baboon lineage and released his birth certificate.
So, all you Trumpsters and media can stop pretending Trump’s a genius and hold him to different standards compared to a female politician...
I’m sick of this duplicity.
14
I don't get what she has to apologize for. She has a DNA test that shows she has a native American ancestor.
15
It is going to become more and more important for Dems to not allow dt to carry the narrative.
In hind sight, Senator Warren and everyone else should have completely ignored dt's use of 'Pocahontas'.
Her reaction gave that childish slur even more traction. For some people, this may be all they know about her.
Unless he declares war or martial law I think it would be a good idea not to directly respond to his ravings at all.
9
Wow. She authentically mentioned family lore, and she was harassed non-stop by the right. She acceded to a DNA test, and she is harassed non-stop by the left. Why don't you lefties concentrate on her brilliant policy initiatives and her talent for finding the money to fund them? This woman is a great blessing for the needy, working, and middle classes. She is a boon to democracy. She needs to apologize to no one!
18
Elizabeth Warren is still running for President after her pathetic attempt to claim that she has material Native American lineage and after her belated "apology"? EW.
10
Well this ruins it for ppl that are actually part of the First Nation Heritage that have dna proving they are but not registered to a tribe. Lets leave them out because of these false claims.
4
"Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it." George Bernard Shaw.
Warren never learned that lesson from 16 Republicans that did that and got beat in the 2016 primaries. She showed very bad judgment that has turned off many Democrats, not just left leaning ones.
8
Warren did not run in the 2016 primaries. And she made a pont of declaring that she was not a candidate.
1
My DNA test revealed we are all related to each other at some point in time, in East Africa.
8
@RickF Well, don't expect special treatment from the rest of us.
The article did not mention that the DNA test results proved she had no more Native Indian in her than the average American. Give me a break. The lady is bad news. Trump was right.
12
I am Native American by ancestral history. Yet my DNA shows I am Mongolian. According to modern accounts, Mongolians came to "America" across the frozen Bering Straits. So, who am I? It's so sad Ms. Warren is being judged on DNA results.
7
I would never ever vote for her.
7
Will "progressives" demand Warren's resignation for her "racist" behavior? Will the Muslim Congresswomen be required to resign for supposedly anti-Semitic statements and connections? Or is it just men like Northam and Franken who have to resign (rather than be censured, whether formally or informally)? I hope I don't get pushed into supporting somebody like Manchin for president.
6
She never claimed to be a “member of the Cherokee Nation” for god’s sake. Just that family had told her that they had some native blood. (And were stigmatized for it!!) trump* instigated it. trump* stirred the pot. And now he’s got the Cherokees to come down on her too. For what? Trying to defend herself against more trump* birtherism. As with everything else trump* touches, this too is madness
11
She should call the person who is actually native American, the one who would have been hired by Harvard instead of her if they wanted a person with that ethnicity, and apologize for lying and pretending to be anything other than white.
13
If Senator Warren was Harvard Law School's "first women of color," then doesn't she owe an apology to more than just American Indians?
12
Yeah - let's go after the person trying to defend her honor, not the person using "Pocahontas" as an ill-concealed racial slur. Way to get it totally backwards.
14
I think an apology is needed. From the Cherokee Nation to Elizabeth Warren.
11
She’s finished.
It’s too bad because she has more depth than anyone running.
But like Gary Hart, who in 1984 could be described the same way, she’s finished.
“Pocahontas “ will never go away.
Let her throw her support behind Kamala Harris.
5
Folks, the dems better run a white male if we want to win, which we must. No woman, no minority can survive a presidential battle in these perilous times. Not the fault of a great potential candidate like sen. Warren. It's the times we are in.
5
Children, children children, this fighting is not of blood but of minds. Elizabeth Warren espoused pride in her heritage as small a percentage as it is. She meant to express her love and admiration for the true Americans of whom I would love to share my blood and soul. Why are you angry at Elizabeth? She did say in so many words that she loved you and even continued to defend that love and admiration before a nation captivated by hate led by a bigot. We should all have the blood of native Americans not bigotry towards them.
Elizabeth; you succumbed to the social pressures of mass media hysteria that feeds off itself. You need to learn to stand firm in the face of social chaos so you can fight injustice for our sake. That is what I expect from a President.
6
"In the South it became known as the "one-drop rule,'' meaning that a single drop of "black blood" makes a person a black. " So by the conservative southern Republican rule Ms. Warren is indeed of native ancestry. She should stop apologizing , she may be too good to be President.
5
And now, how about Kevin McCarthy and his "Northern Cherokee' brother-in-law, who have both profited from $7 million in no-bid contracts, from a bogus claim of Cherokee heritage.
11
Seriously? The bar is so low right now. Stop playing into this non-issue.
7
Dear NYT:
Ms. Warren should take a lie detector test instead of a genetic test, to prove she did not in fact misappropriate a Native American identity in order to advance her career. The record is clear that she held herself out as a minority for many years in elite laws schools.
Moreover, she has refused to allow Harvard and Penn to release her hiring records, which would settle this issue.
Consider this summary from FactCheck.org: In a 1996 article, the Harvard Crimson wrote: “Of 71 current Law School professors and assistant professors, 11 are women, five are black, one is Native American and one is Hispanic, said Mike Chmura, spokesperson for the Law School.”
The one Native American, according to Chmura, was Warren, the Crimson reported.
The original Herald story also led to the disclosure that Warren had identified herself as a minority in the Association of American Law Schools directory for law professors from 1986 to 1995. It also came out that Warren was highlighted in a 2005 report from the University of Pennsylvania’s Minority Equity Committee as a minority recipient of a teaching award at Penn.
Warren's minority claims were deliberate, dishonest and morally disabling.
As a loud proponent of "intersectional" redress, such hypocrisy is doubly disturbing.
Warren should go away.
17
@Jorge
With all due respect that does not make sense...that she should go away. For this. While we have a president who lies so often, and with such ease.
I can understand the fear she inspires on the right though...that makes perfect sense.
2
Turn over any brick and you will find a democratic Pocohontas .
They think the American people are so stuid and docile they will believe anything . " President Trump colluded with Putin to steal the election " etc etc . The sad thing is , from this side of the pond ,it seems there actually are millions of Americans , especially the indoctrinated under 30's , who believe this nonsense.
Trump maybe not your cup of tea. But he is honest . He stood on a platform of making America great again ,of building a wall
rebuilding the military , of bringing jobs back to American workers-and he won thevelection . The democrats care more about building transgender toilets and giving sanctuary to,illegal immigrant criminals than creating jobs.
It is very sad to see the greatest nation and force for good the world has ever seen looking to go down the road Venezuela has gone.
7
Trump is not honest! Pay attention, please.
#butteremails
Watch the “liberal press” fall for the right-wing gaslighting once again.
6
I had written a well received essay concerning the failure of Hillary Clinton to effectively bamboozle, as every politician must do, the American public into electing her President. It was unofficially referenced as "Hillary Clinton's Political Obituary" and it began, "There once was a little girl, a very very smart little girl, who was not pretty enough." It proceeded to flesh out a theme of high intellect suffering failure to succeed due to the vagaries of a brutally coarse US public, for whom TV appeal is as important as whether you know anything, perhaps more.
So that I do not have to write another like essay I have a couple suggestions for the equally bright and decidedly more humanitarian and authentic Warren. From now til summer 2020 live on a treadmill. Get a trainer and become palpably fit for a woman just over my age. Get so much sun your hair becomes dappled with highlights, you peel a bit around the nose, and radiate health.
Unfortunately to an American public that is so trained to expect overproduced hype it thinks the women on Fox News aren't wearing makeup, this sort of nonsense matters very much. Take away the nonsense reasons you might lose, and you will allow your superior intellect and ideas carry you to the Presidency
2
I still don't know why she had to apologize. She claimed no tribal affiliation or membership, only that she had some native American ancestry - and her DNA test bore this out!
I thought my whole life that I was mainly Irish, only to find out through a DNA test that I'm only 5% or so. Irish people! I am sorry that I have been falsely claiming Irish ancestry for so long!
6
It would be great if women stopped apologizing. Just. Stop. Apologizing.
158
@Qui
To apologize is part of ANY human being's moral compass toolkit, remember?
It's not because the self-declared "party of values" no longer values that we have to imitate them.
And she didn't apologize for being who she is. She apologized to that minority of Native Americans that misunderstood what she did with her DNA test, and felt offended.
In that case, clearly stating that you feel sorry that they felt offended and that it is neither what you intended to do, not what you're actually saying, is what ANY morally sound leader should do.
So we should thank her for leading the way she does, rather than all of a sudden asking women to imitate the immoral habit of certain men to imagine that real strength means never ever apologizing ...
4
@Qui Why shouldn't women apologize when they're wrong?
6
@Qui
Hillary Clinton refuses to apologize. That didn't work out. It shouldn't. Women do wrong, too.
5
Like fools, we continue to play into the hands of The Donald and in doing so divide ourselves and all progressive forces.
11
I dream for a new age when people of different races intermarry giving us a humanity of true equality absent prejudice because there is now racial inequality. All brains are the same color. Someday it will be the reality of our world as transportation and communication brings us together totally.
Continue to fight bigotry fervently to get us there.
1
Reading these comments it's clear how Trump became president in the first place. You peanuts are caught up in a manufactured talking point which serves to advance the Republican agenda. Read the Boston Globe's in-depth article about Warren, and look at all of the things Warren has done for the middle class and against the 1% over the course of her career. Warren's DNA? Don't be fools.
14
There has never been a better example of the old adage that says when you wrestle with a pig, only the pig enjoys it. Warren got in the slop with Trump and needlessly got herself dirty....much to his delight.
I hope this serves a lesson to all the other candidates (GOP and Democrat). Cede the low ground to Trump. Regardless of their actions, they will never convert his most rabid fans.
6
I do not recall...although I may be mistaken...that Senator Warren ever claimed "citizenship" in the Cherokee Nation...only that she believed she had Cherokee ancestors somewhere along the line.
She did fall into Trump's booby trap, as have so many others. It is amazing that Trump, so incompetent and stupid in so may areas, has expertise only in things that have no social benefits.
8
She used it on her application to Harvard and elsewhere. She is just dishonest and will continue to do anything to advance herself. Even if you believe she really thought she was Native American Indian, she never took responsibility for what she did and apologized. Sound like Mr T?
2
Warren's release of the test and related statements were just an extension of how tone deaf and dishonest she has been on this subject all along.
The much more important point is how she used her fake Native American ancestry to enhance her employment status, get jobs and advancement, and get included in people of color listings.
Many believe they have some Native American heritage, especially Cherokee ancestry, but they don't use it to get jobs and pretend they are Native American. Her cookbook thing was ridiculous beyond belief.
I have no respect for people like her. In my view, she has proven to be a fraud and dishonest. This has "disqualified" her to be president, in my view. She shouldn't even be a Senator.
7
Ms. Warren, do not apologise. Move on and do not let Trump or his ilk drag you down. THIS will be costly.
5
Taking the DNA test was ill advised but I don’t think that it brands her as a racist.
2
@michjas
Self-identifying as Native American at least three times at major universities was ill-advised as well.
2
I don’t understand why the press even covered the issue.
Why do we entertain Trump’s garbage?
If you insist on covering this garbage, why not ask about Trump pretending he was Swedish?
Why not harass him about those missing tax returns every time you see him? Those missing tax returns are more important than missing DNA.
Trump has an immigrant parent just like his mom and his dad is first generation. Why is no one asking for his birth certificate when Trump is arguably has less American blood than Obama whose mother’s family has been here since the Mayflower?
The way this story is covered reveals the white racist blind spot of the press. This issue is important to whites, but to minorities, Trump’s racism is FAR more disturbing and damaging.
11
The very fact that you read the article and commented on it answers your question about why the press would even cover this issue.
It is because Republicans fear Senator Warren that, as with Nancy Pelosi, they try to destroy her.
5
@Tom Miller
Sadly, Democrats can be counted on to always shoot themselves in the foot before the opposition even gets within a country mile. I've stopped voting for any candidate who runs on the basis of race and religion.
1
Elizabeth Warren has a very Clinton-esque technique for determining right and wrong. Step One: Raise a finger above your head. Step Two: Feel which way the wind is blowing. Step Three: Head that way as if it's your true north.
Until the wind changes again.
8
The PC police seem to be out in force this year.
It does not matter if Ms Warren is 1 or 100% of any tribe. The Virginia Governor possibly did an insensitive and stupid thing decades ago. This culture of eternal aggrievement needs to take a rest. Few of us have failed to do something stupid, unwise or insensitive at some point in our lives and in the world where everything is seen, we may find ourselves with no person pure enough to satisfy the snowflakes among us. Should we no longer honor Dr Martin Luther King because he smoked?
As to Democratic hopefuls calling for the Virginia Governor to resign, do not come asking for my vote- same for Ms Gillibrand who could not wait for due process for Senator Franken. If you cannot let the system work you have no place in public life representing our people in any elective office.
6
Not sure it's a good idea to be bringing the Israel/Palestine issue into the US congress at this point. We have big-time issues to resolve that are crucial to our country. They certainly have a right to have a voice but America has a big job to do and it won"t be 50 year old Middle East issue. I agree that there are injustices on both sides and I hope it gets settled. Give up on the labeling and get to work on what you were voted into office to do. Ignore the critics and move forward......together on children separated from their families, fixing a horrible health care crises as well as many problems we as Americans are having.
1
Warren had a faculty member at Stanford, who is also a National Academy Science member and recipient of multiple NIH grans valued in the millions to perform the genetic analysis (see NIH reporter and enter the scientist name). Potentially, a more significant issue than Warren's political liability was whether there was inappropriate use of federal funds to perform the analysis. Questions that arise are: how was the analysis funded - did it use NIH funds; was it performed at the NIH funded university lab and facility; were the individual(s) that performed the test and analysis paid by NIH funded salary during performance of the test and analysis; and whether other federal government supported resources, for example computer resources were used. At the minimum there was severe conflict of interest with respect to the faculty member at Stanford and E. Warren - that is almost certainty the case. Additionally, potentially using federal funds for political purposes could create a significant legal liability for Warren and her collaborator. The NYtimes should investigate this.
4
Like birtherism, this is simply trump* setting off firecrackers for attention. Everyone talks about family legends and elective ethnicity, although hers was a lot less legend give the stigmatization of her family. Everybody is out of line here (including 23AndMe and Ancestry.com) so let’s just move on and for once ignore trump*.
5
She might as well close down her campaign yesterday. We are past the era of apologizing for anything.
6
Elizabeth Warren’s Cherokee DNA test will be to her as a presidential candidate what Hillary Clinton’s email server was to her. No matter what she says about it or how many times she apologizes for it, she won’t be able to distance herself from it. Like Hillary, she’ll be frustrated and exasperated by it, so much so that it will take all the air out of her campaign sails.
5
She has no chance of winning and needs to stop wasting everyone's time.
5
This is Elizabeth Warren’s Sally Field moment—"I can't deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me!”
I like Elizabeth Warren. I both smiled and winced when I saw her “beer” vignette.
This exaggerated brouhaha is an example of an academic and policy wonk confronting a street fighter who is a protégé of Roy Cohn and a reality TV host who understands the appeal of celebrity and image.
Ms. Warren’s efforts to refute Trump’s Pocahontizing led her astray because of the gap between her lived existence and the lives of American Indians who strive to preserve their unique history and the right to decide who gets to be an Indian.
Two decades ago in Minnesota, Shakopee identity became paramount because of the huge financial windfall from Mystic Lake Casino. About five years ago, the Canadian government received more than ten times the number of applications for Indian status than it had anticipated. The desire to be Mi'kmaq was largely about health and education benefits.
Since Ms. Warren’s Senatorial debut, rumors have circulated suggesting that she exploited her putative American Indian heritage for careerist reasons.
Most of these rumors have been disproven. Still, it must be noted that chauvinistic, elitist institutions like Harvard do not typically recruit candidates with her academic pedigree. The relative paucity of female law faculty at that time probably helped.
Then again, Harvard did fall for that Landry scam.
3
Doing dumb stuff is not just province of Republicans. The 2020 election is perhaps the most important election in our history. I would beg the democrats not to blow it! They have about 9 months to find the strongest contender and get to work.
1
What is most important to me is President Trump's failure to keep his promise that he would donate one million dollars to Senator Warren's favorite charity if she could show she is of Indian ancestry. See below for what he said.
"And in the middle of the debate, when she proclaims that she is of Indian heritage because her mother said she has high cheek bones, that is her only evidence, her mother said we have high cheek bones," Trump continued.
"We will take that little kit -- but we have to do it gently. Because we're in the #MeToo generation, we have to do it gently," the president trolled. "And we will very genlty take that kit, and slowly toss it, hoping it doesn't injure her arm, and we will say: I will give you a million dollars to your favorite charity, paid for by Trump, if you take the test and it shows you're an Indian."
2
Are we equating Ms. Warren‘s moves and words to Mr. T’s? Hope not.
1
This whole debacle is absurd.
3
Cherokee family lineage follows the mother of the child. If a mixed race child is born from a cherokee woman it was considered cherokee. If a mixed race child had a cherokee father it would not be accepted as cherokee. The reason why the indians are so outraged is money, they dont want to to have to cut the pie into smaller pieces. The cherokees might also want to believe the earth is flat if there is money in it but it wont change facts.
2
Warren demonstrated incredible racist insensitivity by taking a DNA test,
because using a DNA test for political reasons is inherently racist.
What is racism, if not this?
She should apologize to everybody, not just the Cherokee Nation.
4
@David... I missed your sarcasm first time round. It is indeed ridiculous that people are making an issue out of this.
There is not one single person alive — in politics or not — who, would have followed a path that would have suited everybody.
But we have become a nation of angry Monday morning quarterbacks, setting upon whomever the media serves up in the President's crosshairs because we cannot shout him down.
Get back to your lives, people. This stone throwing is worse than the event that prompted it.
5
Here is the background to the controversy: Warren has indicated that as a child she was told by family members that she had Native American ancestry. Many of us have family stories of various types of ancestry, but we don’t make a public issue of it or seek personal advantage out of an association that has no real meaning in terms of heritage or membership in a group. However, she used this story to justify listing herself as the member of a minority in a Harvard Law School directory. This has resulted in criticisms that she sought to use such a claim for the preferences or opportunities it might provide. It has been claimed that this did not actually yield advantages in hiring, etc., but that does not remove the criticism of her intent. Hopefully, this distraction can now be put to rest.
5
This “distraction” is a character trait, not a sneeze. Character matters. Check out the current Governor of Virginia. It is a character issue, not a sneeze.
1
@Bill: indeed it has been conclusively demonstrated that she did not get any advantage from this. To my reading of the evidence, she merely wished to identify with her mother’s family where it was family lore that there was this heritage.
1
First off let me say that I am a huge fan of Elizabeth Warren. However, her (and her team's) decision to take that DNA test has proven to be a boneheaded move. It brings the crucial question of judgment to the fore, and she failed miserably. I fear that her campaign will never recover.
2
This is ridiculous. Warren had nothing to apologize for. No one should have to apologize to anyone if they choose to take a DNA test to determine their biological ancestry. That is their right. The request or expectation that she apologize should be resisted strongly, because that expectation is violent and dangerous. How dare anyone, including native Americans, expect that she do so? Note that this DNA issue has absolutely nothing to do with whether Warren or anyone else is a member (or not) of any given tribe. Anyone claiming it does is trying to sully the waters by confusing two very different issues.
