The Cherokee Chief Wants Scott Brown to Apologize

[MannyGoldstein]

Source: Boston Magazine

A day after Scott Brown supporters and staffers were caught on video taunting Elizabeth Warren supporters with tomahawk chop gestures and war cries, the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation would like a stronger reaction from the candidate. Chief Bill John Baker emailed a statement to reporters that reads, in part:

"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."

...

"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."

Warren, of course, probably isn’t going to make the “racism” claim herself. When reporters asked if she was “appalled as a Native American,” she replied artfully that “I am appalled as an American,” reports the Herald. Brown said after the video started circulating that he “It is certainly something that I don’t condone” but it sounds like Baker wants a stronger repudiation.

Read more: http://blogs.bostonmagazine.com/boston_daily/2012/09/26/cherokee-chief-scott-brown-apologize/

---

Video of Brown's staff in action: http://blogs.bostonmagazine.com/boston_daily/2012/09/25/scott-brown-prefer-staff-native-american-impressions/

And I'm looking forward to Brown using his magic powers to identify the real ethnic background of Chief Bill John Baker, who's 1/32nd Cherokee:

[highplainsdem]

1. If Brown had any integrity, he'd fire those staffers.

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. If Brown had any integrity, he would quit.

n/t

[olddad56]

15. if a republican politician had an integrity, he/she wouldn't be a republican politician

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

23. DUzy!! :)

[Roland99]

35. heh

[OrwellwasRight]

84. Well said.

[Jackpine Radical]

52. If he had any integrity, he'd

be a Democrat.

[Tigress DEM]

80. EXACTLY!

[left-of-center2012]

17. Integrity ?

I don't think they'd do it on their own. Brown's the one who sent them out.

[gopiscrap]

33. Were those staffers

Senate staffers or campaign staffers...If they were Senate staffersm, then there is a real problem there! Otherwise it's plain old racism. Either way is in the guytter and unbecoming of a US Senator. If the Senate had any balls, they would censure Brown

[karynnj]

62. At least 2 were Senate staffers

'Brown's deputy Chief of Staff Greg Casey and Constituent Service Counsel Jack Richard, and GOP operative Brad Garrett are pictured in the video, NewsCenter 5's Janet Wu confirmed. '

From channel 5's article.

[gopiscrap]

69. Then there should be a civil rights investigation

and a firing of the staff!

[karynnj]

74. Firing Senate staff may be problematic

I can't imagine that he could fill those positions - given that they likely end in January!

[yellerpup]

2. Thank you, Chief Baker.

Brown degrades himself by enabling racist, hateful behavior and my Chief is right to call him out on it. Apologize, Brown!

[beachgirl2365]

47. I'll second that!!!

Not only is Brown degrading himself on this one, it was his current SENATE STAFF that were the leaders a perpetrators of these racist actions, not campaign staff..................Your tax dollars hard at work folks,... are you paying attention MA?! Thank you Chief Baker, on behalf of all Cherokee descendents, and I am sure on behalf of all American Indian tribes. The fact that this is not being acknowledged by the main stream media is outrageous. Maybe now that Chief Baker has spoken out, it will get the attention it so rightly deserves!!!

[DURHAM D]

4. I miss Chief Wilma Mankiller.

If she was still alive she would have been involved in this months ago.

Baker is weak but I am glad he finally has something to say.

[MysticLynx]

12. Wilma

yes thinking the same thing. But I think he was direct and respectful and got the point across and I am glad he did.

[Auntie Bush]

5. You should have a poll with his picture asking

What do you thinks this person's heritage is ? ...with lots of options.

[msu2ba]

6. He's not a real Native American.

Where are his feather hat and hatchet-thingie?

[left-of-center2012]

18. Proof ?

I suspect Brown will ask for Baker's long form birth certificate.

[Iliyah]

7. According to the GOP party Natives

are not Americans anyways.

[AnneD]

46. Hey you, Yeah you Brown...

Get off my lawn......

AnneD... tribal roll card carrying member!

[G_j]

8. KNR

[riverwalker]

9. and from Indian Country Today

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/09/25/scott-brown-staffers-mock-elizabeth-warrens-native-identity-with-tomahawk-chops-on-video-135695

from the comments after the article:

softbreezeSeptember 26, 2012

Well well…If this doesn’t show Scott Brown’s true colors in regards to this issue of Native ancestry, I don’t know what does. If he was truly concerned about the Original People of Turtle Island, his staff would have never even entertained the idea of behaving in such an ignorant, disrespectful, and racist manner. If his staff had shown up wearing black face and making fun of people who are of African descent, and were mocking there original culture, there would be an uprising. So, apparently, in the U.S., the original Native People are not considered Human Beings like everyone else. How sad people feel this way, because if they only knew the truth, they would realize just how backwards and false their chosen and convenient beliefs really are. I am completely disgusted and offended. Words cannot describe how watching this video makes me feel. Just so all of you non-natives know, even though I am completely outraged by this, because of my cultural beliefs, I choose to love you anyway, even if I don’t like you a whole lot. And that’s because you are my brothers and sisters, whether you know it or not. Mziwi.

ribluebirdSeptember 25, 2012

It is a shame I do not live in MA, but I would be knocking on doors up and down the state for Elizabeth Warren, Scott Brown should be ashamed of his crew who are behaving in a manner that does not supports freedom for all.
I would love to see this on one of our TV stations, but then anything in regards to NA’s is swepted under the rug.
When you think about it maybe Scott should be the color of his name Brown and see how his life is.

