Posted on 02/22/2018 5:42:49 AM PST by billorites
That’s her story and she’s sticking to it.
Though there is no hard evidence that Elizabeth Warren had any Native American ancestors, the senator continues to claim that that was what her parents told her. In the words of a commercial she ran back during the 2012 election, “As a kid I never asked my mom for documentation when she talked about our Native American heritage. What kid would?” She said pretty much the same thing in her recent speech to the National Congress of American Indians, garnished with a bit more emotion and a promise that she will use future attacks as an opportunity to “lift up the story of your families and your communities.”
Warren’s defense does have a number of things going for it. To begin with, it’s almost impossible to disprove, given that her parents both died more than 20 years ago. It also carries a nice resonance of family values, with the implication that anyone who disputes her story is, in effect, casting an aspersion on her mother and father.
But even if the story plays well among Democratic and liberal audiences, I doubt it will work with moderates, independents and most people who aren’t already favorably disposed toward her.
To begin with, many people actually do challenge the stories and family lore told to them by their parents. They’re known as genealogists. I have in mind not only the thousands of people who do this kind of work on a professional basis, but the far larger number of Americans, who have researched their family history just for the fun of it.
I am one such person. Back in the 1980s, needing a break from my graduate school studies, I spent a few wonderful weeks trying to learn about the various branches of my family tree. Ever since, it’s been something of a hobby, to which I try to devote at least a few days every year.
Like most of the other amateur genealogists with whom I have compared notes, I found that some of those old family stories are true — and some aren’t.
When I was young, my mother told me that her maternal grandmother — my great-grandmother — was an orphan, whose parents had died within just a few days of each other. Sifting through the death records in an Ohio county courthouse, I found that this was true. My great-great-grandmother died on May 20, 1869, her husband on June 4, both of consumption.
But another piece of family lore fared less well. My great-grandmother’s parents were said to have been quite wealthy, but by the time she grew up and took control of her inheritance, her executor had squandered most of the money. It’s a melodramatic story, but I can find no evidence it’s true. Records show that my great-grandmother’s father was a partner in a grocery and merchandise company, probably putting him in the post-Civil War version of the middle class, but no threat to Andrew Carnegie. According to his probate file, his taxable income in 1868 was $200, a reasonable income for that time period but I doubt he spent much time scoping out mansions in Newport, Rhode Island.
But there’s a second and greater problem with Warren’s defense of her past conduct. As long as it only affects her private life and her personal self-image, she can call herself anything she wants. And if she also wants to collect Native American art or contribute recipes to a Native American cookbook, I’m sure most voters would say, go ahead, knock yourself out.
But when she lists herself as a Native American in a law school directory that she knows is used to generate potential candidates for faculty searches, and when that identity is included in affirmative action forms filed with the federal government, she has crossed a crucial line. Now that old family story can (and probably did) have important ramifications for all sorts of very public matters, such as hiring decisions. Harvard Law School also took note of her ethnicity in a public statement issued to defend itself against the criticism that it hadn’t hired any minority women.
For these sorts of purposes, an old family story just won’t do.
Harvard was used. Harvard is a joke.
It is a lousy $200 for “23&Me” DNA test. I’m sure we can find someone to pick that up.
She just has to spit in a cup and all the questions will be answered.
If she were truly of American Indian descent, she would have done that already..
Pocahontas ping....
Paleface squaw is heap big imposter.
Now what is spreading bull saying?
I'm surprised the author didn't mention those recipes were plagiarized. That should be very easy to substantiate.
Warren and boobies should not be discussed on the same thread.
A simple 70 dollar DNA test would prove if she ims an injun or if she IS a liar.
Used to carry that in my wallet. Cut down both sides and the lower of the box of butter she is holding. Fold as you described. Then lift up the box flap and .... WOW!
You know that was no accident when those Mad Men thought up that logo.
I'm not sure. Was theirs a matriarchic society? I do know, however, that in some tribes there were Indian "queens."
Kangaroos are offended!!
My family has it’s alleged “Indian heritage” tale.
Story goes my great grandmother believed her people had (presumably Cherokee) blood. It was a nice story and since she was of a darker complexion with jet black hair when she was young, it seemed plausible.(She also had “high Cheekbones”)
Years later my brother and his wife had their saliva tested through Ancestry.com and his came back negative for “Native American” blood. But his wife proved 25%, which wasn’t a surprise since she is part Panamanian.
Like Elizabeth Warren, it was a nice tale which we gave some credence.
Unlike Mz. Warren, we didn’t whore our little “family fiction” for personal or political gain.
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