5
The thing that got me to shake with mirth when I first heard all of this, was it made me think of an undergrad anthropology class from the 1970s which identified a common family story/myth people in the US told was that they had Native American blood and/or were related to Pocahontas. Another myth was: my father had the chance to buy Coca Cola stocks when no one knew about Coca Cola. I had a co-worker in the 1990s from Tennessee who made both the Pocahontas AND Coca Cola claims. The co-worker was a bit nutty. So when I first heard the NA claim from Elizabeth Warren, it seemed kind of loopy. I like her, BTW. But it is droll to see so many commenters bend over backward to claim that she honored this perceived heritage, was proud of it, etc. These defenders are afraid to admit that they too thought and maybe still think it a bit wacky for this white woman, as an adult, to go around claiming ancestral links to Native Americans--and to do so in a semi-formal manner at Harvard.
3
Warren's problem here will not, and should not, pass through mere apology. That's because the entire mess raises serious questions about her political skills and judgment. She seemingly either did not research how the native community would perceive her release of the test, or did so and ignored the concerns. Beyond reaction from native groups, it was politically foolhardy to believe that releasing results that showed a very slender percentage of native heritage would quell the controversy or mollify Trump. We choose presidents in part by now they might handle adversity, and Warren's performance on this campaign crisis was dismal, even disqualifying
3
She intended no harm. The test was meant to indicate whether family stories had any basis in truth, period.
I understand what tribal members are saying about cultural kinship, etc. It's the same with other groups. Our genetic makeup per se may not make us a member of a tribe or culture or family.
But genetic tests CAN show us who some of our ancestors were.
Where's the harm?
The people who should be apologizing are Trump and his supporters, who are just vicious to minorities, immigrants, and obviously women, especially strong, bright, courageous women who are running for office.
4
Warren has interesting ideas but her boneheaded wade into identity politics shows poor judgement. I am also not a fan of identity politics in general as it has co-opted conversations where it should not be the main subject.
I am still looking for that Democratic presidential candidate who puts ideas out that we can all rally around whatever our skin color, sex, or faith. And while I am a woman, the candidate does not have to look like me!
The whole episode is a regrettable exercise in an apology so late in the game it almost doesn’t matter.
When the Native American lusting was first used against her in a campaign, Senator Warren should have talked about the ill-informed listing, apologize, and move on.
Instead we have another ill-informed doubling-down. This kind of forced apology when you really have no other recourse smells of the Clintons. And we had enough of that already.
I’m glad Sen. Warren is now doing the informed and empathetic thing. Too bad it wasn’t done years ago.
2
"...her October decision to take the DNA test gave undue credence to the controversial claim that race could be determined by blood."
Wait...what? I would say it's pretty controversial to claim otherwise. Or is the "controversial claim" some variety of 'race does not exist" Flat-Eartherism?
As for Warren, I am glad that her campaign is DOA, but I'm not sure what all the fuss around the test is about. We should be more concerned about claims that she used this infinitesimal connection with Indians to advantage herself.
1
I think the apology is a mistake. I am not aware that she EVER claimed Native American citizenship, just that there was an ancestor who was Native American. Therefore, nothing to apologize for.
What's the point of products like Ancestry.com and 23andMe, if not to learn about your ancestry? Furthermore, if more people took these tests, it might have the effects of reducing racism, as many folks will surely be in for a surprise.
People, please, take your heads out of the sand. This is a tempest in a teapot, designed to do little more than stir up trouble for a talented, smart politician that the right rightly fears.
4
The most troubling thing about this issue is the disparate treatment of trump and Warren.
He largely gets away with his vile comments disparaging both Warren and Native Americans. Certainly republicans are not criticizing him
Warren, on the other hand, gets taken to the cleaners no matter what she does, and by pretty much everyone. But she is the victim here; she never traded on her Native American blood, she only said she had some because that's what she'd been told by her family. And it was true.
4
The real gall was not taking the test but claiming to be a person of color years back, so as to greatly increase her chances to land a law professor role at Penn and then Harvard. She was listed as Harvard's first woman law professor of color for years, with no shame in doing so. That was the gall and source of criticism. It was a case of fake diversity. That is the criticism, she was not criticized for taking the test, which showed a miniscule of Native American DNA. She is still tone deaf to the source of the criticism, which shows that she is a typical inside-the-beltway politician and hardly someone who stands lone outside of the pack.
8
I agree. And instead of admitting her error right away and moving on, she defended it in her first Senate campaign and kept doubling down until now when she had no other viable option. Very Clinton-esque.
It took Senator Warren way too long to learn the politics of White folks using Native American ancestry for personal gain (while it is often used against them).
Many of us have such family stories, but don’t make it a feature of our lives. Especially when we can’t even identify the ancestor.
2
Presumptuous, gullible and tone deaf.
This candidacy was over before it began.
5
Like all the rest of us, we take the DNA test because we are curious about our ancestral past. It really has nothing to do with the culture we were brought up in. Isn't that obvious? Warren has some Native American ancestors. That's a fact and is in no way an insult to anybody.
I'm sure she is sensitive to the wrongs done to Native Americans as opposed to Trump who so casually uses hurtful characterizations.
3
This sounds like Hillary's emails. It's a nothing issue, and frankly, I think it was quit courageous of the woman to do the testing.
In today's world, though, you are nothing if you are not claiming victimship or apologizing for something. I don't think she should have apologized, and I don't see what harm was done to the Indians.
There are a lot of people who have so called Indian blood lines. They're not claiming heritage. It's like saying my grandmother came from Ireland. It doesn't make me an Irish citizen. The Indian Nation, if anyone, is being more than a little ridiculous on the point.
This would not prevent me from voting for Warren, if she is nominated. Nor would it prevent the Indian Nation from doing so. I don't see them going for Trump. The only way to explain this brouhaha is to imagine it is all in an effort to extract something down the road from the woman, if she is elected.
4
She doesn't owe anyone an apology for doing a DNA test. It's her blood. The fact that she issued one to a bunch of strangers is an indication that she'll be a weak leader.
I, for one, don't believe Warren had any intention of trivializing the tribes and their rights, or of claiming tribal membership or citizenship. Warren is capable of putting Trump in his place. That's why Trump and his Trump Republicans are working so hard to gin this up. That and because she's a woman. They don't like smart, strong, capable women--in case you haven't noticed.
The double standard is stark. Mr. Trump and his Trump McConnell Republicans give us "Pocahontas" level racism every day. But the Native American tribes and our own progressives are focusing all of their ire on Senator Warren. How many racist Congressional Trump-protecting Republicans have these folks contacted or called out, over the past week?
Warren made a mistake--a tactical mistake. We all make mistakes. The tribes played right into Trump's hands by going after Warren like this. That was a mistake, too. The tribes are right to be concerned, of course. I am thankful that they have made the effort to explain their values and principles.
2
This is one of those situations where the media is going to cover this non-issue for months, while less biased information and vegetable content is good is sufficient.
Native Americans just keep shooting themselves in the foot attempting to eviscerate the only individual that is in their corner; pointlessly obsessed with mindless morality to win the skirmish... and lose the war.
One could generalize this is the same affliction of all Democrats in their devolvement into splintered, self-absorbed minutiae. The GOP on the other is unified behind soulless immorality and the acquisition of virtually all wealth.
2
They would have done better to claim her as their own (without any tribal rights, of course ;-) ).
1
Another politician could turn this odd controversy to their advantage. Probably the president will be crowing soon that it's thanks to him that the "issue" of Sen. Warren's ancestry was cleared up, just as he managed to take credit for debunking the Obama birther lie.
So the tribal leaders are going to waste energy criticizing Warren for proving she has a Native American ancestor ( that is all she claimed, nothing more) , rather than expending that energy to criticize the overt racism of Donald Trump. Wow.
Which one of those two do they think would work harder to make their lives better? If they don’t know the correct answer in a nanosecond then their vote isn’t worth the effort anyway.
1
Why did we all forget about the million dollars Trump promised to give to Sen. Warren if she indeed had Indian heritage? And how come did we all forget that?
Let Trump donate 1 million to a charity that benefits the Cherokee nation, or any other tribe. This episode reached a frenzy of ridiculousness plainly because Trump didn't want to give up the money. It's all about the money. Too many Dirty Johns, with our president being the brightest example.
2
Never let it be said that American men of any stripe ever gave a well-meaning woman a break. It’s men like critics of Warren who elected Donald Trump.
2
I believe Sen. Warren has every right to take a DNA test to determine her ancestry. I do not think she needs to apologize for that. If she was claiming rights to tribal membership I could understand the uproar.
3
Warren’s family told her that she had indigenous American ancestry.
She was accused of being a liar for speaking publicly about it, so she took a test which showed that the family story is probably true.
Then she was made to apologize for proving that her family story is true, made to apologize for being proud of her family history, and was successfully convinced to disavow her native Americans heritage.
Can anyone else see the irony of the Cherokee nation insisting that someone erase their Native American heritage?
And that’s what we call a success in left-wing identity driven America today.
Pathetic.
If this is any reflection of how empty, foolish. and vain this woman is going to be as a leader. Then I can't wait until the election gets rolling and she turns it into high gear. Then I can pay even less attention.Because if I have a headache now just from this, go around in circles, chase your tail and never catch it subject. Wow cant wait to see how much more empty her leadership can be.
Rely people so much more going on out there.Real things to consider. why don't we all make a stand and not entertain this nonsense anymore.
1
Senator Warren benefited by using her her knowingly false claims of being of American native decent. I sure she regrets all the attention it has received as with many other people who falsely represent themselves as something else takes the gamble to obtain greater benefits. The American Indians are vulnerable but they fought her notions of what native Indian ancestry is defined as. Senator Warren should step down - she has zero credibility.
4
This is a diversion and intentional distraction from Ms. Warren's substantive proposals that challenge the status quo, perpetrated by those including the media (yes, you, NYT) with vested interests in perpetuating the status quo. In profiles of the candidates who have announced presidential aspirations thus far, the NYT mentioned this non-issue and said not a word about Warren's substantive proposals for addressing serious issues. Meanwhile, in the same piece, they referred to Kamala Harris as "a rising star," although she has offered no substantive proposals and appears to be running on identity politics alone. Ms. Warren is challenging the hegemony of the banks. Ms. Harris refused to prosecute them for fraud and theft.
4
Here is an example of Trump's noble bearing: In November, 2017, several elderly Navajo Code Breakers were invited to the White House, to be honored for their work in WWII. For reasons that defy decency and decorum, Trump felt the need to casually refer to Pocahantas, making an inappropriate and totally uncalled for stab at Elizabeth Warren. His gracious guests, clearly having no idea what the president was talking about, nodded and smiled.
To reiterate: Elizabeth Warren took a DNA test that proved she is, in fact, of Native American descent, no matter how small the percentage. Might I suggest that the president give this overdone, mean-spirited, and childish dig a rest already? In case he hasn't noticed, mocking casts more shade on him than on her.
2
Glad Sen. Warren has apologised. I wish she had done it earlier, much much earlier. Now it could be interpreted as an act of political expediency.
She has the ideas, the energy so I’d hate to see her be sunk by this issue.
26
Another reading: What I found poignant about Sen. Warren’s video was that the Oklahoma community they lived in stigmatized her family for being part-Native American. Rather than deny it, her family came down on the side of their ancestors’ marriage of love over prejudice. I felt that it was a story more about racial prejudice than DNA (and while Elizabeth Warren is very light, her brothers are not); and that the experience made them aware of the emotional costs of prejudice. Elizabeth Warren’s ideas and actions are all based on compassion for the 99% and I wondered if her family’s experience of stigma helped shape her belief in justice. At the same time, it is good to hear the variety of Native American voices on the subject of DNA, cultural transmission and identity, and ancestry; it is a learning experience.
9
I agree with almost everything Hamilton Fish says. The problem arose because the Cherokee critria for belonging are very different from the DNA tests by which most of society detrmines belonging.
Trump doubted Warren's claim. She proved him wrong by showing that she did have native American DNA. Simple as that. The problems that arose are cultural. Note that Warren never claimed membership or citizenship of any tribe. To that extent, the tribe was introducing topics in order to refute them - claims which Warren has never made.
22
Damned if you do...damned if you don't. No winning on anything. It's the Rethuglican way.
Democrats should quit the extreme politically correct analysis of their own faults and focus on what really matters: Getting rid of Donald tRump, a useless, immorally narcissistic, authoritarian wanna be who may get us all killed before 2020.
This thing (I can't call him a person) will do or say anything to get what he wants and thwart anyone who disagrees. He must be stopped. That won't happen if the Dems continue with the constant criticism of their own party.
32
I have a seventh great-grandmother who was a First Nations/ Native American from Nova Scotia, and I would never claim to be Native American based on that relationship. Yet Elizabeth Warren self-identified as Native American at Harvard on nothing stronger than anecdotal fami!y lore, she did that to secure a personal advantage, and she was actually classified by Harvard as Native American. Now she may claim that her purpose wasn't to secure a preference, but I'm not buying it. She hasn't acted in good faith faith in this matter.
22
this is actually incorrect. she did not check boxes that accrued benefits or advantages to her.
2
Warren neither asked for nor received any special favors for her family's claim. She only repeated what she had been taught.
It's absurd for tribal leaders to have felt "insulted" for what should be considered a point of pride.
2
Mrs Proudie, I hope you will rethink your comments. I have done some reading on the matter and am not aware of any financial benefit that she took from her identification. You gave no solid reason for your position and you presume to know Elizabeth Warren’s inner thoughts. We would all get on better if held back from making these kinds of judgments publicly.
2
I don't understand why Warren apologized. What is wrong with Warren taking a DNA test to determine her background? People take DNA tests all the time. It doesn't appear she was applying for membership in any of the tribal nations. The Dawes Rolls are said not to be entirely accurate any way what with non-Native Americans paying $5 for falsified documents declaring them Native American. The original lists were never audited so the fakes were never flushed out. What are the tribes afraid of?
24
we need a better candidate. not gonna beat trump with the current lineup. trump is loving this.
13
We seem to be living in a time where everyone is looking for that "gotcha" moment. Candidates say things that sometimes come out wrong. Don't we all. Unlike picking a stock, past performance is a good indicator when it comes to picking a candidate. I'm still with her.
23
@Robert Migliori Politics has been like this for years. People still analyze the televised debate between Nixon and Kennedy which seemed to show Nixon uncomfortable, awkward, sweating...it made him seem less confident and therefore less capable of holding the presidency. It's been a game of gotcha since at least then. Let's not even mention poor Howard Dean's microphone picking up an enthusiastic yell....and then he's out of the race. The whole process is a circus from start to finish with masses of people basing their vote on a few great quotes or dumb blunders.
1
The reporting on this issue is all over the map and wrong most of the time on what has actually transpired. Warren has said there’s a long-standing family story that she has Native American ancestry. Then she proved it by taking a DNA test. Contrary to Republicans and some Native American tribal members, she has never said she’s a member of a tribe, nor has she ever tried to claim she’s Native American and tried to use that to further her career.
Now this article says she’s “apologized” for having taken the DNA test—but that’s not what the text of the article says. It says she’s apologized to certain tribal members over the confusion in the press over whether her DNA test somehow proved she was a member of a tribe.
Let it go people. You’re allowing tRump to define Warren and not using your own discernment to understand the facts.
You go, Warren. I have no trouble whatsoever with what you did. “Nevertheless, she persisted.”
40
If I were a Native American leader, I would very much hope I could find a few hundred issues to address that were far more relevant to the challenges my people were facing.
37
She's doing okay but should not be apologizing.
Laugh about it. Those who are "offended" are trying to cash in on identity politics. They're acting small - just get over it. The days of overextended political correctness are correctly gone.
If you try to please everyone, you're pandering and no one likes that. Don't fall into that trap. So what if someone "feels off."
11
When someone learns they have Jewish ancestry, they don’t necessarily start going to synagogue and lighting candles on Friday night. But they might feel a connection to their heritage, and in turn, broaden their learnings and the possibility for a more expansive worldview.
As a Jewish person myself, I have spent a lot of time exploring Native American culture, to which I’ve always been drawn. In light of deep reading over the years, especially works that have come out recently, my awareness of cultural appropriation has grown. Thus, I now challenge my previous purchases and ways of thought, which are offensive to Native Americans.
In my view, Warren was responding to being called a liar by the biggest liar in the world. She was outraged to be challenged and so, responded. At no time did she claim anything other than DNA.
This is a far cry from Rachel Dozel pretending that she was African American to the degree we are all aware of. That was done purposely. Did Warren deceive anyone? No.
I understand, as well I can, the viewpoint of those angry with Warren. However, what does her record show? What do her policies advocate? Do not play right back into the hands of Trump; you’re giving him exactly what he wants, and what he always wants is dangerous.
31
Oh, for pete's sake. What a tempest in a teacup. DNA tests and ancestry research are hugely popular right now; everyone is doing it. More to the point, no one should *ever* feel the need to apologize for trying to learn more about themselves.
26
Ronald Reagan observed, "if you are explaining you are losing."
Will Rogers said, "if you find yourself in a hole - stop digging." Rogers also remarked, "never miss a good chance to shut-up."
Although I am a die-hard Trump supporter I view Senator Warren as decent person that possesses many qualities. However, she is too refined, thoughtful, and sensitive for this type of campaign. I do not like to see people like her on the defensive. Presidential campaigning is for thick-skinned people - Trump, Obama, Biden, and the Clintons. For example, I have no feelings for Jeb Bush or Hillary Clinton when Trump ridicules them. However, with Senator Warren I am uncomfortable.
8
You can tell it's a sincere apology because it comes two full months after the initial uproar.
She didn't need to apologize in the first place, but the fact that it's such a transparent ploy just cements my decision not to vote for her in the primary.
7
Some of the Cherokee Nation's spokespersons are misrepresenting both what Elizabeth Warren has said and what most Indian tribal members believe about tribal membership: (1) Ms. Warren has never claimed to be a member of the Cherokee Nation or of any other Indian tribe; she has simply asserted a belief in her family's stories about having an Indian tribal ancestor several generations ago. (2) Contrary to Mr. Hoskin's assertion that "for most Native Americans, culture and kinship is what creates tribal membership -- not blood," in truth genetic (blood) descendency from parent who is an Indian tribal member is precisely what creates tribal membership in all American Indian tribes -- both from the standpoint of a tribe and its members, and from the standpoint of the federal Government which serves as trustee for all federally recognized Indian tribes (including the Cherokee Nation. Of course culture and kinship are important to Native Americans, but those things do not create tribal membership. Ask, for example, the Freedmen (former black slaves of Cherokees and of the other four so-called Five Civilized Tribes) who have fruitlessly sought to establish their tribal membership in the Cherokee Nation (or in the other four "Civilized Tribes"), notwithstanding proof that they share culture and kinship with recognized Indian members of the Five Civilized Tribes and have done so for generations. The Cherokee Nation needs to apologize to Ms. Warren, not the other way around.
20
This article ignores that Warren did more than claim Cherokee heritage-she used it for advancement and recognition in her career. She accepted honors based on her claim. I am going to pair this with the Ralph Northam situation and see who wins the equivocation contest. We will see how many Democrats use the argument that it was so long ago and he was young and it doesn't represent the man he is now, the defense they steadfastly insisted Justice Kavanaugh could not use. There are ordinary people all over the country being harassed out of jobs and their lives ruined because of an insensitive costume they wore years ago. But if you are a progressive Brahman, your racism will be explained away for you. 2020 is taking shape and providing an even greater reason to vote against those on the soft end of the double standard.
7
I wonder why so many readers are falsely claiming that Warren "received honors" or special favors based on her assertion of Native American ancestry.
It is easily verified that there is nothing in the record to substantiate that charge. She rose on her own merits.
2
@Jerry Engelbach
It is not easily verified, and she dropped the claim after she made it to Harvard, but included it when applying up to then. Institutions won't admit in this environment that they did or did not use that information when hiring, but we know "diversity" is a more than a goal, it is an ideal. Maybe it is more accurate to say that laws schools where she worked used her claim to promote themselves as diverse, or gaining diversity, giving her security she otherwise would not enjoyed.