[Overseas]

10. K&R. Yes please!

[CherokeeDem]

11. Thank you, Chief Baker

I am 1/16th Cherokee and very proud of my Cherokee heritage, as I am my Scottish, Swedish, and English heritage, and I don't "look" Cherokee any more than Elizabeth Warren does. It is sad that Brown is so desperate that he has begun to attack Warren solely on this.

His staff was rude and behaved in a racist manner and should be fired. I don't think that Brown as the guts.

[DURHAM D]

16. I am also totally pissed that it was his senate staff that did this.

We are paying their salaries.

[MysticLynx]

42. Yes

Exactly! And that is why they should be fired. I would think that it is a mis-use of public funds to attempt to publicly ridicule someone based on race. Not sure but I though there were laws in place that prohibited government officials from engaging in such behaviors?

[DURHAM D]

43. At the very least we need a Senate investigation.

Perhaps someone will start a petition.

[OrwellwasRight]

85. Well, actually, any campaigning of any sort

whether offensive, or non-offensive, on official time would be a mis-use of public funds and an ethics violation by both Brown and his staffer.

If the official staff are working on the campaign, they should be doing so on vacation time or have taken official leaves of absence without pay. If they are still getting their full pay and have not taken time off work, they are violating the laws regardless of their behavior.

I am not saying this to excuse what they did or to imply they are not pricks or to say they should not be fired. They should be fired.

But I just wanted to clarify the law.

[bkkyosemite]

13. I'm 1/16th Chocktaw

And Irish, Scott, Italian. Who the hell does Brown think he is talking to when he said that to Warren. We are all one people the idiot!

[onehandle]

14. Brown has had his 'Macaca' moment. He needs to drop out and resign. nt

[nolabear]

19. Thank you Chief Baker, from me and my Choctaw ancestors.

[myrna minx]

20. K&R

[olddad56]

21. Why does the NFL allow a football team to be named the Redskins?

I can't think of a more offensive term to describe a Native American.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

27. I'm ashamed to be from Atlanta where the Braves do their tomahawk chop.

I went to the game a few weeks ago when I visited home, and they were doing it. It is no obnoxious. So racist. I now live in D.C. It seems I can't escape the racism.

[KamaAina]

49. That magnifies Code Brown's gaffe even further

The Atlanta Braves used to be -- wait for it -- the Boston Braves, until they left town for Milwaukee, then Atlanta.

Ask Sen. Martha Coakley what happens to candidates in Mass. who screw up around baseball!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

51. I had forgotten about that. Great point! LOL!

[Jamaal510]

29. There's also a baseball team called the "Indians".

Surely the owners of that team knew about how Chris Columbus incorrectly thought he was in India and referred to North American inhabitants as Indians, right?

[byeya]

37. I agree with you on the important points but the Cleveland team was named after Lou Sockalexis

an American Indian from Maine who had a brilliant half season in the 1890s before injuries and alcoholism ended his baseball career. The Cleveland baseball team in the 1890s was nicknamed the Spiders and then in the early 20th century they were called the Naps after their great player/manager Napoleon Lajoie.
The nickname Indians came after Lajoie was no longer with the team.
I believe the nickname was taken by votes to a newspaper and Sockalexis was still remembered fondly.

If I am wrong, I'd like to know it so I don't repeat this because if false, then the nickname should be changed.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

45. No, you are correct.

[KamaAina]

50. But the godsawful logo still needs to go.

[byeya]

54. Yes. That is horrible, in my opinion.

[pink-o]

78. Who remembers Injun Orange, funny face drinks?

It was Pilsbury's competition against Kool Ade in the 60s. They changed it (along with Chinese Cherry, a truly awful cartoon of a buck toothed sampan wearing cherry) when they got complaints about racism. I was a kid of about 10 and didn't realize the offense till much later. Cringe worthy!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tracis_retro/2388980925/

[mac56]

36. I agree. The Redskins, Indians, Chiefs, Braves, Blackhawks.

These have always bothered me, even as a kid. Even the University of Illinois Fighting Illini and the North Dakota Fighting Sioux (which now has a different name).

I once told a Washington DC NFL fan that his team could still use the name Redskins, if they use a russet potato as a logo.

[olddad56]

59. None of them are acceptable, but to me Redskins seems the most offensive.

[Berlum]

22. Republican Family Values Scumbucketry

as usual

[SCVDem]

24. K

And a big freakin R!

I knew this was coming.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

25. Is this Scott Brown's "Macaca" moment?

[SoapBox]

26. K & R

[madokie]

28. The Cherokee do a good job of helping out, tax wise

around here and we're proud of them for accepting us. If it wasn't for the Cherokee the first settlers to America would not have survived the first winter. We must not forget that.

