Elizabeth Warren Ancestry Thread

[d4m10n]

They should just go back to where they came from!

I'm not moving my family to Delaware.

 

[Stacyhs]

Originally Posted by Stacyhs View Post
Agreed. But I think Native Americans may have taken Trump's idiocy more seriously than the rest of us. Yes, they may have been upset that Warren claimed she was Cherokee, but Trump's derogatory usage of "Pocahontas" is an insult to every N.American.

I doubt it, I would bet an insignificant sum that more are offended by here claiming Native ancestry than his making fun of it. I'm sure there's some polling on the matter somewhere.

No polling, but this article supports my opinion. It seems N American leaders are very impressed with Warren's Native American policy platform and forgiving of her DNA claim.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/elizabeth-warren-native-american-forum_n_5d5ad9dee4b0eb875f2770d4

As for her having NA ancestry; she does as her DNA results proved. It's only the AMOUNT of NA ancestry that is in question. At the high end the DNA results show she could have as much NA ancestry as her family lore said which was a great-great -great grandmother.

 

[ArchSas]

No polling, but this article supports my opinion. It seems N American leaders are very impressed with Warren's Native American policy platform and forgiving of her DNA claim.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/elizabeth-warren-native-american-forum_n_5d5ad9dee4b0eb875f2770d4

As for her having NA ancestry; she does as her DNA results proved. It's only the AMOUNT of NA ancestry that is in question. At the high end the DNA results show she could have as much NA ancestry as her family lore said which was a great-great -great grandmother.

This is completely anecdotal, but, none of the Native people I've known over the past few years (and have talked to about Warren, of course) have been offended by her claims. Pretty much all of them have just regarded her as yet another white American who claims Native ancestry in a clueless way. It's something they regarded as annoying, but a common enough occurrence that none of them held it against her any more than a sense of disappointment. I talked to fewer people about the DNA test specifically, but that was also viewed more as a clueless blunder than something worthy of actual anger. In general, all of these people regarded Warren highly and see the ancestry claims as something embarrassing for her, but worth overlooking in light of her ability to learn from her mistakes and actually listen to them. To be clear, I'm not trying to speak for anyone (again, this is all anecdotal stuff from a white person), but these conversations do reflect pretty accurately how Native leaders seem to regard her now, as indicated in the article above; because I've had these conversations, I don't really have any doubts about Warren's ability to secure the Native American vote.

Trump, on the other hand, is universally reviled by every Native person I've known. And even before he started ramping up the "Pocahontas" attacks, I saw statements from his past (for example, saying the Mohegan shouldn't have a casino because they "don't look like Indians") all over Facebook from people slamming Trump. The "Pocahontas" stuff does cause genuine offense that I've seen, especially after incidents like at the ceremony for the Navajo codetalkers.

 

[Ziggurat]

I'm not moving my family to Delaware.

Shut up, Russ.

 

[kookbreaker]

This is completely anecdotal, but, none of the Native people I've known over the past few years (and have talked to about Warren, of course) have been offended by her claims. Pretty much all of them have just regarded her as yet another white American who claims Native ancestry in a clueless way. It's something they regarded as annoying, but a common enough occurrence that none of them held it against her any more than a sense of disappointment. I talked to fewer people about the DNA test specifically, but that was also viewed more as a clueless blunder than something worthy of actual anger. In general, all of these people regarded Warren highly and see the ancestry claims as something embarrassing for her, but worth overlooking in light of her ability to learn from her mistakes and actually listen to them. To be clear, I'm not trying to speak for anyone (again, this is all anecdotal stuff from a white person), but these conversations do reflect pretty accurately how Native leaders seem to regard her now, as indicated in the article above; because I've had these conversations, I don't really have any doubts about Warren's ability to secure the Native American vote.