1
@TD: Again, where is the evidence for your accusation that Ms Warren gained any benefit? This is so completely different from the Northam case. Read the Boston Globe article that shows that she did not seek or receive **any** benefit. Do you really think it reflects well on anyone to spread dirt in a comments section without evidence?
2
I think many on this thread are missing the point. It is not whether or not she had a Cherokee ancestor in her past. I think we can all agree she is as anglo in appearance as the most anglo of anglos. She used her claim of native american history to gain professional advantage and was listed as a minority professor at Harvard. That is the dilemma. I can guarantee you she never suffered discrimination in her life because she had a native american ancestor somewhere in her past. Yet, she was awarded a special status to go along with her white privilege. For me, I think Kamala Harris or Corey Booker are the way to go in 2020.
8
Please could you explain what the basis is for accusing Ms Warren in this way? I have not seen any evidence that she took or received any such advantage (see Boston Globe article). Your position sounds too much like the alt-right canards for attacking affirmative action. https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2018/09/01/did-claiming-native-american-heritage-actually-help-elizabeth-warren-get-ahead-but-complicated/wUZZcrKKEOUv5Spnb7IO0K/story.html
Gosh ..... I've been reading for years re. the importance of tribal affiliation. Think casinos. And for a company to claim an employee as Native American for EEO purposes, tribal affiliation is required. Been this way since the 70's.
1
Warren's mistake was made early in her career when she tried to claim some very remote native American ancestry as an affirmative action credential. This has angered both supporters and critics of affirmative action.
6
There is no basis for claiming that she sought an affirmative action advantage.
There were no policies in place where she could have gained such an advantage, and in fact she recieved none.
1
Wrong. There is no evidence to suggest she ever used this for affirmative action advantage. Read the Boston Globe article.
(I can’t believe how prevalent this wrong perspective is. I find myself responding despite not even supporting her!)
1
@Andrew It's complicated. According to a 9/1/18 article in the Boston Globe titled, "Ethnicity Not a Factor in Elizabeth Warren's Rise in Law your criticism and Jerry's would appear correct. However, the same article contains this paragraph:
IN WHAT WOULD be her final year at the University of Texas, Warren made a decision that would come to haunt her: She listed herself in the Association of American Law Schools annual directory as a minority law professor.
1
"Race" , on the surface, may be recognized by physical features or by DNA, but in the end, is determined by culture. A Vietnamese friend noticed Asian features on a photo of my grand daughter, and I explained to him that as far as I know, those features were inherited from the Asian hordes that invaded Asia many centuries ago. Since then, I have told other friends that I am descended from Genghis Cohen. Maybe, maybe not. And I really don't care.
I have finally given up on racial identities, and if necessary to judge, use as a basis accomplishments. And those accomplishments can vary in one individual, a he or she progresses through life.
One does not enter any kind of stasis upon being born.
3
The first mistake was to claim that she has Native American ancestors, second was to take the DNA test , third was to publicize it on live video feed. So far she has not shown that she can make rational decisions under stress. And we haven’t yet talked about policy.
5
"Haven't spoken about policy"? Far from true.
Warren has been one of the most outspoken pols about policy.
What you appear to mean is that you disagree with her policies, which is irrelevant to her claim of Natie American ancestry.
1
Honestly, I would be proud to know that I had an American Indian heritage in my blood. I have always believed that 'race' is an artificial designation, but ancestry does have an effect on progeny. The Japanese and other eastern religions place high value on ancestor worship. My understanding is that Warren did not claim an American Indian heritage to gain any legal advantage or tribal membership. Those who criticize her are ignoring the gross bigotry of her political opponent Trump.
6
For me, part of what this episode showed was Warren's ability to be baited by Trump. That is what makes me question whether her character will be enough to win the Democratic race. That said, we have all made mistakes.
Elizabeth, just stay centred and focused and don't be baited.
2
I think President Trump knows full well that, of all the candidates in the next election, she is the one that will defeat him -- perhaps even the only one who can do so.
5
I keep receiving checks from my insurance companies, my banks, my merchant account...as reimbursement for overcharging me.
Thank you senator Warren.
14
Now that Warren's campaign is winding down,
it's important to remember how important she is in the Senate.
By all means, with climate change crashing down on us of every tribe, race, color, culture and ethnicity, let's disqualify a serious, intelligent, passionate and compassionate candidate for president who also puts the needs and welfare of ordinary people ahead of the oligarchs of the world. And thank you, NYT, for doing Donald Trump's work for him, keeping this absurd controversy in the news. I will not read another article about it and hence not see your advertisers' message attached to it. For shame.
7
Times Race/Related needs to give us a series on the American concept of race as represented by USCB, the difference between those concepts of "race" and ethnicity, and what DNA testing can and cannot tell us.
Several days ago a Times columnist - do not remember who - wrote that DNA testing is what is used to determine ethnicity. That is simply not so, at least if one uses all the definitions of ethnicity I can find in the sociological literature.
Warren made a mistake in the first place. The USCB itself perpetuates far more serious mistakes by using a system created by racists to classify Americans.
Elizabeth Warren's ideas are what count, not her genome. Her genome does not determine her political thinking.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
1
If we are giving away subsidies to people simply because of their race and nothing more (i.e., race based affirmative action), it's not surprising we see some amount of exploitation by selfish people.
After all, we have objective data about things like the number of points on the SAT that affirmative action represents. It's a HUGE benefit to its recipients.
So the fact that Warren did nothing more than tacitly accept the benefits of being touted as a "first" Native American to gain some kind of personal advantage is not surprising.
But I don't think of it as some kind of "fake news" non-issue. It will be pinned to her for the foreseeable future.
4
I'd prefer she didn't apologize because she has nothing to apologize for. I'm certainly not saying Democrats need to be more not giving a "you know what" like a Republicans, but to apologize when a simple explanation should suffice makes us look...weak.
3
"I haven't heard from any actual voters about this."
EXACTLY. The only people promoting this kind of hysteria and controversy are the media and politicians.
7
In the meanwhile, the Huffington Post has attacked the NYT for constantly claiming that there would be a huge backlash among Native Americans and the Cherokee nation, whereas NO official Native American leader has distanced himself from her and all have continued to confirm their support for her Native American policy proposals.
I don't see anything in this article that refutes that HP criticism.
That means that when we stay on the level of proven facts alone, Trump was wrong, Warren was right, and no elected official representing Native Americans somehow expressed dismay at what she did to prove Trump wrong.
Case closed. Now let's move on to more important things. Her policy proposals, for instance, which the NYT still hasn't written about ...
7
I find it astonishing when oppressed people feel that it is ok to slam someone else. There should be no problem with Warren doing a blood test and releasing the results. It is her blood and her ancestry. I also have native American blood. Is it wrong for me to say that? I don't think so. It is, however, wrong to get upset at someone over their revealing their ancestry.
4
Regarding the "Pocohantas" insult, along with "crooked", "crying'", "little", "low energy" and all the rest, how about a DNC-sponsored contest to figure out a nice name for Trump? I'd go with "heel spurs-Donald" for starters. It would be so much fun to check out the entries, and choose a winner by vote--sort of like the New Yorker cartoon caption contests. We could all start using the new name non-stop. Fun!
3
I'm sorry, but what does Elizabeth Warren have to apologize for? She said she had Native American ancestry, and she does. That doesn't mean that she thinks she's a member of a tribe. Maybe I missed something, but I don't recall her making any such claim. So what terrible offense did she commit? And why is this newsworthy?
6
As others have said, this is such a silly distraction from what's important. Of the half dozen or so Democratic hopefuls, how many met with furloughed federal workers since the shutdown ended? Senator Warren's the only one. Anyone and everyone can say they care about the American worker but she's the one whose actions match her words.
And while Chef Andrés fed unpaid government employees free meals, Howard Schultz didn't even offer them a cup of coffee. (I know he just stepped down as CEO but no doubt he could've arranged for some Starbucks Cards.)
7
The Onion - America's most trusted news source put it best:
"Sen Warren dismayed that no presidential material was found in her DNA. "
How could she have fallen for such a trap??
It's like being constantly accused of being drunk - only to have a doctor certify that your liver is ok.
Nothing is certain in politics - especially in age of our POTUS - but she needs to abandon her campaign before it has even started.
No one will take her seriously that if she thinks some medical test proves your bonafide.
She would have been more believable if she had owned up to her using her highly debatable or even questionable claim of ancestry - for an academic position.
Americans like folks who fess up and move on.
4
Elizabeth Warner should understand that Native Americans as a whole do not view white people with bigoted hatred. On the other hand, whites as a whole do not view Native Americans as intelligent, mindful individuals, including the views of President Trump and his family.
Look at our nations historical treatment of Native American Tribes and we see gross bigotry and maltreatment of this native population.
Now Senator Warren probably wishes that she were very much Native American, but she is not, never will be either. But we all have our dreams, so just say that, speak to the dreams and learn from them too.
1
She didn't need to apologize. Those who are critical or not accepting her apology have some kind of an axe to grind. Get over it already!
4
This is a pseudo-event. Warren is trying to get money out of politics, something that's actually important. Looking forward to more coverage of that genuinely meaningful issue.
3
Native American? What is that? What term discribes a here before there was a here to most of the world? Australia calls them aborigines. How is that? These people consistently placed themselves at odds with a more technologically advanced culture. And they lost. The myth of the American Savage was created. Bill Cody helped to create the myth. Do they deserve respect as a race? No. But as a variation in culture they have every right and they should respect that right and not compromise people who intend no harm.
1
I would like to request that the Cherokee Nation issue a public statement on a matter of serious interest - Donald Trump's scurrilous bashing of Mexican and Central American migrants.
Every last one of these poor, abused souls has significant, if not 100% Native American heritage. For many of the immigrants from Central America Spanish is not their first or even primary language. They converse in Quiche or Huasteco (among many others). You don't get more Native American than that.
Anyone who is interested in expressing solidarity on the matter of Native American rights should make this a matter of immediate and primary importance.
My father came from Mexico. Ancestry.com says I'm 6% Native American. Do I claim any tribal affiliation? No. That is undoubtedly buried deep in the history of the crimes of one section of my ancestors against the other section. Possibly as far back as Conquest and Cortez. And that's Hernan, not Alexandria Ocosio. The year was 1519, not 2019.
What do I do about it now? Focus on the actual, not the imagined enemy. I invite the Cherokee Nation to get real and do the same.
8
Sorry but I don't think an ancestry test is something to apologize for. Everyone needs to know where they came from. Some mistaken notion that we are bound to ignorance is just some more of the anti-intellectual attitudes of Americans. It is horrific that the country somehow believes we should not discuss politics. That is just ignorant and guarantees no-one will every develop real personal views.
2
"cultural kinship and tribal sovereignty determines Native citizenship"
OK, but it doesn't determine your heritage. I'm an American but have German, French, and Scotch-Irish heritage. Do I have to call Angela Merkel to get her blessing lest I offend someone?
7
Are you all missing the point? Maybe it matters if Ms. Warren claimed to be an actual Native American to obtain admission preference to a school, or to enhance her application to become a Professor at Harvard Law, potentially displacing an actual tribe member who might have gotten the spot. Did Harvard use her presence to claim to have a Native American faculty member? Do you even know the answer to that? Why is The Times scared to inquire about it? Doesn't it go to the question of her integrity? Shouldn't any preferences go to actual tribe members rather than someone who has traces of ancestry from many generations ago? Maybe the answer is no, maybe yes. It is relevant and you would sure want to know if Trump did something like that, wouldn't you? Hypocrisy diminishes the persuasiveness of your views.
5
I like Warren, and find all of this a bit silly.
But; when did we all get so anti-science. We’re going to throw out DNA in favor of “kinship”. Are we all so fragile that as soon as a fact or scientific truth trends against us, we begin to believe our own facts.
Tribalism is in fact based on culture and kinship...no more so than with Blue Tribe.
2
This is insane. What is wrong with Elizabeth warren having a DNA test? I was told my great grandmother was Indian even tho none of us were ever lived on a reservation or got Indian benefits. The stories of our heritage included our Indian great grandmother. When we had dna tests it showed no Indian blood. She did nothing wrong in wanting to get some clarification. As I understand it there are many reasons why Indian heritage may not show up in a DNA test.
4
By her accounting (her mother’s actually), she is 1/32 Native American. (The DNA test indicated less, but let’s go with 1/32.) That means one person 5 generations ago — about 125 years ago assuming 25 years per generation on average. One person 125 years ago! To claim Native American ancestry based on that is ridiculous. I bet most families with several generations in Oklahoma have at least that much. The most disturbing part is that she fails to grasp this.
2
The average American white person has about the same amount of Native American blood as Warren...and who knows the history there? Was it some white man taking advantage of a native woman that created her 1% Native Blood? Was it a lovely relationship filled with happiness?
Here is the real question. If I grew up not in a tribe, never learning a tribal culture language or community, can I check a box saying I'm Native American because my DNA results said I have a native ancestor between 6 and 10 generations back?
1
She took a DNA test. For the life of me, I can’t figure out why she is apologizing to anyone. It’s her DNA.
5
Warren is finding out that she cannot out-identify the identity mongerers. There is always going to be someone who will mint political and social capital out of grievance and outrage. It does the Cherokees no credit to jump on this wagon.
2
You know the saying: Never wrestle with a pig.
Senator Warren has made a complete hash of her position on her family’s personal history. That is entirely her fault and of her own doing.
She is an intelligent, educated, successful person who operates in the public eye. However, she allowed herself to be bullied into President Trump’s name calling Twitterverse.
Just ignore the offense name calling from Donald Trump. Hopefully the Democratic Party can field a candidate that can lead - not only lead the Democratic Party but actually garner enough votes from Americans of many backgrounds and views and win the Presidency from Trump.
Someone needs to.
I don’t think it will be Senator Warren.
2
At best, she's .000001% American Native. The researchers had to go back 10 generations to find any DNA and even then the results were not conclusive. She's a phony who use's race for her own benefit and self-promotion. So what EXACTLY did she apologize for?
5
Given this country's history, presidential candidates should be centering Native American issues/rights/voices in their campaigns. it's the right thing to do. the fact that Warren barely even talks about those issues, except when she sees political opportunity, is telling.
3
Don't apologize when you have nothing to apologize for
18
I remember my grandmother talking about her grandmother, and saying she was a Mohawk Indian. All her other French-Canadian ancestors were easily traced, but the line ended with Marie DuBois, her grandmother, and there was nothing else. We all have dark eyes and dark hair, and my dad's profile looked like the Indian head nickle. I took a DNA test a few years ago, and, on the second analysis, it said I was 1% Native American. I am immensely proud of that, and hope it's actually more.
I still don't see why Elizabeth Warren needs to be castigated because she had her DNA tested, and shared the results.
44
Because she does not share a culture or the lived experience of being Native and being Native American has nothing to do with DNA. It is a culturally constructed racial identity- by taking a DNA test to prove your race means you do not understand that race and racism is created by humans, not biologically determined. Warren was one of my favorite candidates and I hope she has a shot at the White House over some but in my opinion what she did was 100% wrong. She needs to apologize to all people of color that have to battle racist stereotypes everyday because of the West’s constant obsession with Eugenics and it’s modern day incarnations. These DNA tests are inaccurate and feed into racist biological determinism. DNA tests should clearly explain that race is not in your DNA but how would the truth make those tests profitable? The sad part is, most people don’t even know why what she did was so terrible. But again, if she wins the nomination, I’m with her because at least she admits she did something racist. I can only hope she is working with the right people to understand why and how to help.
2
@Zeca
dark eyes and dark hair is NOT a sign of Native American ancestry, also 1% does not explain anything.
1
She has apologized, she a decent and honorable person, at some point those who continue to criticize her for this issue need to back off and let her move on. She has spent a life time doing public service, "We the People" benefit from her service.
44
In a nation that seems to be increasingly defined by identity politics, Elizabeth Warren played the fool's game and lost. Why was her ancestry relevant to anything? Because we now live in a nation in which a person's ancestry may entitle them to special benefits not available to people not of that ancestry. Ms. Warren played the game by claiming Native American ancestry and got called on it by the barbarian. Maybe Harvard says they did not hire her because of her ancestry, but what about Penn (where she taught for years before moving to Harvard)? Ms. Warren has provided a lot of work for people who live to dig into other people's lives and historical claims.
28
Please read the Boston Globe's in-depth reporting on the issue last year. It clearly showed Warren identified as a Caucasian when she was hired at Penn. To keep floating this idea that she parlayed her heritage claim into a legal career ignores her work as a legal scholar, which is widely cited. She didn't become an expert on bankruptcy because she claimed she was Native American. She got where she is through hard work and brains.
7
@Tony
“Because we now live in a nation in which a person’s ancestry may entitle them to special benefits not available to people not of that ancestry.”
Sorry Tony, you and I have always lived in such a nation. The ancestry denoting special benefits is and always has been white European. See, it all started when white men wrote a document proclaiming universal rights and freedoms and then built a country with very non-universal rights and freedoms. That doesn’t just go away. It’s kind of like a stain, you know? Washing a stained piece of clothing a bunch of times doesn’t magically make the stain go away. It’s part of the experience of wearing the shirt now. If you don’t like that institutionally discriminated against groups sometimes receive recognition and recompense for that institutional discrimination, maybe you’re the one with the problem.
As a Massachusetts voter, and a Warren supporter, I hope she does not run for Presidency. She's wasting her political capital -- when she loses the Presidency she will have wasted her currency in the Senate. A waste of good legislative experience.
23
@Beth
She is running, and I think she will get elected. It will be nice, for a change, to have someone who is not beholden to Wall Street or other big donors, a president who means what she says instead of one who says what he thinks his voters want to hear.
6
@Beth I would love to see her in a top position, like heading the SEC or restoring the Consumer Protection Bureau.
@Beth
Hey, failure in a race does not negate someones value.
Female candidates are supposed to be perfect, and beyond compare, with nary a hair out of place. Males? Not so much (see the current White House occupant).
Ms. Warren was curious about her ancestry and the DNA test she took proved what she was told by relatives when she was growing up is true. This doesn't make her the citizen of any tribe, nor has she claimed to be a member of one. If one takes a DNA test and it reveals they had ancestors of a particular nation, that doesn't mean they are now citizens of that country.
Apparently, the Cherokee Nation was sensitive about Ms. Warren taking the test and she has apologized for their discomfort.
Now can we all move on and talk about how Ms. Warren will tackle issues as our president which affect all Americans (except the .01%): income inequality, global warming, etc.?
Dear Media: please move on. We already know those on the right wing will beat this topic to death because Ms. Warren is female, very competent and a threat to their candidates.
71
I politically align with Warren.
But Warren blew it three times.
First, long ago using her alleged link to native American ancestry to benefit herself professionally.
Second, taking a DNA test that at this point in the technology proves nothing. Indeed her results proved at best nothing, and at worst that she was wrong.
Third, apologizing for something she didn't do, to people that were grandstanding for their own political grievances.
Read the "explanation" again from Mr. Hoskin. It makes little sense. The truth is the tribes want to say genetics are meaningless, that family history is meaningless, that only they can say who has native American ancestry. While it is fair for them to be able to exclude whomever they wish from legal membership in their organization, they have no right to reject anyone's claim to their personal ancestry. They say "How dare you say you are part native American. Only we can say that."
Warren caved, played into Trump's trap, and seems weak and politically foolish. That is not a candidate I could support.
26
@pigfarmer - The real reasons they reject DNA testing:
1. They don't want countless half-breeds coming forward and claiming a piece of casino money and tribal benefits.
2. They secretly fear that DNA tests on THEM will show that they are not actually from their tribe, that the tribes are all mixed, or that they are part European. That would ruin their claim of originality, and their claim that the White man "stole" this land from them.
