Warren sorry over heritage claims
Senator tackles issue at Native American forum
SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren offered a public apology Monday to Native Americans over her past claim to tribal heritage, directly tackling an area that’s proved to be a big political liability.
“Like anyone who has been honest with themselves, I know I have made mistakes,” the Massachusetts senator said at a forum on Native American issues in the pivotal early voting state. “I am sorry for the harm I have caused.”
Monday’s remarks were an effort to move past the fallout from her past claims of tribal ancestry, which culminated in a widely criticized release of a DNA analysis last year. The issue nearly derailed her campaign in the early days as President Donald Trump began derisively referring to her as “Pocahontas.”
Now that Warren is gaining in most polls, she’s trying to prove to voters that the controversy won’t doom her in a general election matchup against Trump.
After drawing a standing ovation, Warren said “I have listened and I have learned a lot” from conversations with Native Americans in recent months, describing herself as “grateful” for the dialogue. She fielded questions about her proposals, which include a legislative change for a Supreme Court ruling that impedes tribal governments’ ability to prosecute crimes committed on tribal lands by those who don’t belong to a tribe.
She did not receive any questions about her own background.
Warren’s DNA analysis showed evidence of a tribal ancestor as far as 10 generations back, but the Cherokee Nation joined some other Native Americans in rebuking the senator for attributing tribal membership to genetics. Warren later apologized privately to the Cherokee and had addressed her regret before Monday’s appearance.
As of Monday, her campaign website’s page containing a video and other materials Warren had released on the DNA analysis was no longer active.
The Native American forum this week is expected to draw 10 of her White House rivals.
New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland, who last year became one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress, introduced Warren on Monday after endorsing her presidential campaign last month and aligning with her for new legislation aimed at helping tribal communities.
Later Monday, Warren campaigned in Minnesota, a state
Trump hopes to take out of Democrats’ column next year. The senator drew her largest crowd yet — 12,000 people, according to her campaign — to an outdoor rally at Macalester College, a private liberal arts school in St. Paul.
“I don’t want a government that works for giant multinational corporations. I want one that works for our families,” she told the crowd. Elsewhere on the campaign trail:
Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bennet, who is pursuing the presidency as the measured and moderate anti-trump, insisted in an interview he won’t change course. He made his pitch explicit in a tweet, pledging, “If you elect me president, I promise you won’t have to think about me for 2 weeks at a time. I’ll do my job watching out for North Korea and ending this trade war. So you can go raise your kids and live your lives.”
The Des Moines Register editorial board praised Bennet after sitting down with him, encouraging caucusgoers to give him “more attention.”
“He offers a much-needed reality check on the promises candidates are offering and what it will take to accomplish meaningful change,” the board wrote.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Edward Markey released a video showing Warren endorsing him for reelection. The video shows the Democratic presidential hopeful praising Markey as a leader, fighter and “our country’s greatest champion for clean energy jobs.” It comes as supporters of U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy are pressing him to challenge Markey in next year’s Democratic primary.
Markey released the 90-second video Monday. Warren had previously endorsed him.