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YOUR TURN: Brown Staffers and Native American War Chants

Did you find it offensive or fair game?

 

Sen. Scott Brown's campaign was caught up in controversy this week when campaign staffers showed up at a rally for Brown's opponent, Democrat Elizabeth Warren, and interrupted it with Native American war chants and "tomahawk chops."

Brown, who has stepped up attacks on Warren for having claimed to have Native American ancestry even though she has not proven it, distanced himself from the rally incident.

"It is certainly something that I don't condone," Brown told the Boston Globe, then focusing his comment on his attacks against Warren. "The real offense is that (Warren) said she was white and then checked the box saying she is Native American, and then she changed her profile in the law directory once she made her tenure."

Bill John Baker, principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, called on Brown's campaign to apologize for the incident and issued the following statement:

"The Cherokee Nation is disappointed in and denounces the disrespectful actions of staffers and supporters of Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown. The conduct of these individuals goes far beyond what is appropriate and proper in political discourse. The use of stereotypical “war whoop chants” and “tomahawk chops” are offensive and downright racist. It is those types of actions that perpetuate negative stereotypes and continue to minimize and degrade all native peoples."

"The individuals involved in this unfortunate incident are high ranking staffers in both the senate office and the Brown campaign. A campaign that would allow and condone such offensive and racist behavior must be called to task for their actions."

"The Cherokee Nation is a modern, productive society, and I am blessed to be their chief. I will not be silent when individuals mock and insult our people and our great nation."

"We need individuals in the United States Senate who respect Native Americans and have an understanding of tribal issues. For that reason, I call upon Sen. Brown to apologize for the offensive actions of his staff and their uneducated, unenlightened and racist portrayal of native peoples."

What do think? Were the chants appropriate given the issue of Warren's heritage? Or were they racist and offensive? Discuss in the comments below.

Related Topics: Scott Brown and election 2012

Michael Quinlan

5:27 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Did Bill John Baker also condemn lying about being a member of an 'Native-American' tribe to enhance a resume.

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Susan

9:50 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Michael, it has never been on her resume. Seriously, as someone who works in higher ed, I am amazed that people think a place like Harvard (or any upper tier program) actually looks at 'resumes'. You get CHOSEN to work at Harvard, you don't fill out n application and drop it off at the front desk hoping someone calls you back. You know one another from working in the field and attending conventions and publishing in journals. i am shocked that the average Bay Stater is this naive and ill-informed. Come on- we are smarter than this.

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Michael Quinlan

11:08 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012

'... Warren listed herself as a minority in a widely used Association of American law Schools directory from 1986 through 1995.' [Boston.com, 5/10/2012] Such a directory is used by hiring groups to identify 'minority' individuals required to fulfill quotas. Such 'minority' hires can then be touted to display how progressive the law schools are. Both Penn and Harvard did this. Warren's curricula vitae would never have been considered if she were not a 'minority'.

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Susan

11:49 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012

again... quoting someone else does not replace genuine, first-hand knowledge of how faculty are sourced, recruited and hired into top tier programs.

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Susan

11:57 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012

besides... i genuinely do not CARE about this issue. if you want to get into it... the man posed practically NUDE to earn money... he tried to paint the picture of himself as soldier serving overseas- when he is a JAG... talk about a misleading picture. not to mention his votes against the middle class- he votes Republicans a VAST majority of the time... when it MATTERS. Look at the actual votes. He votes against his party only when the measure either doesn't have a CHANCE or is ABSOLUTELY going to pass. This is all posturing... he voted WITH his Republicans buddies 30 of the 32 times prior to Warren entering the race. IF he is successful in this senate campaign...he will return to the Republican blocking game as soon as the election is over. Again, Michael Q... you NEED to open your eyes. Unless you are of the upper echelon that Scott Brown is truly protecting with his votes... if you are... well, maybe he is your guy.

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Michael Quinlan

12:20 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012

I like the capital letters. They display your sincerity. The issue of lying to obtain a affirmative action career benefit resonates will all Americans who feel the 'system' is manipulated to benefit groups favored by leftists. No one cares if Warren's great-great-great grandmother was partial to Native-Americans; it's a free country. Lying is the issue. Watching Warren swirm and issue another mealy-mouthed non-denial of 'checking the box' gives direct evidence that Warren will not hestitate to lie to the face of the voters. Who needs more of that; we already have Tierney.

