If Joanna Weiss is interested in presenting a clearer picture of Prof Warren's background then why doesn't she interview her? From there she can corroborate it in any way she wishes instead of presenting this piece of yellow journalism. Prof Warren has explained herself and her mentors, colleagues, and application documents have verified her statements. There must be some other agenda to push this cruel, unsubstantiated nonsense further. The only thing unclear at present is why our country's diversity is being used as a whipping post in public media. It seems this article is more revealing about its author than saying anything of import since what is written falls into the categories of conjecture and malicious gossip. Ms. Weiss seems uncomfortable with the jumble of DNA that marks most Americans and the need for attachment to one ethnic group or another even though the biologic picture is murky. It is abundantly proven Prof Warren derived no benefit from letting a small audience know she had NA heritage. She was already regarded as an accomplished professional. Perhaps Ms. Weiss has problems with strong women? See, presto change-o, it's done. It is not hard to start some rumor based on little information. All I have to do next is feed some eager media source is slanted partial information and it will takes weeks perhaps months to straighten out a record that needed no straightening in the first place. It is just too easy to muddy the waters by taking a snippet of information and blowing it all out of proportion to reality. Ms. Weiss seems hell bent on doing just that.

No mention that those recipes were plagiarized? No mention that she and Harvard are responsible for false Federal diversity reports? No mention that she never walked across campus to meet with actual Native Americans whose company she claims to have been seeking? No mention that she still won't ask Harvard and Penn to release her employment applications ... and with puff pieces like this she's not likely to feel that she needs to.

I question the judgement of anyone who would watch a movie called "Jersey shore Shark Attack."

So what's the big deal if these wannabe celebrities and politicians want to embellish their ethnic background to meet the needs of the moment? Actually it's kind of fun to watch. Seems like everybody who is somebody wants to be somebody else. Heck, even Barack Obama back in 1991 thought it would be cool to claim he was from Kenya.

I think Joanna's point is spot on. There is desire, particularly among the left in this country, to seek an ethnic identity that is different from being just a plain, white American. It is almost a badge of honor. While many people celebrate true ethnic heritage-in the form of recipes and traditions that past generations brought to this country, quite a few people seek to create an ethnic identity out of thin air. Barack Obama was raised by white people, but he quickly took up the mantra of the black culture upon reaching adulthood. He saw superiority in embracing an ethnic identity which was different from how he was raised. I would think far more of any politician who can take pride in being an American, with no hyphens or qualifications.

"fogettaboudit" I don't need any Indian bs history to vote for Warren. Her politics are solid enough. Maybe she played-up her questionable past to gain advantage. I couldn't care less. It's a tough world out there, live with it and let it go. People do all kinds of things to get ahead. Grow a spine Democrats and stop falling for this identity politics garbage. The choice in November couldn't be easier.

And if Obama went around calling himself "white" you'd vote for him? Or if he stood on the stump and said, "l'm Erckle, blacks are yuckky, and I approve this message." You'd argue that he didn't have honor because he rejected his people.

My name is Scott Brown and I approve this message.

My name is Scott Brown and I approve this message.

Joanna, What a cute and trivializing story! "The lingering issue with Warren — is she Cherokee or not? — isn't just a technical one, because questions about her ethnicity are also questions about her authenticity." You manage to completely white-wash the real issue, and the issue for which people are angry. As if you wan to suffocate that anger under simplistic feel-good foolishness, making our anger foolish also. We all know enough about Warren's heritage, that EVEN IF her claim if 1/32 Indian American heritage were true (seems it is not), it would not support in any way her claiming Indian-American heritage in EEOC statements. She's a lawyer, she would know (as you should too)her claim had no basis in law. Saying its OK because she believes it to be true, is too funny. What court simply relieves a perjurer on the simple defense that they "believe" their lie? Warren lied purposely and for concrete, personal benefit, to improve her livelihood. Got herself out of the humdrum mid-west legal backwash right into the front row, becoming what...Harvard Law's first Indian!!!! Shame on her, It speaks volume about her lack of character. Now her duplicity is coming back to bite her. If Harvard had any moral character (long gone sadly...), they would fire her

How long are you and the Globe going to flog this dead horse?

TheSystemWorked (commentator below) complains about Globe columnists lacking "noble core principles." Take a close look at the nobility he expresses below and seems to display daily.

I am Scott Brown and I approve this message.

I am scaredy pants Scott Brown and I approve this message.

Don't feed the trolls, Jim.

I am Scott Brown and I approve this message.

Too much commenter on commenter. Who cares what you think of each other?