In a tough new ad and in his attacks at last week’s debate, Senator Scott Brown has stoked questions about Elizabeth Warren’s professed Native American ancestry. But the difficulty of seizing on the controversy without crossing into uncomfortable racial territory became apparent Tuesday with the release of a video showing Republican staff members, including an aide in Brown’s Senate office, performing tomahawk chops and war whoops outside one of his campaign events.
Brown said such behavior is “not something I condone,” but declined to apologize.
Comments
It's prejudice to assume the tomahawk chop singers were not "Native Americans" gathered for a pow wow. Does anyone have proof that they are not "Native Americans"? They look no less "Native American" than does Elizabeth Warren.
No, it would not be prejudice to assume that. It would be moronically simplistic and credulous, but not predjudiced by any reasonable adult reader. Thanks for your input.
Entropic, You're welcome! I would not describe those, who assume the tomahawk chop singers were not "Native Americans", as simplistic morons. That would be very impolite.
Love the amazing hypocrisy that Scott Brown serves up here...he talks about "character" but he's the liar who repeatedly claimed daily meetings with "kings, queens and prime ministers". Then too, there's his claim to have been sexually abused as a kid but he refused to ever name the alleged abuser...no doubt that claim enhanced sales of his book but then somehow the entire matter vanished fom view...I don't think "character" is an issue Senator Barncoat wants to have examined too closely and it may yet blow up in his face.
If Rick Perry had his "oops" moment, Mr. Brown is having his "whoops" moment. We can only hope that these character challenging incidents will have a similar result in the defeat of Senator Brown, the ignoble warrior. That would be something to whoop about.
Add another shameful action by Scott Brown's own STAFF. The Native American racism they exhibited at a get together of staff reminded me of a lynching in the south during the era of Jim Crow. It was an EMBARRASSMENT to not only to the bully candidate Brown but an INSULT to Massachusetts citizens in general everywhere. See Rachel Maddow if you want the disgusting details of the latest Scott Brown racist malfeasance. He is an ABOMINATION. It should remind you that the Republicans have NOTHING and is the reason we CANNOT be complacent and MUST re-elect the president and the GREAT BRILLIANT Elizabeth Warren to the US Senate!
Brown's camp is doing this because the Republican Party has NOTHING to offer anyone except the bankster class of the 1%. If you are NOT among them you should NOT step on your own toes by voting Republican. The Republican Party is NOT for most of us and is why Scott Brown is using those stupid tactics because he will use ANYTHING but talk about the issues that matter most to most of us and that is economic issues. Elizabeth is a expert in that so if Brown wants a go round with her on that and STOP his bullying tactics I am thrilled for him to do so. She exceeds him BY FAR and will be a help NOW to the middle class which needs it. Scott Brown is NOT about the middle class no matter how many commercials he uses his truck in! It's a scam but the joke is on all of us and not the top 1% who simply want more and more and more while kicking us to the side of the road. My wonderful fellow Massachusetts people one of the most excellent states in the nation in which I am proud to live DO NOT BE DUPED! Scott Brown is NOT about you!
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Keepin' it classy. The republican apologists will be here soon to explain how innocent this is. And how incendiary those darn liberals are. Yep, you'll never see a good republican disagree with the tribe.
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Please watch Mr. Brown very closely, there is art happening here...the emerging composite portrait (self and otherwise) of a profoundly small person.
Saw these guys and I was shocked ! Actually scared ! Talk about anti-women, anti-minority ! Some of the vulgar 4 letter words they used to discribe women was appalling. Scott Brown made it look like it was Warren's fault. Brown doesn't even have enough manhood to apologize. Tells a lot about a person.
Oh my goodness...what outrage, how terrible..you were scared. Who do you think you're kidding? You may have been angry because Lyin' Lizzie cannot run away from her lies, but you sure were not scared!!!
And what does Brown have to apologize for? It was not him who told the lies and won't even meet with any actual Indians who tried to meet with her, both here in MA and at the DNC Convention!
Thanks for saying what I have been thinking. I can't believe Brown has nothing more to say than to harp on this one issue. He is trying, and maybe succeeding, in wooing the misogynists who can't stand the fact that a woman actually pulled herself up by her mind in America and made it from the working class to the upper middle class. His ads try to depict Warren as an angry woman. It's all about gender here. The macho pin-up model versus the femal lawyer.
He is voting against women and against the middle class. He is holding my tax break hostage in order to get tax breaks for millionaires. Seriously, is there anyone who cannot see through this?
Meanwhile, she has taken on Wall Street and the current administration to try to reform an industry that encourages people to take on debt they can't afford. I want someone in Washington who will fight for me...not someone who is worrying about his image and campaign contributions from the wealthy.
Followers of Scott Brown behave rudely, and Senator Brown says it is wrong. Compare that to Elizabeth Warren 'checking the box' as a minority in a legal directory that everyone admits is used for hiring decisions ... just long enough until she gets hired and tenure and Harvard and then stops. She helped Harvard file false Federal diversity reports. She claims she 'checked the box' to meet Native Americans like herself, but never walked the few feet on the Harvard campus to the Native American group there, wouldn't meet Native Americans at the DNC either. She could clear it all up by having Penn and Harvard release her employment applications and she won't, wonder why? There is no comparison between the actions of Brown and Warren on this. And I love the faux outrage on the part of the Globe and Warren, just keep it in the news please, the more we talk about it the worse Warren looks.