Trump, on the other hand, is universally reviled by every Native person I've known. And even before he started ramping up the "Pocahontas" attacks, I saw statements from his past (for example, saying the Mohegan shouldn't have a casino because they "don't look like Indians") all over Facebook from people slamming Trump. The "Pocahontas" stuff does cause genuine offense that I've seen, especially after incidents like at the ceremony for the Navajo codetalkers.

Doesn't surprise me. I said months ago on this thread: Any annoyance Native Americans feel at Warren's DNA test will evaporate by the 638th time Trump calls her "Pocahontas", in other words, by next Wednesday.

 

[Marcus]

If Warren does somehow make it to the general, "pocahontas" will work against her, she has claimed to be Native American while being white as mayonnaise and possessing only a tiny amount of the blood.

 

[Stacyhs]

The entire Warren DNA brouhaha was nothing more than the Repubs trying desperately to misdirect from Trump's 'Pocahontas' idiocy. It's the old "the best defense is a good offense" tactic.

 

[Stacyhs]

If Warren does somehow make it to the general, "pocahontas" will work against her, she has claimed to be Native American while being white as mayonnaise and possessing only a tiny amount of the blood.

I doubt it will have much effect, if any, on voters. In some cases, those who already have doubts about voting for Trump, will likely see it as yet another example of his bullying and nastiness. I don't think anyone undecided about voting for Trump will go with him because of the "Pocahontas" incident. Hardcore Trump supporters wouldn't vote for her anyway. Dems who dislike Trump certainly would vote for her over him. If anything, it would hurt Trump rather than help him.

 

[The Shrike]

I interact with a lot of Native American students in person and some activists online. The students seem to be universally unaware of this issue or they roll their eyes when I describe it. Warren's claims of family lore native ancestry are exceedingly common in her home state of Oklahoma, including all sorts of people outwardly more lily white than she is. The interesting part of this is that her ancestry results actually supported the lore. Genetically, she's as native as she claimed all along.

The nuance is that genetics/blood quantum is not what Native folks really care about. To many of them – especially so among those activists for Native rights – engagement in your community is what makes one a tribal member. So when someone who has not endured the sting of racism, dispossession, etc. wears the badge of their heritage for some personal gain, that is a painful insult. Warren alienated that group of people, and every non-Native social justice warrior inspired by them, first by claiming the ancestry and then by having the DNA test done at all.

Thus, in another classic example of liberals eat their own, Warren is really popular among progressives, but she is still persona non grata to a significant component of the really progressives.

This was a remarkable blunder on her part given both her Oklahoma roots and her refusal to make this right by Native Americans from the get-go. She was sucked into trying to dunk on Trump as the bigger issue and she took that bait. In the end, Trumpers don't care about facts and the subtleties of ancestry ticked off a lot of people who would otherwise be championing her. Striking a conciliatory tone for her blunder is the best chance she has to try to reclaim some high ground here.

 

[Marcus]

If Warren does somehow make it to the general, "pocahontas" will work against her, she has claimed to be Native American while being white as mayonnaise and possessing only a tiny amount of the blood.

 

[crescent]

Post #3246

If Warren does somehow make it to the general, "pocahontas" will work against her, she has claimed to be Native American while being white as mayonnaise and possessing only a tiny amount of the blood.

Post #3250

If Warren does somehow make it to the general, "pocahontas" will work against her, she has claimed to be Native American while being white as mayonnaise and possessing only a tiny amount of the blood.

I swear there's an echo in here.

 

[Marcus]

It's just your hearing aid.

 

[Cabbage]

Post #3246

If Warren does somehow make it to the general, "pocahontas" will work against her, she has claimed to be Native American while being white as mayonnaise and possessing only a tiny amount of the blood.

Post #3250

If Warren does somehow make it to the general, "pocahontas" will work against her, she has claimed to be Native American while being white as mayonnaise and possessing only a tiny amount of the blood.

I swear there's an echo in here.