3
I fear Warren's campaign is over before it even started. This is a ridiculous non-issue. She never claimed to be a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. She took a DNA test to try to put to bed Trump's racist and degrading attacks, by showing that she actually does have Native American ancestry. The critics who say her taking the test "gave undue credence to the controversial claim that race could be determined by blood" are just absurd. What else IS race determined by? Race--not citizenship? Race itself is arguably a ridiculous concept. But the reality is that our society does acknowledge race, and the way we determine that is by looking at DNA -- aka "blood." By apologizing, Warren may placate some Native American leaders who insist that she is not a citizen of a tribe. But she has just added more fodder for her critics, and let the sinkhole deepen.
349
@Hamilton Fish
First of all, she's not apologizing to "Native American leaders" because as the Huffington Post has shown, all officially elected leaders support her. It's only some individuals that were disappointed that she reduced it to a DNA question.
Secondly, by apologizing she merely tells those people that she didn't wanted to offend them (= she reaffirms her outstanding record and relationship with Native Americans), and remembers that she herself certainly doesn't want to confound race and cultural heritage.
So come on guys, this IS the right thing to do.
Sometimes being a leader means standing up to critics who see everything to the lens of your "ratings" or "political career", and simply have the moral courage to say the truth.
THAT is what Warren is doing here.
And everybody who sits down for a moment should imho applaud her for the way she's dealing with the ridiculous Trump insults, rather than fearing that some cynical people might want to turn her words into something that can be mocked or ridiculized. Mocking others is always the easiest thing to do. It also means going low, "weakly" low, whereas Warren is clearly taking the high road here, and that is EXACTLY what I would call "leadership".
29
Her apology was valid, as is her DNA result showing Native American ancestors. Period.
22
@Hamilton Fish Totally agree. We need Bernie 2020!
Many of the tribes determine membership by the percentage of Indian heritage.
All that Warren was trying to do was to demonstrate that she had a remote ancestor who was Indian, not that she was.
I think the American Indians have far greater problems than this and they should stop trying to ruin the chances of perhaps the one person running for president who would be the most sympathetic to their plight.
40
Native American communities did not complain when Trump insulted the Navajo code talker war heroes at a 2017 ceremony by bringing up Warren, naming her Pocahontas again "one of you", a deeply racist slur.
In this context the attempted exclusion of the Cherokee Freedmen, the former black slaves of the Cherokees, from the tribe should be discussed. These slaves were owned by the Cherokees, walked the trail of tears with them and settled with them on reservations. Included in the tribe for many decades, the tribe changed citizenship rules to purge their slaves' descendants from the tribe and removing their tribal voting rights, only to be reinstated in 2017 by US district court ruling. The motivations behind the attempted purging of the Black Cherokee Freedmen were many, and all had ulterior motives.
36
The apology is a little late. It should have been immediate, as soon as she heard from the Cherokee Nation.
Finally, Ms. Warren has made her presidential foray, and the reception has not been that favorable. She comes across as strident and squawking. And I do wish she would take the word "rigged" out of her vocabulary or at least give it a rest for awhile.
She should concentrate on her senatorship in Massachusetts and her voice in Congress.
12
@srwdm
"strident and squawking"--words that would never be applied to a male candidate.
1
The race to destroy people over amazingly petty slights is soul-wearying.
Recently, a teenage girl in Utah was slammed online for sweetly wearing a Chinese dress to her prom.
Then a newly-elected white Congressman was attacked for repeating his wife's compliment that he was Asian on the inside.
In this case, Warren may have overstepped by claiming Cherokee heritage while teaching at Harvard but she didn't use it to get ahead or seek privilege.
The vicious bulldozing of well-meaning people for the least perceived, or even actual, misstep makes me want to avoid all human interaction, period.
I admire anyone who still has the courage to poke their head out in such an atmosphere, much less run for office.
61
I am an enrolled member of the Lakota born in Pine Ridge, SD. I thought DNA did determine race so I am confused with the statements by Native American experts that DNA shows no such thing. So how do we prove one is a Native American-by science or by nebulous family lore which gives Elizabeth Warren's claim more validity. Can anyone be an Indian and get breaks and benefits in education or hiring? Aren't we too PC?
47
@sharonmiami -- How do they decide enrollment in your tribe? The Paiute tribe in Bishop requires lineal descent from a person who was an enrolled tribal member when the reservation was formed by the federal government for Paiutes who had been made to relinquish their existing land. Direct lineal descent from an enrolled tribe member is not a "nebulous family history." They do not use DNA tests at all.
Warren should never have risen to Trump's bait by taking a DNA test In response to his insult. Then, giving the really inconclusive results, she should not have publicly released it, instead treating it as something she did because of her own curiosity. And now she continues to pick at this scab. All of this shows defects in her political savvy. It seems unlikely she could survive the campaign.
13
No, sorry, results showed an American native ancestor.
2
Why should Warren apologize? She never claimed to be a member of any Native American tribe. She only said she believed she had some Native American ancestry, and her DNA test proved her correct.
Yet Trump gets away with calling Pocahontas? Gimmee a break!
The media needs to recognize this for what it is, a fake issue that the Trump pushes to smear his opponents.
40
All seem to forget or try to forget Ms Warren used this bogus ancestry claim to gain favor academically. I call that cheating. It’s certainly not as serious as many of Mr Trump’s failures, but it is enough for me to question her integrity, just as I do Mr Trump
14
@fallen NO, your claim is not correct. Warren did not claim or disclaim any Native American ancestry in her application to teach at Penn. It first arose when she was asked by someone (I believe at Harvard Law) putting together information for incoming students. They asked if she had any non-white, or minority heritage. She answered HONESTLY, that her mother had told her she had Native American ancestry. (How many Americans have heard this same claim from their parents?) This claim was printed as fact in information distributed to the students. It was not mentioned again until she entered politics and a Republican opponent made it an issue.
5
Kinship is an attribute that one does not generally get to choose however in Elizabeth Warrens case, given a choice it seems that the Cherokee Nation just doesn’t want to be associated with a pale faced, shrill politician with “nasty feet”.
5
The Cherokee Nation owes Sen. Warren an apology, not the other way around. This is just tactical dirty politics with the Republicans behind it and they have used the Cherokee leadership to accomplish it. The Cherokee ought to have better sense.
40
So for the upcoming presidential campaign, are going to see drivel like this at the debates - again?
A candidate, like Warren presents real ideas.
Trump responds with a racial slur or some other insult.
Trump wins?
That, unbelievably, is 21st century USA. What has happened to our country?
21
And now that that Elizabeth Warren is running for the nomination, they’ll continue to come at her with everything they can make up. Right now the oppo computers are furiously whirring, trying to find out if she ever had an affair, or kicked a puppy, or got a traffic ticket.
6
@Ben Martinez
I don't think, though, that they will have the nerve to ask for her birth certificate. Or will they?
This was an opportunity for the Cherokee Nation to provide a teaching moment. But instead of using this as a opening to explain their culture, they've chosen to pick a petty fight. That's rather sad.
27
@Matt --- Why do Cherokees need an opening to "explain" their culture? You're free to take up the task of educating yourself on their culture and all the myriad of ways Americans have benefited from its near-complete destruction. The information is all out there for anyone who wants to become knowledgable about that subject.
I do not understand why this is an issue. To some, like myself, to say we have native American ancestry is something to be proud of. Warren never said she was a member of a tribe or considered herself a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. To the Metis of Canada, a recognized indigenous group, one drop of native blood, no matter how far back it goes, authorizes you to say you are a Metis, which means mixed blood European and First Nations. I suggest that the NYT's contact the President of the Metis National Council in Ottawa, who can put this issue to bed.
13
A commercial DNA testing service advertises on television that they can determine where you came from. In their commercial, people say that they are 12% Italian and so on. Is it really so different for Elizabeth Warren to have had a DNA test for this purpose? Her family folklore has considerable detail about their Native American heritage. Is it so wrong to try to verify this using modern methods, the same way people of other ethnicities do?
14
As I watch this mess unfold, I keep thinking about Trump’s repugnant “Pocahontas” remarks, which he’s been making for years. Why didn’t the tribal leaders of the Cherokee nation condemn him? Why aren’t they insisting on an apology from him? Why is the person who honestly wants to make things better for everyone the villain here, while the one who’s destroying this nation getting a pass?
38
Ms. Warren should ignore this non-issue and move on.
18
I'm disappointed Warren took a DNA. Tribal leaders have warned here against taking such a test because it would threaten their identity and undermines how they determine citizenship.
Furthermore, DNA test do not prove race. They use ancestry as a proxy for race because there isn't a black gene or white gene. Race is a sociopolitical category. The test depends on the sample. However, there's no way to go into the past to get the genomes of ppl who haven't mixed.
They're looking for alleles in your genome and comparing them to the samples of populations. These alleles can be found in every population. So you can have allele A that is common in west africa but it can also be found in around the world. It isn't specific although it may be more present in the population.
Lastly, you have a 50% chance of getting allele A from your parents who have A or B. So if you're from West Africa and know this through documents dating back years and you inherent allele B, does this make you less west african?
Race being pushed as biology is the biggest scientific fraud of our times. It's disappointing that someone with someone with Warrens platform would reinforce the idea of race being biological and ingrained in our genome.
1
Good grief. She never said she was a Cherokee citizen. She said that she had been told by some of relatives that they has some Cherokee ancestry. People offended by the DNA test need to get a grip. She did it to fend Trump's offensive comments off, and you are making it that much easier for him to continue to make them.
33
Hillary Clinton never looked more weak than when she apologized for her use of a personal e-mail server. Sen. Warren gains how many votes by going down this path, against a sociopath who apologizes for absolutely nothing he has ever said or done? As for those who take umbrage at her having undergone this DNA test, I am of two minds; 1) Too darned bad if someone tries to use this to horn in on your profits from casinos that are destroying lives every day; 2) Get over it.
5
With this apology, Elizabeth Warren ends her presidential aspirations. Trump played her and the hierarchy of the Cherokee Nation were his willing dupes.
Let's find somebody with a spine.
8
If Elizabeth Warren is so easily persuaded by a mob that makes up its own rules of “membership” regardless of scientific fact (i.e. DNA evidence) then perhaps that proves that she shouldn’t be the president of anything.
5
This article piously repeats the nonsense that "culture and kinship is what creates tribal membership — not blood." Kinship means either a blood relationship or a sharing or origin or characteristics. So if I dress and talk like an Indian (culture) do I qualify, but not a blood relationship or similar characteristics, which often are shared due to common genes (blood)?
13
Perhaps I missed something. I was under the impression that Warren claimed Cherokee ancestry -- not Cherokee citizenship.
No?
15
She is, fortunately, already sinking fast.
On the other hand, the other aspirants are even more appalling and ingenuous.
3
Social Security and the other "entitlement" programs used to be called "the third rail" of politics, but it was always race. In these neo-tribalist times it's those ostensibly anti-racist politicians who keep racism, in all its manifestations, on the front burner, and sometimes they get scalded. Warren's chickens have come home to roost.
I say this as warren supporter, she needs a minder to stop her from commenting on this issue. The more she says, the more fodder her adversaries have this is very basic communication/ pr/politics 101 stuff.
7
This is completely absurd and has been from the beginning. Warren never claimed to be a Cherokee, or to belong to any Native American group by birth or other basis of citizenship. She was responding to Donald Trump, who claimed that she had lied when she said she had a Native American ancestor. My DNA shows that I have Persian ancestors but I’m not claiming to be an Iranian.
The Cherokee nation chose to use Warren’s DNA test to reassert the value of their traditional culture. Identity certainly is cultural, but DNA is DNA. If you have Cherokee DNA, you are descended from a Cherokee regardless of whether you have the legal
or ethical right to claim to be a Cherokee citizen. Warren claimed only the former, but the Cherokee nation is responding as though she’d claimed the latter. They are trying to make this about them rather than about what it is - a response to a smear (that Warren lied) in a run up to a presidential election. By apologizing, Warren is enabling both the Cherokee nation and Trump to hijack her campaign.
She was right the first time. She had no obligation to apologize. She is only doing herself more political damage by acting as though she had.
17
Now, she just needs to quit before she starts and stay in the Senate.
3
Sen Warren's decision to be genotyped to produce "scientific" evidence of Native American heritage was a naive move. If the Cherokee Nation can forgive her naivete, then we should move on. Obama apologized for his Jeremiah Wright connection and I prophetically accepted what he said. Think of the comparison to where Trump and his GOP morally stand by comparison.
8
I don’t think Warren owed anyone an apology. She never claimed membership or tribal rights, never claimed a Native American heritage to obtain education or job preferences. At one time, while teaching at Harvard a diversity survey was given to all the faculty and she then mentioned a possible Native American ancestor. That is the whole and entire allegation. Practically every Irishman I know will claim to be a descendant of one of the Kings of Ireland. With the second guess being, “Either that or a horse thief.” My husband and I both did the DNA test and he was surprised he isn’t as German as he thought.
12
When will Trump be apologizing to all Native Americans (and Elizabeth Warren) for calling her Pocohontas? And when will he stop doing that?
14
I don;t understand the issue, really, maybe I am dense. When we did our DNA testing and found out all the various ancestries in my familiy that only made us more aware of how we are all interconnected and it made the past come alive. How did they fall in love, or was it rape? How did they meet and was it love? and how did their love and children fair in society? When I see that my kid has West African Genes that makes me more interested in the past and not claim West African Citizen ship
( not that it exists) Harping on semantics and outing someone for their interest and pride in not being “ pure European” should be applauded and not condemned.
14
I love what you say but how you say it makes me feel I'm being reprimanded.I am too old [73] to have anyone speak in such a lecturing, didactic tone.Work on it as many people feel the same as I and I don't want your message to be lost because of "tone"
2
Regarding her employment history, he has previously self identified at Penn and Harvard as a minority, a person of color, and a Native American.
I do not understand how anyone could get themselves elected to any public office with such a blatantly dishonest background.
11
@Alabama
"I do not understand how anyone could get themselves elected to any public office with such a blatantly dishonest background."
Seriously? Even now?
1
I don’t see how anyone could get them self elected on such a dishonest background - you are kidding right?
1
Elizabeth Warren has ignored basic political advice: when you are in a hole, stop digging. More to the point, this controversy, which she created by falsely claiming Native American heritage, is absurd. She did not need to make this claim and her campaign now is going to be caught up in a needless distraction
3
Whether Senator Warren chooses to acknowledge it or not - or the institutions where her 'traits' have proven beneficial in her academic advancement - she has a long history of trading on gender, identity, and class distinctions in getting her where she is today. Now that there are so many other candidates in the Democratic primary race for the presidency with equally compelling "stories", even the smallest gaffe (like the DNA test) by Warren will probably prove to be much more costly than she images (cf. Senator K. Harris' attempt to 'apologize' for being a tough prosecutor in California - not working!) With Sen. Booker now in the race along with the mayor of Notre Dame, IN., and many more probably to come (Bloomberg? The Hillary? VP Biden?), Sen. Warren may well experience that unbearable feeling of "lightness" which Gov. Jeb Bush, Sen. Marco Rubio, and so many others felt before Trump's triumphant arrival . . . . She's not ready for prime time or, for that matter, her close-up, Mr. deMille!
Warren has never traded on her ancestry in any way, so I fail to understand your claim that she has a "long history of doing so."
She has been one of the most visible political fighters in America for the rights of minorities and working people in general — unlike the other candidates you mention, who have largely been practically invisible. So I also fail to understand the remark about "not being ready for prime time."
It seems that the myths derrogating Warren are more persistent than the confirmed truth that she has Native American ancestry.
And Trump falsely and knowingly claimed to be Swedish but no one bats an eye or mentions this lie -- and the 800 lies he tells every day? Yet Warren truly does have Cherokee heritage and she has to apologize for proving it. Seriously?
16
It looks like Warren got herself into a tricky spot, and took what she thought or was advised was the best way out. I am sick of women having to apologize for everything, and meanwhile there's a "man" in the WH who insults, slurs, and lies instead of setting a good example and governing with intelligence and compassion, AND who has probably never said the "s" word in his life, either in public or private. And we all know that there are plenty of reasons why he should. Double standard doesn't even begin to describe it!
What I didn't like was how this article emphasized how long it took Warren to apologize. This article lacked nuance. As others have commented here, it was not clear to whom or for what she owed anyone an apology. Her mistake, if there was one, certainly wasn't intentional and did not lead to anyone getting hurt -- unlike the stuff Trump does routinely, such as throwing a temper tantrum for a wall that is not needed and shutting down the government and declaring a false emergency to get it.
11
Releasing DNA results is not the same as claiming to be a Cherokee Nation citizen. Did Warren ever make such a claim? I don't think so. People are just too fond of manufactured outrage these days. Good that she apologized since people were upset, but really did not need to be blown out of proportion to this extent. We have much bigger fish to fry, one of whom is flopping around the White House.
10
Bravo! I now like her again. The Warren that went for the DNA test and underscored it, was a person very close to claiming she is 1% or so Latina. Good for her. More power to her!
1
regrettable mistake. why is she apologising? the cherokee nation are not in charge of dna tests, only their tribal citizenship. there have been a lot of indian tribal leaders who have publically supporter her.
trump made fun of her as if it would be insulting thst she had a family history story about an ancester probably being native American. she took a test to prove that the story was credible. trump and his supporters who continue to think calling her Pocahontas is an insult are the losers. Pocahontas wasnt even Cherokee.
11
@steve talbert
Yes, and why isn't the NYT, which seems intent on highlighting this (non) issue, pointing out that many tribal members have spoken out in her defense? Methinks there is an agenda here. She's too progressive for the Times.
2
Compared to the Standing Rock pipeline, Senator Warren's DNA test is an insignificant faux pas. Considering 45's record of racist comments, it is absurd to hold Senator Warren to such exacting PC standards.
13
The core issue it that Ms Warren listed herself as a minority ion order to advance her academic career.
1. In the mid 1980s, when she first formally notified law school administrators that her family tree includes Native Americans.
That genealogical claim has zero documentary evidence to back it up, according to a PolitiFact review of news and newsletter databases back to 1986.
2. Warren listed herself as a minority in Association of American Law Schools (AALS) directories from 1986 to 1995
3 Warren formally notified officials at the University of Pennsylvania and then Harvard claiming Native American heritage after she was hired.
In Academia, knows that affirmative action hires are real and it is hard to believe that Ms Warren did not do so in order to advance her academic career
Quantitative research backs this up
Proc National Academy of Sciences
National hiring experiments reveal 2:1 faculty preference for women on STEM tenure track
https://www.pnas.org/content/112/17/5360
7
Such a distraction. That's all this is.
6
Is anyone else as repulsed by the introduction of DNA testing into American politics as I am? I have long admired Senator Warren, but her leap into the Trump slime was futile and demeaning,
2
Senator Warren used a fake ethnicity to enhance her opportunity for employment and later to attempt to increase her stature as a political candidate. Apologies are clearly in order but do not resolve my questions about her truthfulness. The current POTUS’ penchant for provarication should not soften our standards.
4
First, I believe Harvard University when they say that they hired Senator Warren as a law professor for her academic and teaching qualifications and not for her ethnicity.
Second, I believe that Senator Warren understands the struggles of the vast majority of Americans. Her father had a serious chronic illness, and her family relied on her mother's minimum wage job to survive. Senator Warren lived through a divorce, raised children as a single mother, and earned her own way through college and law school.
Third, I believe that Senator Warren demonstrated maturity and willingness to grow as a leader when she listened to the various viewpoints of sovereign Indian nations, which aren't going to be uniform, and opened a conversation with the leader of the Cherokee Nation, who also rightfully expressed his viewpoint.
Fourth, as an Asian-American immigrant who has searched decades for any relative at all, I believe that Senator Warren had a human right to find out more about who she is and where her family came from, even if through a DNA test.
Finally, I believe that in spite of all the criticism, nevertheless, she persisted. I think that Senator Warren just moved to the top of my list.
16
Thank you for your thoughtful evaluation. Spot on!