Brown is just very nervous right now. His huge funding from the Koch Brothers and Sheldon Adelson in the last election against Coakley will be coming out. Basically, Brown is a younger version of Romney. Idealogically speaking they are one in the same and people are seeing that now. Paul Ryan wanted to come to Boston to support Brown but Brown respectfully asked him to hold off. Why ?
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Please don't forget ... Warren "my grandfather had high cheek bones like all the Indians do"
.... and absolutely don't forget that that quote is missing it's context. Warren was paraphrasing her aunt long-ago comments on the matter.
... and you're just a step away from being the LOL guy when you keep posting that quote out of context.
I am Scotch and Irish. My father told me once that there was some German blood mixed in too. I have not bothered to dive into my geneology to confirm my father's assertion. I'm not even sure why he brought it up. But should I call him a liar because of it? Sometime in the future I'm filling out a form that asks me to describe my heritage. I check off Scotland and Ireland. I see the box for Germany. Let's see, my father told me I'm part German. Should I check off Germany? If I do, am I lying? If I don't, am I lying? Doesn't seem all that important so I check it off. Actually I'm only going on what my father and mother told me about my Scotch and Irish lineage. I've seen no documentation. There's a tint of red in my otherwise blond hair, so by hair color I'm pretty sure I'm Irish and German. My father has a slight brogue, so I'm confident I've covered all the bases. Mr Brown, could we meet for coffee some morning so that you can tell me definitively what is my heritage? You seem to be the local expert.
Great idea! Scott'll be able to tell you just by looking at you. He just has that gift, you know.
This whole thing is a non-issue to me. If you grow up in a family that tells story about your heritage, you have no reason to believe it to be made up. She isn't claiming citizenship in a tribe, she's claiming ancestry - big difference. But the whole thing is a so-what. Meanwhile Brown's staff and supporters behaving like junior high school kids is really pathetic - looks like playground taunts and it is stereotyping Native Americans as savages. It's also insulting to Warren's family who consider themselves part Native American - and there is no proof that they aren't.
There is proof...a professor of geneology did a test....she is 1/32nd native american......in words you libs can understand........SHE'S CAUCASIAN!
rwalker2006 - you are wrong. As a reader of the Globe, you are forgiven for this misunderstanding. The Globe reported the 1/32nd myth, then buried the retraction when the geneologist said he was wrong. Elizabeth Warren is currently ZERO percent documented Native American.
Just google "Boston Globe retraction Warren Native American"
The Return of Lawyer Weazel Words ... Clinton had is "it depends on what the definition of is is" and Warren has her stock answers to the "Native American" question.
When Warren says "I never questioned my parent's, what kid would" ... SILLY! She 'checked the box' as an ADULT LAWYER who understood the burden of proof of such a claim. >>>>>>
When Warren says "my parents eloped" ... TECHNICALLY YES! In the depression, unable to afford a big wedding, they went one town over, got married, and returned the same day! The hometown newspaper announced their wedding! No sign of any problems at all! >>>>>>>
When Warren says "I never used my heritage to get into law school" .... MISDIRECTION! No one is saying she used a claimed minority status to get into law school as a student, it is as a member of the faculty at Penn and Harvard. >>>>>
Weazel Words ... watch for them! Count them in the next debate!
She is NOT a lawyer.
It's spelled weasel, not weazel.
What burden of proof? She and her family believe themselves to have Native American blood and you have no proof that they don't. If you come up with proof of the negative, let us know. She grew up in Oklahoma where over 8% of the population is Native American. It's entirely plausible.
Talk about claiming stuff you know nothing about: "TECHNICALLY YES! In the depression...". Give me a break. There is no documentation that states why they eloped. There's no evidence that they didn't elope for the reasons Warren's mother gave. So even if it's a lie, it's her *mother* that would have lied. So you want to make a senatorial campaign issue out of a candidate's mother's unproven lie from long ago? Do you see how you're straining yourself to make these arguments?
This childish behavior mocks all Native Americans and demonstrates that some people harbor deep prejudice and bigotry.
Many posters to the Herald's comment section since this issue was first raised months ago show their ignorance almost daily.
This is not the way to convince the independent, un-enrolled voters who will decide this election.
Scott understands this but some of his followers and campaign workers certainly don't.
Why would it bother her?....She ISN'T even Native American......much less a lawyer!
I think you need to go and reread Breitbart. She IS a lawyer. She may or may not have sat for the MA Bar Exam, but that has no effect on her law degree or having passed the bar in other states.
Does "Governor Romney" not being a Governor bother you?
I guess Elizabeth Warren's paid union thugs throwing insults and expletives at the attendees at the Brown event as they left was perfectly fine. This woman speaks with forked tongue.
