This story continues to disappoint and amuse. Yes it was dumb and mildly problematic for Warren to have claimed native american ancestry in any even semi official way. On the other hand, who cares. Really nobody, its just fun to troll her and her fans with it on account of how quickly her fans react. If all they said and all she said, is "sure she probably shouldn't done it but it was a small thing that didn't give her any measurable advantage, now lets talk about policy!"
Elizabeth Warren Ancestry Thread
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Belz...
Fiend God
Isn't that exactly what they're saying? "Sure, not great let's move on?" Seems to me like, just like for Hillary, it's her opponents who keep bringing this stuff back up. She must be pretty damned good, if that's all they can find to complain about.
I have no problem whatsoever with the family lore versus genetics, and I have a low opinion of people who give her **** about that.
The thing is, even the family lore was a small fraction. That doesn't change my view on her self-identification.
Not really, look in this thread, there are folks defending her claim. Why? Just like there are folks who defend various things Clinton has down that she shouldn't have done. Why?
Belz...
Fiend God
It's just down to interpretation. Her DNA shows she's white as snow, but before the DNA test her ancestry, as far as she knew, was part NA. Fair enough, right? So maybe ticking the NA box was a bit of a dick move, but one that's understandable under the circumstances. Either way I see nothing newsworthy about that, except that Trump called her Pocahontas and everything Trump does is worth at least a few headlines for some reason.
Thermal
August Member
2,866 posts on arguably the least meaningful topic on the American political stage.
theprestige
Penultimate Amazing
I think it's actually quite meaningful, but not for many of the reasons put forward in this thread.
Thermal
August Member
How so? Seems to me a smallish playing out on the theme of self-identification. Worthy of some discussion but agreed, not the circle-jerking.
CORed
Penultimate Amazing
I think it reflects very well on Elizabeth Warren. There is no doubt that Republican "opposition research" people are looking high and low for any dirt they can find on her, and this is all they've managed to come up with. Apparently she has led an exemplary life.
We are a nation of idiots. Easily distracted by trivia about politicians when we should be talking about policies and what they want to do for our nation. The right wing in doesn’t want people talking about Warren’s accomplishments and her political ideas. They want it to be all about name calling at a middle school level.
The same thing holds for the Virginia Governor. He may indeed have been a racist prick decades ago but people change. He no longer seems to be that kind of guy. A rational society would accept an apology for that past behavior then move on to what he is doing today.
The same thing holds for the Virginia Governor. He may indeed have been a racist prick decades ago but people change. He no longer seems to be that kind of guy. A rational society would accept an apology for that past behavior then move on to what he is doing today.
That's probably because you don't grasp the importance of the bar registration card to getting jobs as an attorney and as legal professor. I am trying to find a way to put it into perspective for you and I'm have some trouble. It is slightly more important than the color of your underwear, but far less important than the color of your shoes. I hope that helps you realize just how important this is.
Given the history of the one-drop rule (certainly common when she was talking about her ancestors having familial disapproval), and the fact that the story I have heard her repeat is pretty consistent with her DNA - I don't think it's unreasonable to defend her.
Its not unreasonable to make fun of her for it either, both however are quite silly.
pgwenthold
Penultimate Amazing
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I do get a kick out of the criticism that we are "bending over backwards to defend her" when the complaint is that she drew the line regarding how much ancestry is needed to call herself Native American is in the wrong spot.
Ziggurat
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What is the rationale for racial preferences in hiring and admissions?
To counter the negative effects of discrimination.
On what basis are people racially discriminated against?
Their appearance, mostly.
If there are no factors other than her self-identification which would indicate that she is native American, is it plausible that she would have suffered racial discrimination?
No, it isn't.
The problem with Warren claiming native American ancestry isn't just about her being a craven opportunist. It exposes the whole enterprise of racial preferences as having feet of clay. As Hoffer said, "Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket." Fighting racism is a great cause, but racial preferences are the racket phase.
I take issue with the nature of the defense, as if 1/32 (or 1/16, or whatever fraction per family lore) justifies the self-identification.
Whereas It wasn't honest, but it was 35 years ago and not a big deal impresses me as a realistic defense.
Brainster
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First, she did not tick off a box. The form asked for her race and she wrote out Native American.
Second, what are the circumstances that make it understandable? She heard that a great-great-great grandparent was Native American and Native Americans are cool, so she decided to identify with that 1/1000th part of her?
Belz...
Fiend God
Considering that her identification is right now leading to Warren being called named, even before the DNA test, I think it's quite plausible, actually.
I won't argue that.
Belz...
Fiend God
No need to be such a literalist. That's exactly what I meant.
1/32 actually, but yes. People do that all the time without malice.
smartcooky
Penultimate Amazing
Another Big Fat Lie from the right.
This was proven to be completely untrue, and trying to Fringe Reset it will not change anything. Of the surviving members of the 60+ Harvard Law School faculty, all but one said he ethnicity was never discussed; the one said he could not remember if it was discussed.
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