She played the troll's game and got beat. She looked like a complete fool after the test, and looks like an even bigger one now, having to apologize for it. She is so unprepared for the battle against Trump. She would give him a fabulous chance at reelection.
112
@Mike
In real life, he false attacked her, and in the most immoral way possible. That's the opposite of what any real leader does. It was a racist attack, based on weakness, not moral strength.
She responded by proving him false. Yes, race has to do with DNA, and nothing else. So the family stories she heard over and over again happen to be true.
From there on, Trump's insult isn't merely racist, childish, and morally very weak, it's also blatantly false.
That some Native Americans feared that a DNA test might reduce people's perception of the Cherokee Nation to mere DNA, leaving out culture and history, is perfectly understandable too.
As that is not and has never been what Warren stands and stood for, she had the moral courage to publicly apologize to those who (wrongly, obviously) felt offended.
Did she do all these things IN ORDER TO "increase her ratings"?
No, she did it because she believed that taking the moral high road is the right thing to do here.
And that is the PERFECT way to engage in "the battle against Trump", at it shows how hollow his own notion of leadership is, which is clearly entirely based on "ratings". For two years he doesn't even start focusing on negotiations about his signature campaign issue? He doesn't care, as his ratings remain high. A radio talk show host tweets an attack on him and his ratings go down? He starts talking about the wall again. And so on and so forth.
Just look at the contrast with Warren, showing real integrity ...
28
@Mike I agree. The way she has handled this from the beginning gives me agita. Instead of reacting as if insulted to be called Pocahontas she should have been proud, after all one of the fiercest and most interesting of women. Even more so for Sacagawea. She is humorless, a tragic deficit in my opinion in a leader, or partner or friend or hey I like someone with a sense of humor about themselves. Clearly, Trump has shown us what humorless brings.
2
@Mike The tragic fact is that any woman Democratic candidate would give Trump a chance at reelection. Warren isn't being attacked because she once checked a box on a form saying that she had at least one Native American ancestor. She's being attacked because she's a woman and must therefore have twice the qualifications of any man who chooses to run for office.
Elizabeth Warren is brilliant, hard-working, and is squarely in the corner of average Americans. She walks the talk and has done so her entire professional career.
Meanwhile, she has no Russia connections. Repeat: No Russia connections.
Why not choose a president who wants to work for left-behind Americans, not for vile and murderous Russian Oligarchs.
7
Anyone who was angered or worse outraged by Warrens DNA faux pax, needs to Chillax! And was it really a mistake? Or have we been forced to eat that accusation by spin-doctors? I truly dont see a mistake.
Most family history narratives are full of overblown claims about their ancestry. Most descendants of the several European-trash waves of immigration have been sold a bill of shoddy goods.
I know dozens of people, including myself, who heard a family lore story, that once under scrutiny - aka; fact checking - that fell apart. Oh well.
If Sen. Warren heard a particular family story, its only relevant to her and her family. If its undone in part or whole (which hers was not) it has no bearing on anything important to the rest of us. Other peoples family folklore doesn't interest me.
Its not like she lied about being given only 1 million dollars by daddy. Its not like she lied about why she cant hand over her tax returns. Its not like she lies about being wholly divested from her bigly family businesses. She's not claiming that because her uncle is a scientist, she too possesses the same knowledge, and therefore knows climate change is false. Like our dotard president.
We're so twisted up having a POTUS that lies more then tells a truth. That lies several times a day, has no shame, or moral compass - that we are obsessed with holding everyone but the president to an absurd standard of truthfulness.
Trumps lies are so much worse, then Warrens family folklore tales.
14
These thoughts are my own, I do not pretend to speak for any other. I am a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, Chief Baker, his family and mine have been friends for many years.
The only outrage I feel here, is toward Trump's snide, debasing, racist "Pocahantas" comments. Almost certainly, Sen. Warren's DNA test was to quash his childish name calling. I never heard her claim anything like being Cherokee, although after 500+ years of contact with Europeans, many doubtless can claim to have authentic "Cherokee blood." That is NOT the same thing as claiming to be a member of the tribe.
Senator Warren responded to for-real deplorable false accusations, based on nothing but ignorance, with scientific documentation that she and we share heritage. It is a stain on the rest of us that yet again, science and fact have been twisted, placed in a context rooted of foolishness.
I am a member of the tribe, and I would far rather have Sen. Warren influencing Native American policy than those who act like a crime family, kiss up to Putin, cheat investors, cage children, and all the res of this current garbage administration.
876
@Agiyo Thank you for your post. I am surprised that the public has not seen Elizabeth Warren's statements as a show of pride and respect for having Native American ancestors. Out of nearly all members of Congress, I feel she would be the most supportive of the issues relevant to Native Americans today.
92
@AgiyoThank you because at no time to Ms. Warren claim tribal affiliation of any kind just that her family history included stories of Indigenous ancestry which, by the by, cannot ascribe through DNA actual tribal relationship.
I know through photographic as well as stories told and artifacts owned that my Great Grandmother was Indigenous American born near Spokane WA in the 1860-80s and that she was passed from husband to husband, one of who raped her 12y daughter, my grandmother who was the married off to my schizophrenic 20y English American grandfather because as a pregnant unwed half breed she would have been sent to jail. I do not know what tribal affiliation they had, possibly Yakama, Spokane, Nez Perce or Colville. Many tribes from all over the US were removed to the once huge Yakama/Spokane reservation as well as local tribals like Chief Joseph being sent to Oklahoma then to the Colville rez and never back to his ancestral home in the Wallowas in Oregon.
I had Ancestry's DNA test just to verify the genetic link and actually show a stronger genetic link than I expected NOT to claim affiliation. I loved my Grandmother and was lucky to meet my great Grandmother. Their lives were incredibly hard but they were survivors.
34
@Agiyo
Thank you. You’re my hero of the day!
As another Times Pick comment (by Dana from Santa Monica wrote:
“
for a women who has long claimed a cherished heritage that she respects and values - that person needs to apologize.
“
This episode has been completely insane. Warren takes pride in her family history as opposed to someone using personal claims of heritage to mock people who have less power than you.
59
When-o-when are the Democrats going to outgrow their fixation on identity issues? This Warren DNA thing is just another tempest in a teapot when there are so many more urgent issues facing us.
Let’s leave the identity fixation to our nativist President—who has torn immigrant children from the arms of their parents and stuffed them into concentration camps, in order to deter other dark-skinned immigrants from following. Let’s deal with that!
Now this same President is threatening to declare a national emergency, so he can build a wall to keep those same dark-skinned people out. Therein lies our greatest danger—an existential danger. Once he has his "emergency" powers, all manner of extralegal schemes he may think to justify—even rounding up political opponents or journalists and stuffing them in concentration camps.
You think that’s crazy, idle speculation? Let me tell you, I’ve lived through the Nazi era and the Communist era. The slide toward totalitarianism alway begins this way. So, enough already with the identity issues; let’s deal with the paramount issue facing us: a Manchurian President who wants to steal our democracy from us.
11
Good for Elizabeth Warren! She apparently learned from Hillary that mistakes are to be acknowledged much sooner than later. Get it over with, early, and move on to policy. I’m speaking of HC’s use of a private server.
I voted for Hillary by the way, enthusiastically, though I supported Bernie Sanders in the primary.
7
So why do people pay to have their DNA analyzed by companies such as 23 and me? Are all the claims about ancestry bogus? When one fills out medical forms and they ask about ancestry, the information obtained is useless? How can it be both that race can not be determined by genetics, and yet the medical field and 23 and me thinks it can?
I think people are confusing testing for inheritance of genes and the socially constructed notions of tribal membership. Just because the Cherokee Nation does not include Warren as a member of their nation, that does not mean that she does not have a genetic link to them. And that link can be examined by a genetics test of Warren's DNA using the same logic used to test for parent-offspring relationships.
10
@Paul - The real reasons they reject DNA testing:
1. They don't want countless half-breeds coming forward and claiming a piece of casino money and tribal benefits.
2. They secretly fear that DNA tests on THEM will show that they are not actually from their tribe, that the tribes are all mixed, or that they are part European. That would ruin their claim of originality, and their claim that the White man "stole" this land from them.
1
Elizabeth Warren's DNA test was politically misguided, but hardly the end of the world. It's been blown out of proportion by mainstream media which is part of Wall Street. Warren is a sincere threat to Wall Street. It remains to be seen whether the mainstream media will bury her early as it did Sen. Sanders.
8
Thank you, Senator Warren. Apologies accepted (it seems) but entirely unnecessary—now Trump should apologize.
9
Perhaps some sense of identification politics led her to that choice and while it certainly was a very poor choice, I can't support her for reasons which have nothing to do with this lapse.
Trump only respect strength, witness how Nancy Pelosi ran over Trump and then backed the car up to finish the job recently, the best he can do is call her Nancy, which of course is her name.
I doubt Trump will be the nominee or run but if he survives it will only be an opponent who can go toe-to-toe with him in order to best him.
2
One wonders if the campaign chairman wrestles with wanting to tell her of the risk of inadvertently creating the impression of appearing "too dotty".
When will people learn that to respond to trump is to fuel the fire. Trumps kryptonite is to ignore him. Respond in vague way that everyone knows you are talking about him but not putting his name out there to get the attention he wants. He can do whatever he wants since the trump supporters don't care. All others need to be more cerebral in challenging him.
4
Nothing like starting your presidential run with an apology. Although Trump sure owes the American public (if not the world) a huge apology, so maybe Warren has a jump on him.
2
Remember Rachel Dolezal, who claims to be black (although racially she is is white) because "kinship ... not blood" determines an association. Her claim was not well received.
And here we have Warren who shows a little bit of Indian blood with no claim of sharing the same kinship and social values. Her claim is not well received.
And transgender people who claim they should be treated by the way the see themselves and not the biological traits generally attributed to a gender. And their claim is not well received by many.
And I can continue the list ...
The question of an individual's belongings and attributes seems to be the new Zeitgeist. Lots of claims, counterclaims, stereotypes, and misogamy.
6
This issue continues to be about nothing. There’s no story here. Ms. Warren never claimed to be Native American: never. Ms. Warren never claimed to be a member of a tribe: never. President Trump and the media fixate on a narrative that has no substance. She contributed recipes to a local cookbook. God forbid issues or policy differences are discussed. Where’s some analysis on how medical expenses decimate peoples’ entire savings? Where’s some analysis on who’s been benefiting from the last 40 years of national tax policy? We’re $22 trillion in debt: no one’s discussing it. Anyone involved in spreading this sham story while real issues are burning in front of us should be ashamed.
8
So she apologized. So what?
Like a couple's quarrel, it's the bigger person that apologizes--whether in the wrong or not--so that life can go on.
If being petty and immature is what it takes to be a leader in the US from here on in, then we are in trouble.
3
to the members of the Cherokee Nation who have questioned and criticized Elizabeth Warren for her DNA test to understand her genetic background, including Mr. Hoskins and others, I have this question:
If it is insulting and wrong for Ms. Warren to have sought information about her background in this way, then i do not understand why some Native American tribes and biological anthropologists/archaeologists have collaborated and cooperated on providing their blood tests to compare to the DNA of those peoples who populated the American continents many thousands of years ago, some say more than 20,000 thousand years ago? Why do you not criticize all of these tribal members and the anthropologists and archaeologists for doing these tests? I understand heritage has to do with socio cultural and perhaps even emotional identities and membership, but is not the DNA make-up of people also a part of identity? I am sincerely asking the question. What do you think?
8
"Tribe membership" must take on a different meaning when casino riches are involved...then, I don't think the standard measure is mere "culture and kinship". Ironically, in that case, I believe it's blood(line) that matters.
8
Perhaps she needs to apologize for decades of indicating her native american ancestry, to everyone.
10
We had a similar family lore in my family. My parents were born in Oklahoma, and on my fathers side he used to joke they traced our family tree back to a bandit and Indian outside Lawton Ok. His mother (my grandmother, and I am now 70) was adopted and the story was she was the product of a half breed and a white man (my grandmother was dark with dark hair and considered herself of American Indian ancestry). I read Elizabeth Warren’s biography and when genetic testing became widely available I decided to get it tested. Results I am 99.8% European.
3
This whole thing is silly
Shame Warren couldn’t figure out a way to crisis manage it.
7
@Blue
Get rid of tribalism and the whole "controversy" disappears. But one political party has a vested interest in identity politics. Warren is a victim of her own political ideology.
1
We're a nation that deserves a better media - indeed, needs a better media. This whole thing is a non-issue, but it sells, so our media will bombard us with it as much as possible.
There are so many issues that deserve mainstream media coverage, for instance, establish Democrats have done their best to neuter the Green New deal movement, as scientists warn that we have 12 years to make major changes to prevent worst-case climate change scenarios.
https://theintercept.com/2019/02/01/green-new-deal-house-energy-and-commerce-committee/
5
"Mr. Hoskin said ... for most Native Americans, culture and kinship is what creates tribal membership — not blood."
"The Cherokee Nation recently decided to limit its membership to people who can prove they have Indian blood. This strips of their citizenship rights about 2,800 African-Americans who are descendants of slaves once owned by wealthy Cherokees." https://www.npr.org/2011/09/19/140594124/u-s-government-opposes-cherokee-nations-decision
Am I misinformed or do these 2 statements rise to Trumpian levels of bald faced hypocrisy?
19
She’s still the best candidate in the race.
14
@Chriva
Because she and Sanders are the least like him. The Democrats don't want to stray too far from policies that benefit the rich, only the rhetoric. Trump is too vulgar for the more polished sham they prefer.
2
I wouldn't have expected that Senator Warren's discussion of family stories about Native American ancestry in the family -- stories that turn out to be accurate -- would have caused a lot of confusion. She never said anything about claiming citizenship in an existing tribe, which is something more specific than simply sharing some Native American ancestry. At first, what she did and didn't claim doesn't seem to be that hard to understand, but apparently There is a lot of previous misunderstanding floating around the issue, forming a context where her action was a mistake. People directly concerned with Native American tribal affairs can see real problems that might not be apparent outsiders.
I hope the message here isn't reduced to saying that people whose families have talked about Native American ancestry should stay silent unless they are ready to claim official tribal citizenship. There are a lot of people, like Warren (and I'm thinking of one late friend of mine) whose distant Native American ancestry wouldn't qualify them as Tribal citizens, but for whom it was meaningful in a different way. There has to be a way of talking about these people's reality.
11
Warren apologized directly to the people who were offended, which was good and should be enough for everyone. She does not need to go on an extended apology tour. Personally, I think apologizing shows strength and growth on her part. We need a president who can actually learn from her mistakes, unlike Trump, who won’t even admit when he is wrong.
Also, the media needs to be careful about overinflating stories like these. Let’s have more focus on the new Democratic candidates’ policy positions and relevant experience and less on political “scandal”. How about a series of articles on other countries’ health care systems, their successes and failures, and how the proposals of the new candidates compare?
10
No apology was necessary, but this will kill her 2020 run.
6
I admire her views. However she is not the candidate we need.
3
Honestly, millions of Americans have taken DNA tests just to verify family stories. Why is Elizabeth Warren taking so much heat? She wasn't claiming tribal membership, just verifying her family tradition of Native ancestry.
Our current president was only trying to cause trouble by criticizing her. I regret that my Cherokee cousins have fallen for the bait.
32
@Kay Tee
Give Warren some credit here. Trump didn't tell her what to do or say. She torpedoed her long-shot presidential run all on her own.
4
2 faux pas’ from her. One to take the test to show (publicly) her Native American ancestry and second, to apologize for it (whatever for?!?).
I’m beginning to wonder if her political naïveté will play well on the national stage. At the very least, it appears to be drowning out her message already and making her look unserious.
3
This is a manufactured controversy. Sen. Warren claimed to have Native American ancestry but never claimed to be a member of any tribe. Her DNA test was meant to show that there was some substance to family lore that indicated that she was descended (albeit remotely) from Native Americans.
35
It wasn’t political naïveté that led her to claim Native American heritage it was her thought that it might in some way elevate her standing in the university world where she resided.
It was an unforced error that in the political jungle would be noticed and her failure to admit her misjudgment that cost her.
Nothing more ruthless in today’s environment than the political
stage. Enter at your own risk.
6
What the heck is she apologizing for? She was basically tormented by Trump and his right wing cretins for part of her family history and heritage that had a direct affect on her mother and her family. The Cherokee Nation needs to put this in perspective as she did nothing wrong and did it only to stifle those that continued to harass her, not to claim any tribal rights, privileges or status. Geez, give her a break. And yes, DNA is a component of defining heritage and there is absolutely nothing wrong in finding out where ones ancestors came from.
33
The Cherokee nation does not want to lose the power of determining who is Cherokee. She has nothing to apologize for.
16
Woooo..
To a foreigner, this seems a strange business.
But, looking back, it seems that Ms Warren claimed to have 'North American' ANCESTRY. She hasn't - AFAICT from earlier news reporting - claimed to be a Cherokee or a 'family member' of any tribe.
The DNA shows that the Senator DOES have the claimed ancestry. That seems to be an incontrovertible fact. Exactly how she acquired it can't be shown - presumably the reason that she hasn't claimed to be a Cherokee Indian.
My DNA, like 70% of white English males, originates from the Frisia area of Germania, now in the Netherlands. This makes me Germanic, but not a Dutchman. A pity; I would have been able to continue my EU citizenship post-Brexit.
13
To an American, Sen Warren seems a strange business.
@nolongeradoc
It is rare that someone misses 100% of the point of something, but there you are.
She is the toughest candidate in the mix now, and the Cherokee are poorly served by Trump and the GOP. They might want to keep Warren in their camp. I have Native American per my DNA test. I guess I should not tell anyone for fear of whatever this is she is being accused of.
15
She went 3500 miles away to a friend to do her DNA test when she could have visited her former colleague @ Harvard (Dr. Louis "Skip" Gates) and submitted to his Finding Your Roots show (found on PBS).
This is the program where you go to bear your soul and your ancestry...for all to see. Skip pulls no punches as Larry David (his great granddaddy was a Confederate Officer and slave owner) or Teheisha Coates.
His great great grandmother was freed as a slave and given land which she combined with her husbands land + other purchase to become the 2nd largest landowner in her Virginia county. Lord knows who they hired to do the farmwork.
Warren will never shake this thing until she submits to Gates' show. She can apologize a million times. It doesn't make up for the POC that were not hired at Harvard because they already had one on staff.
She can preach for the most progressive policies in the world but it just plain flat doesn't matter.
Go on Gates' show. It'll be redemptive for you and for those who support you.
2
Seems like everyone is taking up for her and blaming trump to some degree from most of the comments I've read. The one thing that bothers me is she received preferential treatment to entry into Harvard due to her Native Am. background. And she wore it like a badge of honor. To me she is in the same boat as Rachel Dolezal. Was it an honest mistake? Possibly. But, she accused Trump as a liar when her called her out. Just like Lance Armstrong did of those other cyclist and thier wives who said he was doping. Two things - one, its disappointing she lied. two, whoever gave her council to take that DNA test was dumb and should be fired - even though from what i understand through this article is DNA test is not what decides inclusion into a Native tribe. None-the-less she should have said i was wrong sorry. But to me she is no different than trump - just saying whatever it takes to get our vote.
5
according to her past employers, including harvsrd, this is a made up lie constantly being repeated. she did not get preferential treatment from perceived native American ancestry. a lot of conservatives want to make it so, but it was not.
6
After some research you are correct - she did not get preferential treatment. However, she did put it on some forms later. And she was promoted as a Native America - it seems. Then why would the NYT run this article and why did she apologize. I will go back and read the article again. And again duly noted she did not receive a scholarship based on her false native american heritage. So maybe we could clarify what she did as a fib? or big family fib? She is a harvard law professor and senator. She needs not to be fooled by false family folklore.