I saw the clip on the news last night, figured the staffers would be attacked for being mean to Elizabeth Warren. But it didn't cross my mind, not for a moment, that they'd be attacked for playing Indian. It's not meant to be an insult to native Americans, oh politically-correctness addicts, anymore than naming hopefully-winning teams after Indians was anything but a compliment. Many people search for Indian heritage in their roots, not to take advantage of affirmative action, but because Indian heritage has become admired and desired.
Some of them are Federal employees, paid with tax payer dollars to work in the Senate office. They are committing a crime by even being near a political demonstration.
It is an insult to native americans.
Elizabeth Warren never took advantage of Affirmitive action. The idea was ludicrous on the face of it for anyone who understands how professors are hired. Only a fool would ever believe it. You did. Brown produced no document, no witness and has thrown his entire issue free campaign behind it. The Globe researched it, interviewing a dozen academic lawyers who had interviewed Warren in three different academic jobs - none had ever heard of Brownies nonsense.
You are living in lies and it's time for you to realize that you are - that is a complete fact. Who told these lies? Scott Brown did and the lies were written by the morons in that video.
So enlighten us Barbara. If using war whoops and arm chops to mock someone's heritage isn't racist, what is? Oh, right. Affirmative action. Meh. How do you sleep?
How pathetic. Brown is a hollow, empty facade of a man, with nothing inside. He has little left but to vainly attempt to cast aspersions on the character of Elizabeth Warren. He is either deliberately distorting the facts, or lacks comprehension of the issues. He is most certainly not qualified to be a Senator in the Congress of these United States. He misrepresents his voting record, and relies on character assassination, with just a hint of racism, rather than respond to fact-based criticism of his record. How pathetic.
Just when you think you've found a republican who represents the some of things you admire, you read about this despicable racist behavior. How disappointing.
Racist behavior? What a crock.
How is that not racist? enlighten us?
So,what's the big deal here ???? Lizzie thin skinned !!! Afterall,Lizzie brought up the issue . CHOP CHOP , GO Scott !!!!
These are Scott Brown's senior campaign and senate staff. Those who are senate staff, including the lawyer are Federal Employees who are breaking the law engaged in this activity. They should not even be at a political event while getting tax payer dollars.
This is Brown's leadership? Only someone such as yourself who doesn't look for all the facts, would support such a shallow and inane campaign.
If Attorney Warren is appalled by this childish, yet humorous, behavior br Scott Brown supporters, how in the world do you think she would stand up to the likes of Senators Chuck Schumer or Patrick Lahey or Harry Reid? Get a life. I really feel that Attorney Warren would simply be a puppet for the Democtatic 'leadership' - and that is not what this state nor our country needs!
It is not humorous at all. It is disgusting. These are not "supporters" - these are his senior staff. these are the persons who wrote the lies you believe. Some are Senate Staff, Federal employees and breaking the law by engaging in partisan acvtivity on the Federal payroll.
These are Brown's pupetteers. They are tea party staff and the "brains" behind Brown.
I expect that constituesnt services would be of a higher calibre with Warren as Senator. Is Brown not bothered by lies in the GOP especially those of Ryan and Romney? apparantly not-nor does he seem to be bothered by their policy proposals.(nor his own frequent lies) He thinks he can waltz through the election by saying he's independant and,yes.some voters will buy it but let's hope not enough to keep him in Senate. I'm encouraged that the truth is coming out-better late than never. Warren is TRULY on our side.She has proven it.
Did Elizabeth approve your ad before you posted it?
This is news? It appears that Liz is easily appalled.
Yes it is news. Human beings are easily apalled when Federal Employees on Scott Brown's Senate staff as well as his senior campaign staff carry on like this. These are not mere volunteers - this is Scott Brown's team leadership. They are the ones who devised the lies you believe.
Everyone should be apalled at the lack of quality in Scott Brown's senior staff. Why aren't you?
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You Warren supporters really slay me. Just like when you were all hypnotized by Obama you cannot see that this woman is delusional and a pathological liar. She even admitted on Eagen and Braude that she doesn't have a license to practice law in this state, yet she lists a MA. address as her office. THAT'S ILLEGAL. So like Finneran, DeMasei et al you would rather elect someone with an already vastly tainted record than an incumbant who votes for what's best for the people, not the party, and at what cost. Liz will vote 100% for whatever your Messiah tells her to. We will become trillions more dollars in debt. I hope you can all get some serious deprogramming help before the election.
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This is a Democrat 'BONANZA." Anything, absolutely ANYTHING to distract voters from the real issue of Elizabeth Warren's questionable background. Why is she so reluctant to answer questions in a truthful manner? What is with her repetitive campaign chant in response to all questions?
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After the debate I made jokes about Brown talking about wampum and a peace pipe, but I did not know he and his staff took that as campaign advice.
Is the mook in the backwards baseball cap on Brown's staff? If so, hiring him would alone be enough NOT to vote for Brown -- poor judgment. Not to mention that a backwards cap is too, too tired.
the tuff guy brown shirts sure make war whoops . MAYBE they can join the military..plenty of wars to serve in nowadays thanks to the chickenhawks bush and cheney and scottie is another chickenhawk