On Thursday's The Rachel Maddow Show, outgoing Democratic Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) ripped Republican Senator Scott Brown for his personal attacks on Democratic opponent Elizabeth Warren and her disputed Native American ancestry.
Warren is Brown's Democratic challenger in this year's Massachusetts Senate race—one of the most closely watched in the nation, and a competition which may very well decide which party controls the Senate in the 113th Congress. The two contestants had their first debate on Thursday night.
"Professor Warren claimed that she's a Native American and a person of color, and as you can see, she's not," Brown said during that debate. "But the fact is, she checked a box."
Warren, a progressive hero, once claimed on a Harvard job application that she was part Cherokee. She later clarified that she was 1/32 Native American, saying she had been told as much by her mother, and had taken that fact at face value.
Warren's counter to Brown's attack? Brown is a “nice" man, and she hopes their contest can focus on the issues.
During the debate, Brown also razzed Warren about the robust Ivy League income she and her husband earn. “No wonder costs are high” at colleges, Brown said.
Frank, who is retiring from the House this year, told MSNBC host Rachel Maddow that he was deeply disappointed by Brown's "snarky" remarks, especially considering that America is struggling economically and is in the middle of a war. Frank said the "personal attack" is "not really consistent with the nice guy image he's put forward. "
He also pointed out that, in deep-blue Massachusetts, Brown is trying to distance himself from his own party's brand. You "couldn't get him to say the word Romney with a subpoena," the notoriously quick-witted congressman said.
Maddow also criticized Brown's remarks about Warren's heritage. "I feel like it's racially offensive to say 'I can tell you're not Native American. Look at you,'" she said.
Frank said Brown was trying to, "delegitimize your opponent, rather than debate the issues when you think the issues go against you."
According to four recent polls, Warren has a small lead against Brown. A fifth poll had Brown leading.
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Ok... completely leave out the context in which Brown's comments about her supposed heritage were made. The question asked if character was important in this race. If she lied about her heritage for her own gain is an issue of character. As for the college costs comment... the question was about whether or not a college education was worth the cost. Come on. Your bias is showing.
In Oklahoma, if you can identify a native american ancestor, you are of native american heritage and qualify for some benefits only available to native americans. I do not know that she is not truthful about that. Do you know that she does not have native american ancestors or are you just assumng that she does not look like an Indian therefore she is not?
Todd Palin qualifies as an eskimo and so do all of his children and they draw payments from Alaska based on having some eskimo genes. He does not look like an eskimo but I will take his word for it.
From what I have heard, here in Oklahoma, she is part Cherokee. From my growing up days, 50 years ago, a 1/32nd was all that was necessary to be counted as Native, for school census purposes.
She hardly lied. My fiancee is 1/16th Cherokee, which the Federal government recognizes her as Native american, and in fact gives her a certification card to prove so. Our children would be 1/32, and that too is recognized, so they too could claim to be Native American.
I fail to see where she said she was 100% Native American. THAT would be a lie. What she said, in actuality, is the truth. Look up Federal law if you don't believe it.
NBC, do some research, you might find you actually could do some REAL reporting.
If you claim you are a Republican these days, you follow the party or the party wants you out. That has been proven through various challenges to current incumbent Republicans with more conservative Republicans. Brown is a Republican and no matter what he may say, I believe his actions, voting record and Republican platform. With that said, Brown has reverted to the age old tactics of bullying and name calling because the facts negate much of what he stands for. In the now famous words of Adam Savage (Mythbusters), the new Republican call is "I reject your reality and substitute my own."
Roxann Holloway
My mother was from the Nashville Tn. We were always told by her and my many aunts and uncles that we were Cherokee... I dont know that I am but I say I am cause that has what was told to me for many years... If this is all they have on you they are very desperate!!
Great debate!
Having been born and raised in Oklahoma, and having been married to an Apache for 15 years, living on a reservation, I can tell you, especially Cherokees, and others of the 5 civilized tribes, many mixed with whites early on. The results are Native Americans that look white. Scott's remark shows his ignorance when he said,"Look at her, she is not Indian." If you go to the Cherokee museum in North Carolina you see pictures of the early chiefs that are as white as Scott Brown. Also when the slaves were freed, the Cherokees and others married their slaves so there are many natives that look black. A dumb remark from a white guy who does not know the story. Elizabeth will will Mass. Obama is ahead 18 points there because the people know Romney and their view is not positive.
I'm either 1/16th or 1/32nd Cherokee. I can never remember which. But I look about half Cherokee. It's really obvious. It was even more-so when I was a kid. My brother, though, looks nothing like a Cherokee. He looks like my uncle and male cousin on my mom's side. He's got pale skin and freckles. But he's just as Cherokee as I am.
Now, I come from Cherokees that hid in the hills when the soldiers came to take them on the trail of tears. So, my line was never registered with the government and we're not eligible for anything because of my heritage. I don't have an indian card. But we are still just as Cherokee as any registered Cherokee with the same blood mix. When I fill out official forms that ask for my race, I check both white and native american. I see no reason for Ms. Warren to do any different.
Aside from the FACT that Warren is deliberately keeping her records hidden, which given the Harry Reid school of though means she is obviously guilty, the women is a tried and true socialist.
Go back and listen to the majority of her speaches and message. It is all about taxing the rich and redistributing the wealth to the poor. It is about how Government is the only way people can have a chance. It is an echo of Obama's message, which has set our country back at least 10 years.
When will people learn that socialism does not work. It never has....
Scot Brown has a little tinge of premenstrual rage he is having trouble covering up. I think if he wants to get all excited about something that matters, but 1/32 anything is not all that meaningful, and ought never have made it into the conversation.
The Point is that he has not made in the four years since Teddy's death any significant difference in the lives of the folks of Mass, or for that matter the world, and has not earned reelection. Give her a year, and I am convinced the country will be a better place.
So she and her husband both work and have a decent income, and she is "not a person of color. Just look at her." I guess these two assertions by the senator disqualify her candidacy. And he just might have a point. I've seen a lot of John Wayne movies, as has the senator, and she doesn't look like any of those Indians.
Why does Brown say "look at her"? Native Americans, like Latinos, come in all shapes, and various shades of brown. So, Ms. Warren, probably is Native American as her Mother told her. When going to college one shows proof of being Native American. At least I did.