She made a mistake by apologising. The test merely showed that she had some Native-American ancestry; she did she request any of the benefits that come from tribal membership, nor did she even claim membership in any tribe. The test showed she is of predominantly Northern European stock with a bit of Native American; should she apologise to Northern European countries?
The only mistake she made was in allowing Trump to goad her into taking this test in the first place. She ought to have given him a two-fingered salute and then ignored his infantile jibes.
15
So now let me try to understand this. Native Americans are offended that Elizabeth Warren has tried to portray herself as a member of the Cherokee Nation? But she never did that. or if so when? I mean I really missed the part were she said she was a Citizen of a First Nation group. I keep up with the news and I think I would have remembered that. I do remember Donald Trump doing a lot of croking about her and calling her Pocahontas. It was entended as an insult, but none of Elizabeths doing. As far as I know She has never portrayed her self as a white woman from a humble background. Or is all of this just some lazy reporting, wehat we used to call a tempest in a teapot. Being used by some who know that if they can keep us squabbling amounts ourselves they can keep on picking our pockets.
11
You have missed quite a bit of her history.
With this apology, Warren shows how unfit she is to hold any leadership position in government. This is the equivalent of apologizing to the fundamentalists if she had previously said the earth was not created in 6 days. She is doing nothing less than denying science and figuratively prostrating herself before religious leaders.
4
The article notes "that, for most Native Americans, culture and kinship is what creates tribal membership — not blood." I guess the Oglala Sioux Tribe is not included among "most Native Americans." The Oglala Department of Enrollment requires DNA results "where applicable" for Tribal Enrollment and a "certificate of Indian Blood from their Tribe" in the event a parent of a minor applicant for enrollment is enrolled in another Tribe. The Oglala form even asks the applicant for their "Degree of Indian blood." Blood, it appears, is important in determining tribal enrollment.
5
Very thoughtful of Senator Warren, certainly wasn’t necessary.
4
Did I miss something here? All Warren did was say that her family ancestry included Native Americans. She never claimed to be a member of any tribe. Why are some Native Americans working so hard to support the Republican Party's childish, lying attacks on a Democratic presidential candidate the Right clearly fears and against whom they have no legitimate argument? Should journalists be looking for a hidden connection between the Cherokee Nation and the GOP that would explain their actions?
19
Why do people care so much about the fact that she took a DNA test to find out if what her mother told her was true. She has native american DNA, she never claimed to be 100% native american. This country has the worst relationship with race. I've known people to claim relatives from the May Flower or even English relatives, Brits don't get an apology for that.
12
Can we all move on from this it, it is getting real old. Trump has told over 7,000 lies since taking office and we are focused on this. Really?
35
The Pocahontas slur was originally a desperate attempt by pretty-boy Scott Brown to rescue his brief career. It didn't stick then, and it doesn't matter now. Senator Warren was not trying to claim Indian heritage. She was simply defending herself against a low pitch.
13
Somehow Warren has earned the ire of the Cherokee, despite her professed pride in her Native American ancestry. That's a big fumble.
Warren's pride in her ancestry was an opportunity to line up friends and support from people that rarely get a voice in politics. She did not take it, which is why she found herself without allies in this moment.
Some might consider this a minor fumble - something to cut your teeth on - especially during a long campaign season, I hope that's true.
3
I don't understand. Does this mean that the DNA tests you can take to determine your ethnic ancestry are phony? How is what she did any different from my trying to find out if my roots are in Germany or Ireland or Poland?
Is the idea that ethnic or racial affiliation is a matter of self-declaration and commitment? But that idea goes straight to Rachel Dolezal-land. And that certainly is not a concept that progressives were happy with.
Warren's move may have been politically hamfisted, and may have put her down to Trump's level, which can never be good. But what does she have to apologize for?
5
Here’s some breaking news:
Donald Trump has never apologized for anything – not from taking the last Oreo from his mother’s cookie jar when he was five years old to cheating on his wife/wives to lying about his Horatio Alger story to pretending he gives a hoot (not the word choice I’d normally make) about all us poor working stiffs.
Sen. Warren is a woman with a plan. Donald Trump is a man with a mouth. You do the math.
(Donald Trump is the New York Times’s Achilles heel. Get thee to a podiatrist or orthopaedic specialist, NYT.)
13
With all due and loving respect to the Native American nations, I'm not always convinced by some of the rationales that each tribe uses to determine who is a citizen or member. The introduction of tribal-run casinos in California led to the expulsions of many full-blooded members from tribes because of increasing family nepotism; folks living for generations in tribal enclaves deprived of the financial benefits of the casinos because they were deemed "not full-blooded". Yet for years, tribal commissions have made the claim that anyone with varying degrees of native American blood could claim membership - if only because it increased the population and thereby increasing the number of claims against the government - not without reasons. (Blood content could mean anything from 4/4 to 7/32 and smaller - the blood chart is broken down by generations.)
I believe the casinos and any other means to gather income for the nations are necessary and justifiable ways to allow the nations solvency and self-protection. We should be cognizant that the 21st century First Americans are not always equitable with one another. The animosities that existed before the arrival of white men exists today. Warren's woes are semantic, thanks to Trump and Co.
10
Quite a few people have taken DNA tests - including me. Ancestry.com and 23 and me offer these tests for a reasonable price. If I had a family oral history of native American ancestry I would be curious to find out. Why native Americans have some problem with this is beyond me. Apparently, very few have taken the test so she didn't learn much. All she did is confirm she has native American ancestry that dates back hundreds of years to the arrival of Europeans to America. Is there some nefarious stigma supposed to be attached to that? With the Cherokee? If the Cherokee or other native Americans feel they are due an apology it isn't Warren who owes them one. She didn't call herself Pocahontas.
25
Much thanks to Mr. Hoskin for explaining what it means to be Native American. My own grandfather was born in 1888, and orphaned as an infant on a Reservation, and then, subsequently adopted and raised by a white family never considered himself "Native American", because he never was part of the Native American experience, even though his blood (DNA) was 100% Native American.
In an age when people are so fixated on blood ancestry, people in my opinion are falsely affixing their own identity to DNA analysis. My own sister had her DNA tested, and yes, we are 25% Native American from a DNA perspective as the tests would indicate, but we have no Native American experience, and do not in anyway consider ourselves to be Native American at all. Nor have/would I ever use my DNA profile to gain advantage in say employment or college. I am 100% American, because that is my one and only experience.
"Culture and kinship is what creates tribal membership - not blood". It does not matter how much Native American DNA Ms. Warren or I have, we are not in any cultural or kinship way Native American (and never were), and I accepted that a very long time ago, and am very glad Ms. Warren unlike DJT is a big enough person to seek understanding and apologize. This makes her part of the best tribe of all, the Human Tribe.
15
@Sparky, the last paragraph won me. Thank you for posting.
It's hard to distinguish between all these Democrats that have been declaring for the presidency. They're all endorsing the very same policies.
But Warren has managed to set herself apart - she's shown terrible judgment in her handling of Trump's taunt.
In her campaign, she's going to face a lot more adversity than she ever encountered at Harvard Law. Given this unforced error, I wonder how she'll handle things when the going really gets tough.
7
When did she claim tribal citizenship? I don't get it. I have a small percentage of ancestry from northern Russia. Disclosing that hardly means I am claiming Russian citizenship.
21
I'm glad Sen.Warren apologized, but remain appalled that she took the test in the first place. It was a cheap and uninspiring political stunt, at best.
7
why wouldnt she take the test? its a great way to confirm her family lore.
2
@William Trump baited Obama starting before the 2008 election, claiming then and up until his (Trump's) own candidacy that Obama had been born in Kenya, not Hawaii. When Obama caved to show his birth certificate - something Trump has refused to do with his tax returns - Trump insisted the birth certificate was fake. Was Obama's action a cheap and uninspiring political stunt?
1
This is s tempest in a teaspoon. My ancestors are from the Midwest. In the Midwest, just about every other family's history claims to have an ancestor who was a "Cherokee Princess." My aunts from both sides of the family told me at a very early age that I have a Great-Great-Great Grandmother who was a Cherokee Princess. My sister is a genealogist and her research coupled with our gene testing proved that the family claim is false. So, I can't see how Ms. Warren's family history is an insult to the Cherokee Nation. By the way, for rights to land and other tribal benefits, most Amerindian tribes have created very strict definitions of who is and isn't a member.
16
Elizabeth Warren owes no apology. What she has done and said have been re worded to imply she was claiming tribal connection, when in fact she was not. She claimed that someone in her distant past may have been native american, and the test confirmed it. Anything after that was created by a couple of tribal officers. It isn't clear that the majority or even a significant number of actual tribal members were offended.
20
It was a huge and embarrassing mistake on Warren't part. But she and the public have to get past it now. She's a strong candidate and shouldn't be torpedoed by it.
5
I am from Massachusetts and after six years, we are still trying to figure out "how she is making our lives better". Look into what she has actually "accomplished" and not just the bills she proposes while being a Senator...chatter does not equal success.
7
It's pretty ironic. Because of all the candidates she's the one who would do the most for Native Americans and anyone who doesn't get a fair shake, or any shake at all for that matter. And she's proved it with her work. She would make a great President. The total antithesis of the baffoon that's there now. Articulate and a thinker. If Beto doesn't run, right now for me she's the best.
21
Rightly or wrongly, Elizabeth Warren's very public exploration of her native American ancestry, or lack thereof, has likely put the nail in the coffin of any chance at a successful presidential run. She should recognize this inevitable truth and devote her energies to her senatorial duties.
9
She probably has Native ancestry, if that is family history. I'm pleased she came out and said she was not a member of any federally-recognized tribe; certain Republicans were implying that she had claimed that to gain preference in college. That part is over.
What she could do to gain my vote is to come forward as a supporter of full funding for Indian programs (BIA, IHS, and IRR roads) and for honoring the treaties in full faith. Then she WOULD be a true friend.
4
The apology from Senator Warren is a welcome development, one that shows some humility along with real concern for the feelings and views of the Cherokee nation. Would that our president, who has insulted Native Americans on more than one occasion (including not listening to their views about extractive industries on tribal lands) could follow suit, at least in some small way.
5
What she should apologize for is the lies she told to win an appointment to a position that was meant for a minority.
She knowingly took advantage of a system meant to help the most vulnerable in our society and that is unforgivable.
11
@Steve W That is incorrect. Prof. Warren was a super-successful legal scholar. Harvard University has stated that she was not hired because of her ethnicity, or race.
27
She never obtained any preferential treatment in education or hiring. She was already employed by Harvard when the diversity survey was given to all faculty. Harvard just wanted to have stats to put in it’s catalogue for recruitment purposes.
8
@Chris Rasmussen
Sure. Look at the Harvard Law School faculty listing online and tell me how many other Prof.s graduated from Rutgers, or schools of that caliber.
2
I care a great, great deal about Native America. My DNA test shows that my ancestry is 100% European. If it happened to show any Native percentage I would be delighted and proud and I would want to know all about those ancestors and their other descendants. That would be very important to me regardless of any tribal affiliation. There are Indians all over the place who aren't tribal members. Some were disenrolled. Some are from families that just fell away from tribal life. Some hide their cultures and backgrounds in plain sight. Some are Latinos with indigenous ancestry. Some are from Puerto Rico. Some came from places in Mexico where many people only speak indigenous languages and don't know Spanish, let alone English. Indians are everywhere, in the tens of millions from Alaska and Northern Canada to Argentina. And I'm glad about that. I can't imagine living here and not wanting to know as much as possible about the people who originally populated this land, and their descendants, and their cultures that are invaluable to their people, and have so much to offer the rest of the world. The US should have presidents who care about Native America, and some presidents with Native ancestry to whatever degree, and some presidents who are Native people.
13
The Cherokee Nation deserves no apology from anyone, anytime over the issue of identity after seeking to remove the Cherokee Freedmen from their rolls. Pure politics on their part, and it is simply beyond comprehension that they would argue with results of a DNA test which did nothing but confirm Warren's assertion of native American ancestry. To my knowledge, she at no time ever asserted membership of any tribe. This manufactured issue won't be able to gain any traction here in Oklahoma where a significant percentage of the population shares Elizabeth Warren's status - that is, having Native American ancestry while not being a member of a tribe.
26
Warren fell into Trump's trap in spectacular fashion and ruined her 2020 chances before her campaign got off the ground. Democrats need to put forward a candidate who can capture the electorate that is not convinced by the far left intersectional wing, instead of one that is so obviously trying to pander to them.
4
Warren was right to apology and it was quite possibly the most humble thing she's done since taking office. She has not exactly proven herself to be of any people, Native American or otherwise. By asserting that she was Native American (not that she merely had Native American blood in her DNA, but that her immediate family "had the high cheekbones...") and basing that assertion on family lore was, to be frank, very immature. We need a candidate who can defeat the current POTUS! Unfortunately Warren is NOT that person. The current President's appeal is deeply rooted with middle Americans who despise people like Warren...she's so extremely left that her candidacy will not gain traction with a huge part of the country. We need a moderate who can get out of his/her own way, keep his/her ego in check and appeal to a lot more people than Warren ever will.
4
Well, it isn't clear why Warren had to apologize. She didn't call herself a Cherokee citizen. She said she likely had Cherokee ancestry, which apparently she does.
13
She waited 3 months to own this & apologize. How was doing it today a better strategy than reaching out back in October when she offended the Cherokee people?
October was the peak of the messaging and political battles that delivered the House. A prompt effort to make amends would appear sincere. She was being attacked by Trump Twitter and hastily reacted without foresight. That’s human. It could have been foam in the wake of the Blue Wave.
I’ve not seen a single headline say ‘Cherokee Nation accepts Elizabeth Warren’s apology today’. That’s on her.
2
My goodness - one misstep after another. If she's our hope for 2020, we're hopeless.
4
I wish she'd just never taken the bait on a poison pill designed to undermine her legitimacy.
As the end of the old chestnut goes, "...you get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it."
2
Oh, for crying out loud. This is not a story. I notice this came out the same day on which Trump virtually admitted that he was terrified of her (still) and Harris proclaimed that she wasn’t going to use PAC money (after an article stating that this was the new litmus test). What’s worse: the stupid DNA test, or Trump going for the racist name again?
13
Perhaps Ms. Warren should smoke the peace pipe to make everyone feel right at home.
2
@John Doe - What in the world are you talking about?
1
-Elizabeth Warren Apologizes to Cherokee Nation for DNA Test-
Warren is clueless...she needs to apologize for ever claiming Native American ancestry, and allowing that status to enhance her academic career. The DNA test simply amounted to Warren doubling down on the initial deception:
'Harvard Law School in the 1990s touted Warren, then a professor in Cambridge, as being "Native American." They singled her out, Warren later acknowledged, because she had listed herself as a minority in an Association of American Law Schools directory.'
https://www.cnn.com/2016/06/29/politics/elizabeth-warren-native-american-pocahontas/index.html
Glad she's still explaining though...there's still hope she might actually end up doing the right thing,
8
@Raconteur I’m amazed at how many are defending her outright fraud. This could have far reaching consequences for her and those who associated with her.
4
@Raconteur
What is the right thing? Resign? Not run for office?
Given the current state of politics, it just amazes the standard to which Warren is being held.
Our current President bragged about walking into female teenagers changing rooms, to see the girls naked, but Warren's apology is not enough for you.
6
If the Times and Washington Post led the way in referring to the lies Fred Trump and Donald Trump kept telling everyone that they were Swedish or Norwegian depending on the day for decades instead of writing about this ridiculous story of Warren’s claim of Cherokee blood in her veins (which she actually has but so what?), this issue would have seen the light of day for 10 minutes.
The problem is that talking about the lies of big time lies does not sell papers. Talking about Warren’s totally irrelevant exagagerration does.
7
Elizabeth Warren was probably unaware that her apparently casual interest in her own genealogy might offend the Cherokee Nation, of which she never claimed to be a member. While I cannot judge how that nation or other native Americans should respond, I do wonder why any of the rest of us should criticize her interest, especially in light of the President’s repeated slurs. By the way, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) claimed on an interview with CNN”s Dana Bash that she is a direct descendant of Pocahontas. Does that make her evil, too? I have found it fun in the past to look for interesting ancestors. Lighten up.
11
As someone with "family history" and generational confirmation regarding Native American ancestry, we have found that many people hid the fact of their N.A. ancestry. 2nd, in a state where now being part of one tribe or another individuals receive free healthcare, school supplies, and other benefits one starts asking, "Where does one cease to become part of a tribe, and at what % (whether by blood test or by direct lineage tracking to a roll number) does that happen? Remember, many of these benefits are also tax supported through federal programs, so it's not just about the tribes, but it is also about your tax dollars being used to support individuals who may be 1/256th American (or less). Also remember that many of these tribal organizations are competing against other companies to sell goods or services, yet they get Federal guarantees, and often times can compete at a tax free status. Not to mention they can openly establish casinos, etc. that other free enterprise organizations cannot, so they also have a monopoly. I all for Tribal Rights, and Sovereign Nation status, but that is where the question lies as far as where one stops, and all the rights and privileges of being an American or State citizen begins. Right now they have the best of both worlds, even though some may be 1/256th Native American.
1
Great start to her campaign!
4
If people think something like this won’t happen to every single Democratic primary candidate, they are kidding themselves. Right now the talking points machine is getting started on Kamala Harris’ social life and even a form of birtherism. Biden’s “plagiarism” scandal and hugs, every awkward picture, everything “unAmerican” will be dragged out and gasped at, because that’s how Republicans roll and because Trump is weak. The whole thing with Warren has been cleared. Now let’s move on.
13
I think it's time the Cherokee Nation put this controversy to rest and embrace Elizabeth Warren for trying to do the right thing, and support her ancestry; and denounce in the strongest possible way Donald Trump's continual use of his race baiting her by using Native American slurs.
53
Imagine that you could go back in time and ask Warren's indigenous American ancestors whether this woman, who is clearly a daughter of one of their descendants, could count herself as belonging to their family.
My descendants, should I have any, would share my wife's Asian ancestry and my own European ancestry. I don't think either of us would insist upon that person hiding the fact that they shared either of our genes (e.g., by demanding that they don't publicize the fact that they're genetically related to us lest we be offended).
I do not claim that it is my business whether or not the Cherokee count Warren as one of them. I would never presume to make a recommendation regarding that matter whatsoever.
On the other hand, I'll admit that at a deep visceral level I don't get any of this. These idiotic controversies both sadden me and despair that my fellow humans are irretrievably petty. Warren never made a claim to be a cultural Cherokee. She simply showed an interest in her ancestors. If that's a crime, we're all in trouble.
27
I wish Elizabeth Warren would shut up about this topic, she is just making this situation worse. So, she has a trace of Native American pedigree. As I understand it, Native Americans in the U.S., don't consider one Native American unless you live the life. Okay, that's fine, I think Ms. Warren and the Cherokee tribal leaders now leave the subject alone. Keep on digging Ms. Warren, and you lose every time.
3
This bogus controversy has received far more attention than it ever deserved. Sen. Warren's decision to take a DNA test was dumb, and publicizing its results was even dumber. I think it is important for all Americans to understand and respect the fact that most Indian tribes do not base their membership on ancestry or DNA. But the senator was not trying to claim membership or citizenship in the Cherokee Nation. Probably she was trying to confirm a bit of family lore--namely, that she had some Indian ancestry, as do many non-Indian Americans. And, of course, she had tired of President Trump's "Pocahontas" insults. Sen. Warren has now apologized, and this article ought to be the last report on this non-issue. The United States faces serious problems at home and abroad, and we can ill-afford another presidential campaign that focuses on personal attacks, rumor-mongering, and insults.
6
Senator Warren issued a sincere apology. Can we please move on now?
6
Another attack on a woman. And you know by whom. Honestly, the Cherokee leaders have disappointed me by the way they handled this and played right into Trump's vicious slandering. Elizabeth Warren's becoming more sympathetic by the minute.