 

[Stacyhs]

I interact with a lot of Native American students in person and some activists online. The students seem to be universally unaware of this issue or they roll their eyes when I describe it. Warren's claims of family lore native ancestry are exceedingly common in her home state of Oklahoma, including all sorts of people outwardly more lily white than she is. The interesting part of this is that her ancestry results actually supported the lore. Genetically, she's as native as she claimed all along.

The nuance is that genetics/blood quantum is not what Native folks really care about. To many of them – especially so among those activists for Native rights – engagement in your community is what makes one a tribal member. So when someone who has not endured the sting of racism, dispossession, etc. wears the badge of their heritage for some personal gain, that is a painful insult. Warren alienated that group of people, and every non-Native social justice warrior inspired by them, first by claiming the ancestry and then by having the DNA test done at all.

Thus, in another classic example of liberals eat their own, Warren is really popular among progressives, but she is still persona non grata to a significant component of the really progressives.

This was a remarkable blunder on her part given both her Oklahoma roots and her refusal to make this right by Native Americans from the get-go. She was sucked into trying to dunk on Trump as the bigger issue and she took that bait. In the end, Trumpers don't care about facts and the subtleties of ancestry ticked off a lot of people who would otherwise be championing her. Striking a conciliatory tone for her blunder is the best chance she has to try to reclaim some high ground here.

Which is exactly what she is doing if you read my link above.

“Like anyone who’s been honest with themselves, I know I have made mistakes,” Warren said at the event in Sioux City, Iowa, referring to the controversy over her past claims of Native American ancestry. “I am sorry for harm I have caused. I have listened and I have learned a lot, and I am grateful for the many conversations that we’ve had together.”
It is a great honor to be able to partner with Indian Country,” she added. “That’s what I’ve tried to do as a senator, and that’s what I promise I will do as president of the United States of America.

The audience applauded. But despite the media’s attention on the DNA issue, it wasn’t the focus of the forum. Warren talked about the contents of her sweeping plan for empowering tribal nations and indigenous peoples. And it was a hit.

Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.), one of two Native women in Congress, introduced Warren at the event as “my sister in the struggle” to a standing ovation. Haaland, who has endorsed Warren’s presidency and co-authored a spending bill with her aimed at addressing unmet needs in Indian Country, jabbed the press for focusing more on President Donald Trump’s attacks on Warren instead of her policy ideas.
“Some media folks ask if the president’s criticism of her ancestry background will hamper her,” Haaland said. “I say every time they ask about her [ancestry], they feed the president’s racism. She is here to be an unwavering partner in our struggle because that is what a leader does.”

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/elizabeth-warren-native-american-forum_n_5d5ad9dee4b0eb875f2770d4

 

[crescent]

If Warren does somehow make it to the general, "pocahontas" will work against her, she has claimed to be Native American while being white as mayonnaise and possessing only a tiny amount of the blood.

If Warren does somehow make it to the general, "pocahontas" will work against her, she has claimed to be Native American while being white as mayonnaise and possessing only a tiny amount of the blood.

Post #3246

Post #3250

I swear there's an echo in here.

Post #3246

Post #3250

I swear there's an echo in here.

I always thought references to the right-wing echo chamber were metaphorical, not literal.

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you.

 

[The Shrike]

Which is exactly what she is doing if you read my link above.

Didn't need to read your link because I already knew that's what she was doing, but okay.

 

[Belz...]

If Warren does somehow make it to the general, "pocahontas" will work against her, she has claimed to be Native American while being white as mayonnaise and possessing only a tiny amount of the blood.

Is that the same as claiming to have a distant relative who was NA?

 

[Belz...]

Thus, in another classic example of liberals eat their own, Warren is really popular among progressives, but she is still persona non grata to a significant component of the really progressives.

Everybody's personal non grata to the really progressives.

I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you.

 

[d4m10n]

...she has claimed to be Native American while being white as mayonnaise and possessing only a tiny amount of the blood.

What blood quantum requirement would you like to see the tribes who were relocated to Indian Territory impose upon their prospective members?