Andrew

12:42 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012

Reagan's Solicitor General Charles Fried, the guy who hired Elizabeth Warren not only released a statement but has said multiple times that he didn't know about Warren heritage and that she was hired on her merits. Keep this up though Mike, it's bee GREAT for Scotto's plummeting poll numbers.... If a Solicitor General for Ronald Reagan saying it wasn't a factor there's no amount of papers from Warren that'll satisfy you... just like Obama's birth certificate.

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Michael Quinlan

8:39 am on Friday, September 28, 2012

He contributed $250 to Warren's campaign in November, according to a campaign-finance records search through the Center for Responsive Politics. [USA Today, 5/7/12]

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Susan

9:52 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012

So WHAT if if Charles Fried gave $250 to the Warren campaign in November of last year.... Fried voted for Scott Brown years ago... before he saw how poorly Brown represented the people of Massachusetts. Now he feels has a better candidate to back.

Boy Bib

12:52 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012

Ms. Warren should notify Scott Brown's campaign, he can have four racist staffers, or he can have 3 more debates...he doesn't get BOTH. he also has to make a public UNCONDITIONAL Apology to Ms. Warren and her family.

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Candy Sweets

5:55 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012

those scott brown staff people are racist and should apologize. that was disgusting.

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Candy Sweets

5:56 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012

i wonder if he called the cherokee leader and said he was sorry

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Bill Kelly

9:32 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012

Scott Brown should drag all the boys in and read them the riot act reminding them that they are supposed professionals (in particular the one member of his staff) and that acting like adolescent males at a football game is not going to win him any voters who may be undecided to this point. Oh yeah wearing a ball cap on backwards is what punks do in my opinion. Senator Brown is in a tight race and to have staffers act like hooligans is not what I call a winning electoral strategy. Yes the war whoops are racist

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Gail

10:54 am on Friday, September 28, 2012

Bill they will just say they were having fun because those people think racist attacks are fun.

Michael Quinlan

8:48 am on Friday, September 28, 2012

Boy, moonbats on parade. You'll just guarantee Warren will be followed by war-whoop chanting crowds just to annoy the leftists. It will keep the issue of Warren's blatant lying in the forefront of the public mind.

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Bryan McGonigle2

9:25 am on Friday, September 28, 2012

If all forms asking for race came from the printer with all the boxes checked - we are all minorities of some kind - some of our racial problems would be solved including the one in this Senate race. Ms. Warren wouldn't have mislead her employers (and the government that collects these statistics) and Brown staffers wouldn't feel the need to do the tomahawk chop.

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Gail

10:55 am on Friday, September 28, 2012

Feel the need? Like they can't control themselves?

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Michael Quinlan

9:04 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012

Perhaps they 'feel the need' for freedom of speech especially when the socialists get annoyed.

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Susan

9:54 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Feel the need? that makes racist ok?! that makes ANYthing ok?!? Like when a woman wears a nice outfit and someone 'feels the need' to force themselves on her?! Wow, what is up with people. Racism is never, ever ok.

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Michael Quinlan

10:23 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012

It's called FREEDOM OF SPEECH (i.e. not limited by moonbat hectoring).

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Susan

12:17 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012

yes. you are correct. hate-speech is protected, indeed. i does not, however, make it ok.

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Michael Quinlan

12:30 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Lost the capitals I see. e.e. cummings would be proud.

Your approbation as to whether it is 'OK' is risible.

Cool Fusion

9:31 am on Friday, September 28, 2012

Ballot checkmark your poison - Voting for Warren or Brown is like choosing between arsenic and strychnine.

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Mike I.

10:29 pm on Sunday, September 30, 2012

If senator Brown doesn't see what his staffs did was wrong, how can we trust he will do the right thing in Washington?

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Bryan McGonigle2

11:04 pm on Sunday, September 30, 2012

Mike I. - The article states that Brown doesn't condone the behavior.

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