21
This is another example of an opportunistic politician who won't ever admit that something they did in their past was wrong on their part.
That is, until they get caught.
And it becomes politically advantageous to apologize.
Her 'apology' doesn't include anything about her wrongly claiming to be Cherokee, just for harming the Cherokee Nation. Same old politicians….cannot admit being wrong but provide a faux apology for offending someone.
8
@Tom
She shouldn't have apologized in the first place. She didn't claim tribal membership or kinship. She said she had Native American ancestry, and so she does.
5
@Ben
She shouldn't have claimed Cherokee heritage in the first place. Dominant white people of power, and Ivy league professors do have power, should not appropriate minority identity. That is abusive and works to perpetuate the dominant position. If she would have admitted she made a bad choice in the past, this issue would have died. But in her position as a person in power, she has demonstrated she is incapable of doing so. She alone is responsible for this becoming her defying character trait.
We can take her name off the list of candidates for 2020. Bad enough she took the test, but now to apologize? She's toast.
8
This falls under the "Too little, too late" category.
5
Can we stop with this now? It is not important. Failed nuclear arms deals, a trillion dollar deficit, Russia, China, Syria, Afghanistan, gross economic inequality and what we do about it, these things are important.
10
I do not see this apology as any more significant than the fact that she took a DNA test as a way of calling Trump's bluff. The president made a schoolyard taunt/joke based on a racial stereotype. Warren gave some factual evidence to refute it, much like Obama's actual birth certificate, and like that piece of factual evidence it had little impact on Trump. She didn't do it to change his mind, and she most certainly didn't do it to claim tribal citizenship! It wasn't the smartest thing to do, in hindsight, but an apology shows basic human decency, which is a stark contrast to Trump's utter lack of it.
Her candidacy will be about economic justice, vastly more relevant to Americans than a blood test.
8
Shouldn't have apologized, did nothing for which forgiveness was needed. The natives who got bent out of shape over this were simply looking for some ink. I think she took the test thinking it would shut Trump up, that was her only mistake.
6
No. Her false claim was a mistake too. So was using it to further her academic career. Denial was a mistake as well. Then the test - a clear mistake.
1
@William There was no false claim, if you would care to do a little research from experts you would find that indeed her DNA does show native ancestry in her family's past. It has been widely published that she did not seek or gain any advantage from have a small portion of native blood. I have no clue about the denial of which you speak so I reiterate no apology was needed.
@Richard (from Canada). It is a fact that she indicated on her employment application that she was ‘Native American’. That implied that the was indeed Native American. She isn’t. She has possibly some Native American ancestors anywhere from 6 to 10 generations in her past. Native Americans say that even that is meaningless. So, in summary, she claimed something that she herself then proved was not truthful.
1
Some readers seems to feel that something has been sorted out regarding who Native Americans feel is a member of their tribe or nation.
I believe that there are differing opinions on this issue from various nations. In the end each individual group decides who is a member and who isn't. In the meantime, there's nothing wrong with individuals saying that they have Native American ancestry, many generations back. It doesn't necessarily mean they are saying they are Cherokee.
I'd put more trust in the family stories than I would the DNA testing being offered at this time...it's pretty sketchy I believe.
4
My Dad believed that his great-great(possibly + great) grandfather had married a "Cherokee" woman. As a child I believed it was true. When I had children I told them they "might" be part Cherokee . Other than what my Dad & his mother said, their was no corroboration. Last year my wife gave me a test kit for fun. Not only did I find out that my Cherokee heritage was a myth ,I also found out that "my touch of Irish"was almost 50%.
I also realized that many families have Myths surrounding their lineage.
A positive benefit was ,that I learned about the proud Cherokee Nation & the evil done to them by President Jackson.
7
Well, this is actually kind of good. I would not have been able to tell you beforehand what the Cherokee Nation's criteria for citizenship are, nor how they determine who is affiliated with them. Now I know, and I'm sure a lot of others who were unclear on the concept do, too. So, thank you, Elizabeth Warren and the Cherokee Nation, for hashing this out in a decent and respectful manner.
228
@Allison
I have no idea why EW would apologize for the DNA test. Maybe apologize if she called herself Cherokee, but I did not hear that she did. If DNA test is offensive to the folks complaining then why is there a 1/16 Cherokee blood requirement for tribal enrollment? At 93.75% other blood shouldn't those members be considered something else? My kids are Dine (Navajo) but don't live on the rez and don't speak the language, but they are Dine.
49
@Bob, Warren has been calling herself a Cherokee Indian for years. The universities she taught at used her being a Native American to prove their faculty was ethnically diverse, even Harvard used her “native american” background this way. It’s high time she apologized for trading on the fact that her family claimed to have had a great-great-great-great (or more) grandmother somewhere in the line who was a Cherokee.
3
@Bob: I agree, I don't think she needed to apologize. After sifting through the brouhaha on the Internet, it's obvious that this issue is only important to Warren's political opponents and right-wing bloggers. They are the ones who ought to be apologizing to her for all of the false information they've spread, and for the absurd inferences they've made based upon extremely thin evidence. And thank you for your information about the blood requirement for tribal enrollment, which makes her apology seem even less necessary.
33
I'm sorry the Cherokees were offended by Warren's DNA test, but I don't recall that she ever claimed to be a "family" member of the Cherokee Nation. In any case, this whole "controversy" is nothing more than an attempted replay of the Birther nonsense with which Trump and other right-wing Republicans tried to discredit Barack Obama. If nothing else, it puts Warren in very good company.
12
If you consider Hillary and Bill Clinton “good company” then you and I define “good” differently. Elizabeth Warren lied, pure and simple. She is an opportunist. Obama’s Birther Controversy is not analogous. Apples and oranges.
I am a resident of the state of Mississippi. I am a lifelong Democrat. I am 72 years of age and retired. For many years, I considered myself to have some degree of Native American ancestry based only on family information. I no longer feel that affinity with the Native-American culture. Any such family claim is now treated as illegitimate by Native-American Activists and supporters. This change has happened in the last 3 years following the constant attacks on Senator Elizabeth Warren for her family Native American claims.
As for back as I can recall, I have been told by relatives that my maternal grandfather was part Native-American or “Indian” with no tribal attribution. I do know that he and my mother had darker skin tone and different body structure than the rest of the family. He was raised in N. Mississippi. He had high cheek bones, a defined nose and piercing eyes.
Now I am told that I have no legitimate claim to any Native American heritage. Now I see people with the same claimed Native American family attachment being attacked and ridiculed. I do not hear any Native American voices raised defending Senator Warren in her claim of even a remote kinship.
Perhaps we need to re-examine the status of Native American Tribal Nations? Is this separate nation fiction healthy for Native Americans? You know the “real” ones?
4
@Sam Fleming
These are confusing times!
I remember being at a gathering of Native Americans and the elder speaking stating that they considered anyone with the smallest amount of "Indian"( his word) blood to be Indian.
We argue about everything.
1
There they go again, Dems apologizing for much ado about nothing. Can we please just skip the theatrics and be tough for once? It is 2019 and the game's changed. Play it or pay.
2
Warren does not need to apologize for claiming to have Native American ancestry. Trump needs to apologize for calling her Pocahontas, which is racist and the Cherokee Nation needs to apologize for saying that she claimed to be a member of the Cherokee Nation, which she didn't do. There are hundreds of people in America and Canada that claim native heritage and have proved it via DNA testing, but do not claim to be a member of a particular tribe. There is nothing wrong with that.
14
I think Sen. Warren is showing humility, which leaders need.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some of the other potential Democratic candidates seem to me, too full of themselves. If Democrats are to win the presidency in 2020, I think, they need to focus on humility.
We are not now, the US of T, the United States of Trump, and I don't feel we need another ego-maniac in the White House.
4
Talking about Ms. Warren's Native American ancestors is like talking about Hillary Clinton's emails, a distraction not worth all the Press. She should not have to apologize. It's Trump who should apologize for pretending to be Swedish for years instead of German.
14
I don't see what difference it makes. The Tribal leaders have been expecting her to apologize today to them because a DNA test showed that she has an ancestor in her family tree? I don't recall her ever claiming she was kCherokee Nation citizen or a citizen of any tribal nation, Ms Hubbard. Could you please provide me with the source and the quote Ms Warren used to claim being a citizen of any tribal nation? I was not aware that I would have to apologize to people in Poland that I don't know but if Ms. Warren feels it necessary to apologize ok.
I suppose I should apologize for mowing the lawn on the Sabbath because I have an ancestor way back there who was Jewish? I should apologize because I was baptized Catholic shortly after I was born but now I no longer consider any Church anything more than a tribe. What Mr. Hoskin is ignorant of is that a person brings their life experiences into the family they live with and that makes them kin, at least to the family they live with. Many Americans have had American Natives in their families. Well, it is good to know that now, when an Native American marries a person who is not an Native American any children that are produced will count for nothing to all Native Americans, unless they just want to be friends.
3
Ok, so can we now get past this non-issue & start talking policy, experience, government chops, ideas, intellect. So far Senator Warren is head and shoulders above the social media darlings that have already jumped into this ridiculously long pre-primary.
5
Lesson to learn: As Pelosi shows us, offense is far better than defense where Donald Trump is concerned. Never take the bait or try to prove anything to Donald Trump!
5
Equally problematic is that, for at least 20 years, from the mid 1980s to the mid 2000s, Elizabeth Warren identified as "Native American" and as a "minority" on administrative forms maintained by universities where she was employed as a professor — a persistent claim that enabled these institutions to bolster and misrepresent their own faculty diversity claims with prospective students and faculty, and on federal forms.
It appears that Warren still is not prepared to come completely clean on this.
8
EW took the test because the race-baiting trump kept calling her Pocahontas. Her mistake was in using the wrong approach to call him out, but can we please return to issues and policy and stop turning every election into a game show? Anyone who dismisses her over this should really ask themselves who's going to be better for people, including Native Americans, her or Trump?
1
I do not understand why this is an issue. To some, like myself, to say that we have native American ancestry is something to be proud of. Warren never said she was a member of a tribe or considered herself a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. To the Metis of Canada, a recognized indigenous community, one drop of native blood, no matter how far back it goes, authorized you to say you are a Metis, which means mixed blood, European and First Nations. I suggest that the NYT's contact the President of the Metis National Council in Ottawa, who can put this issue to bed.
6
Trump admitted to The NY Times yesterday that Pocahontas was a “trap”. See his exact quote yesterday.
This whole controversy has been blown out of proportion by the Far Right that coalesced around a narrative to weaken her. They gloated that Warren’s presidential aspirations are “dead on arrival”
What’s disappointing is that the mainstream media went along with that narrative. Senator Warren never claimed tribal citizenship on the basis of that DNA test. The test was only meant to support her claim that her family lore had a Native American ancestor in her heritage. Warren never benefited from Native American heritage as was categorically stated by Harvard and UPenn after an investigation by the Boston Globe.
In my view, Warren had no reason to apologize. Everyone made use of the episode to get their 2 minutes of fame.
The media should learn better than play into narratives and “traps” set by Republicans and Trump.
Judge candidate on their policies and accomplishments. Investigate. Ask questions. Don’t just parrot what the right is saying. The percentage of Native American DNA was irrelevant. She was only defending a family folklore of an ancestor many generations back. That turned out to be true. But, GOP and Trump turned it around and the media fell for it, while the Bros cheered it on... shameless!
12
So what’s the alternative? Never get your DNA tested because it’s not considered part of Native American identity? Get tested and shut up? If Trump calls you Kenyan, don’t under any circumstances get your birth certificate?
Are accepted Native Americans allowed to get their DNA tested. Are the results an affront in some way? Is it improper for anyone to reveal their DNA percentages? Always? Just if they seem to have some Native American DNA?
All people have responsibility to understand the limits of DNA tests. But is it wrong to get tested? Why?
7
Now she should apologize for apologizing.
1
I'm adopted and just got my DNA results which makes me feel like I know more about myself and my biological families' past. Maybe it's accurate, maybe it's not, but I hope I've filled in some questions I've had in the past. The main reason I've done DNA testing is to hopefully find an older brother who was placed in the same Catholic orphanage many, many moons ago. The orphanage is no longer so I don't have a physical place to go for answers. Hopefully, he's still alive and is searching for his sister... me.
3
@Surviving
Good luck!
My advice to Warren – based on watching Democrats (esp. HRC) stumble all over the famous 'deplorables' comment – is to take ownership of Trump's 'Pocahontas' jibe.
Warren's team should be selling Pocahontas 2020 bumper stickers. Proving she can take a joke will strengthen her candidacy and pre-empt further name-calling by Trump.
7
I really dislike it that Elizabeth Warren apologized for something that should have been appreciated. I suspect she did it to get rid of the rat at her throat, Trump. If she is criticized now, it's because she cannot win. I respect her more for trying to put this stupid issue to rest, and for standing up to Trump who is still calling her a bigoted name. Can we not move on to the issues she is fighting for? Native tribes should be so gratified that someone with Warren's caliber is attempting to bring real change to this country. How petty to criticize her for a DNA test without acknowledging the racist Trump is behind it.
6
Trump must really be enjoying this.
3
Great move Warren! Kudos!
Could anyone imagine our current president admitting to a mistake? What an amazing contrast.
You now have an opportunity to turn this around completely. Pledge to eliminate the blood quantum laws and to allow the tribes and villages to determine who is a who is not a member:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_quantum_laws
3
I will look forward to the Senator’s participation in primary races and hopefully debates. She is brilliant and has presented serious policy options. She will make a wonderful cabinet secretary, should the Democratic Party find the sense to come together as a team. Perhaps Mr. Belichek should be consulted.
2
Warren's real problem was allowing Trump to bait her into proving her genetic native ancestry.
There is a sharp distinction between carrying a DNA percentage and claiming citizenship or racial identity. Tribal leaders made that line clear, and Warren has responded appropriately.
6
The DNA test established that it was possible Warren had some Native American blood, but did not establish it as a fact.
Her current apology is too little too late to excuse her trading on minority status to gain employment preference.
6
From what I've read, she never actually did that...
2
@ebmem You’re rehashing Republican lies and drivel. The Boston Globe did an extensive investigation of Senator Warren’s employment applications. The Globe found clear evidence, in documents and interviews, that her claim to Native American ethnicity was never considered by the Harvard Law faculty, which voted resoundingly to hire her, or by those who hired her to four prior positions at other law schools. At every step of her remarkable rise in the legal profession, the people responsible for hiring her saw her as a white woman.
1
People in general talk a good line, caring so much about the poor, the minorities, the disabled, the abused, yet where is the evidence of this caring?
The Native population of this country struggles economically, more so than any other minority, the true owners of the land, shoved and held down in dire economic living conditions. Yet knowing many who belong to the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, I witness a strong community who are smart, patriotic and generous.
Elizabeth Warren and Donald Trump need to back off their rhetoric and study the meaning and wonderment of Native Culture, it is as with any culture unique and worthy of respect.
3
@Great Lakes State Brilliantly stated and so very true.
It's all good when you are a kid and the other kids are talking about being Italian or Irish or German (in my neighborhood in the 50's). Most of the mild scolds here are that Warren went too far in ticking off the Native American box. Preferential treatment was being given to underrepresented minorities and most people knew it. That's the rub.
My family also spoke of a Native American ancestor mixed in with our English, German, French, Swedish and Irish (we've been a part of the melting pot for a long time). My brothers and I were good athletes and we liked to attribute it to our "native" blood. Family lore had it that a Swedish trapper in Quebec migrated to upstate NY and married a woman of partial Native American descent. We had a town and surnames . A grandmother of German descent however removed documents and photos of this 'mixed race' couple. LOL? She did leave a few of the portraits, I use one for my icon.
Eventually I did the test; traces of Native American and West African genes enter the bloodline late 1600's or so. It made me wonder; what if we all could go back 7 generations and see portraits hanging on a wall of our 128 progenitors. What a fascinating lineup that would be. It would also be a helpful reminder for all of us living in the USA, the world's largest melting pot.
But back to Warren. I never would have traded on my distant ancestor and I believe that I had a lot more to go on than Warren did. Bad judgment. But people learn and change... So?
5
Unfortunately, the Cherokee Nation and other Native Americans who complained about the Senator's DNA test are worried that others will take DNA tests that prove without a shadow of a doubt their connection to these tribes. The fact of the matter is that they are trying to prevent the masses of African Americans, Whites and others who can legitimately claim a stake in tribal heritage (based on DNA) from doing so. I suspect so that these folks won't be able to get any benefits derived from tribal citizenship. It is a form of "native nationalism," if you will.
1
I'm disappointed by the media coverage of this episode, especially here in the NYtimes. Senator Warren had a binary choice - let Trump, centrists and the cable networks run with this nothing-burger up until election night, or debunk Trump's lie early and prove she hadn't lied using a DNA test. Leaving aside whether that was the best choice, Senator Warren has at no time made any claim to tribal citizenship and didn't ever seek or receive any benefits from such a claim. Yet now Warren is supposed to be weakened by a scandal about... what exactly? From where I'm standing, it looks a bit like the centrist 'democrats' and their MSM allies are opportunistically misrepresenting a racist slur by Trump (one that was never even newsworthy anyway) as some kind of gaffe on Warren's part. Essentially, they are trying to manufacture a media scandal, lying publicly about both the context and facts, working alongside the Trumpist trolls to spin up a news cycle narrative that it has 'weakened her candidacy' then using their very own actions to make a bad-faith case that Warren shouldn't run in the primary. Neoliberals and their fellow travelers don't have to vote for Warren, or agree with her. These sorts of tactic only serves to divide the party and signal that Senator Warren's political enemies have nothing to say to voters about economic issues and deeply fear a free and open democratic primary.
9
How does this private apology for taking a DNA test help? Elizabeth Warren claimed to be an American Indian. That's not a claim that she had American Indian ancestry, but to herself be an American Indian.
False claims to minority status to gain favors in employment or to be elected to office harm us all. Elizabeth Warren proudly said that she would be the first American Indian elected to the Senate from Massachusetts. Where's the apology, publicly to all of us, for that?
4
Citation needed. She never said that.
9
She never claimed to be Native American. You could look up the facts, or just stick with Fox alternate news.
3
@John Smithson You’re 100% mistakened. Senator Warren DID NOT claim that she was Native American to gain employment anywhere.
There’s NO EVIDENCE of Warren saying that she would be the first American Indian elected to senate from Massachusetts. Share the link or evidence.
3
From the cynical perspective of managing a candidate's reputation, any coverage of this issue will reflect badly on Warren. The necessity or wisdom of the apology is reasonably a subject of debate. Which means that the Warren team is merely resurrecting the news cycle about her claim of Cherokee identity, an approach that has gone badly at every step, in every iteration. Again, solely for purposes of gaining or preserving votes, whether through the perceived character-defining value of an apology or, for those who might care about the difference between identity and genetic lineage, an admission of error, at this point it isn't likely to move anyone from their entrenched positions. If it clears her conscience, however, then she gets something out of it.
If Donald Trump had made the same DNA decision as Elizabeth Warren with the same result, the Cherokee nation would feel honored that such a noble personage could claim kinship. Likewise, if Elizabeth Warren wasn't so progressive she'd probably be welcome.
Sen.Warren's mistake was in not recognizing that Trump's "Pocahantas" insult was only one of many random insults that the president throws out to rattle political opponents. He never cared about her genetic heritage. Unfortunately, Warren's public revelation of her DNA test led her into the no-win trap that Trump had set for her. She might have apologized for her political naiveté but nothing much else.
163
@Matthew
Since when are unrelenting lies a "no win trap"? And it wasn't Unindicted Co-conspirator's creation. It was Scott Brown's, and the right wing propaganda sphere ran with it.
13
@Matthew
Your words remind me of the attack on Obama.
Obama said he was a native citizen. Trump said Obama was lying.
Warren said she had Native American pedigree and Trump said she was lying.
Warren did not claim to be a tribal citizen, just part of the pedigree like many other Americans-- Pedigree means DNA, not membership. If Warren benefitted from her pedigree, good for her. Now that the Tribal leaders and Warren have repaired their relationship by explaining their position and definitions, all that is left is what started the controversy--those lying, race-baiting words that continue to come from Trump's tweets.The Native American's can purge the demons from Trump--if he asks nicely.
28
@sinagua
The difference was that Trump's attacks on Obama were completely false. That is, Obama is and always has been a native citizen and never claimed otherwise. In the end, unsurprisingly, the truth - and Obama - prevailed (despite obstinate birthers' insistence to the contrary).
Trump's attack on Warren was at least partially justified. She had claimed affiliation with the Cherokee Nation and this ultimately proven to be untrue. She deserves the fallout.
Whenever her name comes up, the first thought that crosses a lot of people's mind is Trump calling her Pocahontas. Running for the Presidency is a high wire act and she has had an unrecoverable error before the winnowing season even starts. She has a lot of talent and expertise, so it would be a shame if a Democrat she can live with gets elected, that she doesn't accept a cabinet position and undo some of Trump's damage.
2
@Kevin Are you for real? Are you aware of all the endless list of monikers that people use to refer to the 45th POTUS?
If voters are going to going to be that immature and use incredibly inane reasons why they would not vote for a particular candidate then we deserve another 4 years of Trump.
I have friends who are part of the Cherokee Nation who stand by Ms. Warren and feel it was wrong to criticize her. She only ever said she has that ancestry in her family, and all of the attacks on her led her to get a DNA, test to support that fact. It was kind of a no win situation for her, if she didn't do it people would continue to say she was lying.
Yes some tribes have strict ideas about what give people tribal membership and DNA is not enough, but she never tried to claim that, so to give her such a hard time only empowered the right, the people that really have no regard for indigenous tribes.
7
@CP Elizabeth Warren claimed to be the first woman of color on the Harvard Law School faculty. She also listed herself as a member of a racial minority. That's more than saying she had American Indian ancestry.
If she apologized for those acts, I would say fine, no problem, let's move on. But she doesn't. Instead she claims that she was only claiming an American Indian heritage. That's a lie. And that's a problem.
3
Good decision. Refusing to excuse oneself is a sign of weakness.
Sometimes a DNA test is just a DNA test. Let's move on to the main event.
7
In the end this is all a good thing. Senator Warren was defending herself against claims from the right. Understood why she decided to take the test.
Native American's, including Hoskin Jr from the Cherokee Nation reminded her and all of us the importance of family and culture over abitrary laws (or tests), in a direct rebuke of Trump and the policies towards immigrants and minorities.
She apologized, but we have a clearer understanding of people, like Trump who want to manipulate the truth to their own end.
5
I took Elizabeth Warren's DNA test confirming her Cherokee heritage as a way of showing she was not lying to anyone about her background when she was Harvard professor. And she achieved that. Had she not done the DNA test, Trump and people of his ilk would have taunted her to prove her ties to the Cherokee nation. She has done that and can move on. I am sorry that her announcement of the test results offended the Cherokee nation. Her apology is late in coming but sincere. She loses points for that. But now let's move on. Sen. Warren while setting up the CFPB did great work. She has been an outspoken, articulate senator. I admire her efforts. She is not my first choice as a presidential contender, but I would vote for her against Donald Trump in a heartbeat.
4
It seems like a Trump like claim for Warren to claim tribal affiliation.
But really in the end who cares? She made a mistake. Can she lead the country with sound principles or are we going to play identity politics with every issue?
1
Ms. Warren did not learn her lesson during the first indigenous controversy, and should have never ordered the DNA test and made it public.
Although she is a brilliant legal scholar with many ameliorative policy ideas to benefit our country, I fear she is a tone-deaf politician who does not know how to chose her battles.
9
Folks who get their JD from Rutgers - Newark (ranked 83 nationwide) are not generally known for any significant scholarship. Exactly what “brilliant scholarship” is she know for?
1
@Son of liberty
That's the sort of law school snobbery associated with Antonin Scalia. And I wish it were buried.
Ms. Warren has been a law school professor at several excellent schools such as Texas, Michigan, and Harvard. And to achieve those positions it takes a very high law school GPA on a 4.0 scale, as well as law review posts, and publishing. Even in lowly Camden, NJ, A's in law school are difficult to come by, particularly in Warren's era.
Her scholarship is implicit in her vita. And you can tell from her ideas about financial law, etc, that she's quite a scholar.
1
@Joe
"Her scholarship is implicit in her vita." in plain English is "I can't name any specific scholarship."
1
Some current tribal leaders are being pills. Many Americans have a family tradition of Native ancestry from the earliest days of European settlement. At their best, those traditions can be broadening, and they can inspire learning and growth. How many of you have the Treaty of Fort Stanwix or the Wyoming Massacre at the tip of your recall? Now DNA tests have enabled us to validate those family stories. It doesn't mean we want to open a casino in the cellar.
3
@Blair, when you have first-hand experience of what it means to be an indigenous person in this country, or at least can clearly understand and articulate all that is entailed in the concept of blood quantum and how it has been used an instrument of power by the federal power against indigenous peoples (still is being used, i.e., the Ramapough-Lenape and their ongoing struggle for federal recognition), then you can legitimately criticize tribal leaders.
@Sm I respectfully disagree. No living Native American--including tribal leaders--has any more "first-hand experience" of 18th-century genocide, disease, rape, and murder than I have. We are all of us trying to make sense of a tangled history. That the country has an ugly tradition of anti-miscegenation measures doesn't invalidate the earnest and sincere desire for many of us to want to seize upon a small scientific validation of our family tradition. The fussiness displayed by some leaders in the face of what is essentially an honest inquiry is misplaced, and often comes off as churlish.
1
Senator Warren made a mistake by insisting on taking this DNA test. It is long past time we learned that “race” is an intellectual concept that is basically meaningless; the idea has led to conflict and tragedy.
I could say that I am a Neanderthal, based on DNA testing. The entire concept of racial identity is creating very difficult crises all over the world; one would think that these ideas would be receding in societies rather than being used to settle disputes.
5
Did she also apologize for listing herself as Native American when applying for a job? That's what really bothers me, the fact she assumed a connection to a people and culture she did not have.
8
If this was done as an effort to set the record straight for one disgruntled tribal official on the understood difference between heredity and citizenship then so be it. But she did what she needed to do in taking the DNA test, and really has nothing to apologize for. Tribal membership was never the issue. She was pretty clear about that the first time.
Like Obama's birth certificate, the matter wasn't going to go away. Best to deal with it up front. Now she needs to stays focused on the campaign and the issues that drew her into it in the first place, and avoid the temptation of being drawn back into this sideshow lunacy.
2
I am a great admirer of Elizabeth Warren and I do not like giving out incorrect information about her (as I did earlier).
So, I did some looking up.
In 1989, Elizabeth Warren listed herself as a Native American and as a White/Caucasian in an Association of American Law Schools directory. http://tinyurl.com/ybm2frp5
It was not an application for employment or advancement.
13
This whole thing is only a big deal because someone made it a big deal. (Like they did with Obama and the birth certificate.)
It’s not why we need people like her representing us vs. people like them. We need her because she is real and is really for helping make our lives better.
I feel it’s great that we’ve learned how the Native Americans feel about ancestry though. I definitely didn’t know that before. We know so little of how they think unfortunately.
Tell the person who started all this to show us his birth certificate and his tax returns too.
497
@Lafayette
It's not hard to figure out how Native Americans feel about such things. In my experience if you respectfully ask a member of a Native community at some approximation of an appropriate time and place, they'll tell you what's up.
As for Sen. Warren...it was a pretty boneheaded gaffe to take such a test in the first place, but pretending that it wasn't a gaffe and then waiting until February to address it is the real lapse in judgement in my opinion. I firmly believe she's both smarter and tougher than that.
4
@Andy
Regardless of what the DNA test shows it is Warren’s personal DNA and she should be as entitled to do a DNA test as anyone else.
It was in making it public that she exposed herself or made it political, but it doesn’t appear disrespectful.
5
@Andy
I think she, like most of us honestly didn't know that they would feel that way. I don't know any Native people so I am totally in the dark on it.
I see many other people feel as you do though.
2
Why she even went down this road in the first place is completely beyond me.
9
Elizabeth Warren and her staff should be ashamed of walking into this Trump trap. Like we have learned nothing from the birther fiasco. Dems need to be smart right and not make unforced errors.
10
Great, you don’t have to be a Native American by blood to partake of the casino earnings. If this is true why did the media beat up on the West Coast woman who identified as black last year. My family said the same about Native American heritage but Ancestry said I was 60% Irish but I am going to claim to be Italian because my culture likes pizza. Do the tribal leaders fear losing control (money).
Doesn’t matter I am voting for Liz anyway. Certainly a relief from the Clintons, Biden and the two white billionaires who say we can’t afford Medicare for All because they have theirs.
8
If I describe myself as possibly having a french ancestor do I have to apologize to France and its citizens? This is absurd.
47
Great metaphor. You really nailed it.
2
Before her campaign kicks off, Elizabeth has a major mistake. It’s not akin to the emails. But it’s a big mistake anyway. It’s insensitive to use resources to “prove” one has native blood. She didn’t grow up as a Native American. Period. If this foreshadows the future, watch out.
2
The apology opening/rollout tour continues.
1
Of course, this is silly and irrelevant. But it does point out one basic fatal flaw that Democrats have: They constantly put themselves in precarious circumstances and then they apologize. She took Trump's bait and now is choking on it. Respect, dignity and fair play have gotten us nowhere. 2020 will be the most important election of our lifetime. We need to get in the trenches and fight this dangerous lawless, and incompetent President at every turn.
8
What was the point of that? What a ridiculous thing to do and who cares. whole family had our DNA done and indeed we did get a shocker but it makes no difference in how we feel. Actually it was a bit exciting for a family that is so dull. Does it change anything in our lives? NO.
3
So funny. Trump has played her so bad. Can’t wait till he demolishes the rest of the field.
3
Didn't anyone ever read the fine print on these tests? Given the size of the (not-shown) standard errors on the information they provide, there's nothing definitive or proven from any of these tests for almost anyone with mixed ancestry of any kind.
That said, if the long story of this DNA test reflects Warren's best judgments, I'll give my vote to someone else.
3
Hasn't anyone told Elizabeth Warren that the MOST important rule of modern political warfare is NEVER APOLOGIZE. Apologizing just feeds the "vast right-wing conspiracy" propaganda machine.
8
While in this one instance her constituents in Massachusetts will be more forgiving than people elsewhere, Warren has zero -- zero -- possibility of garnering an Electoral College majority. She damaged herself irrevocably with her self-inflicted false Native American claim, but her ego won't let her acknowledge it. She should stick with her day job as U.S. Senator, not a bad accomplishment, and give up her bid for the presidency before she begins in earnest a wasted effort that will lead to her ignoring her MA constituents and tarnishing her reputation even more, if possible.
6
@Christopher P.
It was not false and her DNA test showed that. Something she mentioned on a form long ago (and never got a monetary or other unfair advantage out of) was weaponized by Republicans as a means of ridicule. Once she proved her ancestry, Warren then ran afoul of Native American sensitivities about blood quantum and tribal membership, which are both different from DNA.
This issue is not going away. More and more people are taking cheap DNA tests. Maybe the tribes should be helping to educate the public about what tribal membership entails and why it's important.
2
But Trump's daily lies, sexual predation, dishonest business dealings, treason, etc., don't bother you?
2
The "sensitivity" of the Cherokee Nation is not that. It is obnoxious behavior to criticize Warren, and anti-science. Dna testing is a valid way to explore one's ancestry, and given the pressure she was under to verify the fact of her ancestry, they should be more understanding. Frankly, I'm beginning to think that the Indian nations should lose their sovereign status and simply be racial/ethnic groups, citizens like all others. Keep the reservations as private lands.
5
@Grittenhouse
Did you even bother reading the article. Ancestry has nothing to do with belong to a tribe or claiming some affiliation.
And one reasonable person would conclude that 6-10 generations ago pretty well dilutes any claim.
And what right do you have to call for Indian Nations to lose their sovereignty. Do you realize they were here first?
1
I'm a democrat, but the ineptitude with which she has handled this issue is troubling. Our democratic institutions are in crisis. The most pressing item of business is the removal of the President by the Congress, the Courts or the next election. The fact that we know, instinctively, the President and his ever shrinking (in more ways the one) circle of supporters are delighted at her campaign should be all the polling data we need. Sorry, Sen. Warren. You're not the one. Stay in the Senate where you can do a lot of good. When they go low, we need to go middle.
8
This issue will never go nor fade away. The great divide will continue as to those who think Senator Warren did nothing wrong and has nothing to apologize for vs. those who think she is untrustworthy and will never recover from this situation.
I just feel in my bones that if a Republican made the same claim as Senator Warren, the temper and mood of many a Democrat would be to "lock him or her up".
After re-reading this article and others regarding this issue, I think perhaps a moment of calm and reasonableness is called for. Senator Warren "apologized for causing confusion on tribal sovereignty and tribal citizenship". Shouldn't that be good enough? Why can't anything ever be enough to simply move on instead of beating it to death?
I made some rather rash and harsh comments earlier which I regret. Shame on me for putting my own big feet in my own big mouth. I think in the long run, candidates should be viewed at what they have accomplished and what they wish to do if elected president. The past is the past. It's the future that is uncertain and is desperately in need of sound and solid leadership.
8
Senator Warren is a Democrat who will support every single American against almost unbelievably massive corporate interests:
she literally represents the little guy of every and any ethnicity.
Anyone who doesn't understand that also thinks that big banks want to help them.
Indigenous peoples -- and every other everyday American of any ethnicity -- have a true friend in senator Warren.
Based on her entire life of achievement and work for her constituency, no one has to ever ask about her values and ethics.
We know who she is and we will vote her into office, again!
49
So, the entire exercise 'gave undue credence to the controversial claim that race could be determined by blood'
That never occurred to me; that's fantastic.
I wish there was an explanation included that spelled out exactly what does determine if you are a Cherokee or not.
Perhaps there is a path for her to become one.
3
I completely respect the Cherokee, however this has been far overblown and plays right into the hands of those who lament "political correctness". A long, long time ago Warren stated that her family story was that they had an ancestor who was Cherokee. She never stated that she was a citizen of the Cherokee nation or had any other standing. Simply that she was proud of her Cherokee ancestry. She was challenged on that by malicious people with evil motives, so she took a DNA test to confirm that, in fact, she had a Cherokee ancestor. That's it. Seems logical and straightforward. Why does everyone, on both sides, have to so completely overact to events such as this? In the long run, it does nobody any good. Can we have some sort of agreement to include common sense, compassion and proportionality in these sorts of fracas?
1005
@Philip Tymon The DNA test was a strategic error. When she took the test she voluntarily assumed the burden of proof and it played right into Trump's tiny hands. For someone so smart, I expected better strategy.
16
@Philip Tymon To all those science-deniers out there, DNA testing does not identify tribal affiliation, so the statement that "...in fact, she had a Cherokee ancestor" is quite unfounded.
11
@Philip Tymon No, Elizabeth Warren claimed to be a "woman of color" and a minority because she is a Cherokee. Not to have a Cherokee ancestor. But to be a Cherokee.
The idea that she was just claiming vague American Indian heritage is recent fiction. There's plenty of evidence that her claims were much more than that. That's the Pocahontas problem.
23
If Elizabeth Warren at any point claimed to BE a Cherokee, or to BE a Native American, then I would say her apology is appropriate. But I am unaware that she ever said that.
Warren claimed only to have Native American ancestry which, despite ongoing derision from Trump and his supporters, the tests proved that she did.
Warren's genetic ancestry is what the test proves it is, and she should not have had to apologize for saying so.
45
"...a move that had angered some tribal leaders and ignited a significant political backlash."
Quite frankly the original story started by the Scott Brown campaign long ago, and all the subsequent stories are really the responsibility of the media.
Elizabeth Warren has been in the Senate for a long time and has an established record. If folks want to criticise her for her political positions that's fine and the press should surely report it.
However the continued coverage of a story that should never had made headlines in the first place is the responsibility of the press that continues to focus on the trivial at the expense of the serious and profound issues of our time.
46
This shows that a person's identity is not defined by herself exclusively. Warren identified herself as a minority for nearly a decade, her campaign said she learned of her Native American heritage through “conversations with her grandparents, her parents, and her aunts and uncles,” and her blood test shows the strong possibility of Native American ancestry. But her self-identification as Native-American has been rejected by Native-Americans because she hasn’t shared their experience. Objective facts influence the claims we make about ourselves. Likewise, we have reason to doubt Donald Trump’s claim that “Nobody has more respect for women than I do” because of the facts about how he treats women. I think the same applies to the use of gender-neutral pronouns; fundamentally this is based on each person’s gender self-identification. Yet how that person presents himself to the world matters about whether we should respect his claimed identity. We treat identity these days as precious, personal and inviolable, but it is always something we negotiate with the outside world.
5
Elizabeth Warren's candidacy will go nowhere. She is effective at soldiering on with pointed and direct criticism of the president, knows how to needle her argument home, but has seriously bungled the Native American identity issue regarding her ancestry, and is just no longer of the moment. She has a very commendable record of public service, of keen and just moral and social values, however.
11
@KennethWmM Maybe that is the problem- too many people vote for the flavor of the week instead of someone who will fight for the rights of the American people in the long run.
7
@Pam
You'll accept Kamala as the anointed one and you'll like it. The nominating process for democrats on the federal level is pretty much entirely out of the hands of white liberals now anyways. It isn't your party anymore.
She should have discussed the DNA findings with leaders of the Cherokee Nation and included them in planning the initial announcement. She will learn from this mistake. I remain very impressed with Senator Warren. She is fact-driven, thoughtful, willing to challenge her own preconceptions, and superbly able to defend her conclusions.
23
So the DNA test was an obvious political misstep. Played totally into Trumps hands and not much more. No minds were changed by the results.
Now she has compounded that misstep by apologizing for it, which is just as big a misstep. She’s a panderer.
Her ancestry is irrelevant, her lack of political savvy is pretty disqualifying...
6
@Jon I agree. She reacted to Trump's school yard taunts and made a non-issue an issue and that is what concerns me.
The Cherokee Nation should take a long hard think about who they consider friends and allies, and who they don’t, in this time of the rise of white power. Warren NEVER claimed to be a member of the tribe. She said she was proud of her family’s long-ago member who was of the tribe, which her DNA testing seems to have validated. I can’t possibly imagine why they were so upset, and falsely accused her of claiming tribal membership - an outright lie and mischaracterization of anything she has ever said in the topic. Give me a break. We have Nazis proudly marching in our streets, a blatantly white-power-friendly administration in power, and they’re going out of their way to damage Elizabeth Warren of all people? It’s difficult not to get the impression something else is at play here.
77
@Nick Gold I think I might get why the Cherokee were upset. I am Jewish, and occasionally someone who is otherwise not Jewish will tell me they have Jewish ancestry. I have a question for them: "Will you be Jewish when the Cossacks come?" I get how annoying it is when someone wants to be just a little exotic, from a safe distance. But I do think this was a learning experience for Sen. Warren and I hope her apology was gracious and sincere.
7
I was adopted by a Jewish father. We never practiced at all, I did not go to Hebrew school, and I never was bat mitzvah. So my answers are “no, I am not Jewish,” and “yes, I will be there with the rest of my family.”
7
@Nick Gold
"which her DNA testing seems to have validated"
Is this a joke? Her DNA testing proved that she really was the 1/2040 or whatever statistical error percentage of "indian" Trump was making fun of her for.
It also only showed that she had a rounding's error worth of south or central American dna.