[Jessy169]

30. Chief Bill John Baker and Elizabeth Warran will get the last laugh on Scott Brown

... when they taunt Scott Brown with his figuratively collected scalp on November 6th

[gopiscrap]

31. Sadly, he'll never get an apology from that racist fuck stain

Brown has no where the class that the Native American chief has!

[savannah43]

56. If they do get one, they shouldn't accept it.

[gopiscrap]

60. Welcome to DU

[trayfoot]

32. My great-grandmother

was full blooded Cherokee. I have an ancient portrait of her in my home. Looking at me, Nobody would believe that I have ANY Native American blood - the NW European influence overcame the Cherokee (ironically, since that seemed to be what happened to a lot of the Native American experience)!

[Pachamama]

73. Same here....

What part Cherokee does that make us? I am blonde and fair-skinned....in my case the German & Danish side took over...

I found the comments from Sen. Brown in the debate about being able to "clearly see from looking at Elizabeth Warren that she isnt Cherokee" was racist and disgusting.....

The senate staff chanting and doing tomahawk motions is despicable....i hope the citizens of MA are disgusted and in November, they remember with Thanksgiving that month, what it symbolizes....

MA - Vote for Elizabeth Warren - the candidate worthy of being your Senator....

[RoccoR5955]

34. How can an Indian be American?

They are from India, aren't they?
Unless you are talking about Piyush. Perhaps Scott should ask Piyush if Warren is an "Indian." Jindal should know. His parents are/were? Indian.

[Rain Mcloud]

38. As an American

with about 1/32 of Cherokee heritage and an Oklahoman,i of course felt a great pride in Elizabeth Warren and now i have a hero in Chief Baker.
The Cherokee Leadership seemed to be on the side of the Republicans last time I looked around 2005 and so i have not put a lot of stock in their views since.

Browns staff was playing to the low hanging fruit in desperation to win one for the GOP using fear,ignorance and hatred to strengthen the GOP's literal death grip.
Its OK,go ahead and burn those bridges,the world will be rid of Browns ilk soon enough and better off once they are gone.
Rather than dwell on the immediate insult i am looking forward to the blowback which these assclowns are visiting on themselves.
The rich trying to foist their views on the unworthy masses is a temporary problem with easy solutions.
They need us way,way,way more than we need them!

[yellerpup]

53. Well, this tomahawk chop crap

will certainly solidify Brown's bigot base. It's going to hurt him a lot more at the ballot box than it hurts her. With the Chief coming out in Warren's defense, that takes this 'did not/did too' squabble to a higher level. I hope he pays forever and that all his staffers lose their jobs. Nothing will develop empathy in this asshats like having to scramble for a new job with the rest of us. Reminds me of the phony riots in Palm Beach, FL during the recount. Where are you on the issues, Brown?

[Rain Mcloud]

67. Like Priebus,

I'm sure Brown has issues coming out of his eyeballs.

[yellerpup]

71. Probably, but Warren will stick to issues.

Let Chief Baker take over that argument for her. Chief Baker stepped up and demanded an apology today, so let him fight Scott Brown and let Elizabeth Warren make her case to the voters. Not that she can't stand up for herself, but he can stand up better for her being/not being a Cherokee Chief who has a 1/32 blood quantum. Brown would be foolish not to fire someone over this outrageous demonstration.

[Rain Mcloud]

75. Agreed.

i was making a play on words there though.
The Gop has issues for which they need tissues.
The Dems win when they stand,in favor of people,on national issues.

Brownie will just play the victim card and get the local media to apologize on his behalf so that he will not appear weak to the manifest destiny voters.
Brown has now insulted virtually every one who is proud of their native heritage,it would be nice if other Chiefs stood up and condemned Brown and his staffers.
I'm afraid that Brown will fire the responsible parties and Rove and Norquist will supply competent people to fix his image problem.
Insults are one thing but against the potential for good that Warren has,if she is elected,well that would be something that everyone would feel the positive effect of,her consumer protection work for instance.

My guess is,the Koch Boys and/or Adelson told Brown to take her out and don't spare the whip.
The actions from the Brown Campaign were probably not an accident.
It seems too well thought out and implemented and video'd,perhaps hoping it would go viral on YouTube like the Muslim video did.

These bastards are evil.
I used to work for the Koch's,rebuilding heating elements in their asphalt vats.
Nothing they could do would surprise me.
Well,save for growing moral compass,that would surprise me.

[yellerpup]

76. No, that demonstration is straight out of Brown's office.

No space between the act
Except for some PAC right up to the minute
Footing the bill for a job in the Senate.

If you worked for them, I have no doubt your health, welfare, and safety were neglected in their employ. Nobody gets that rich without stealing from a whole lot of other people. They can try to repair his image, but it's too late because he stood up on TV, refused to put forward a plan of his own and refused to discuss this votes in the past. If that's all Brown has, he's going nowhere.

[Rain Mcloud]

39. Oh and I forgot,

"Heck of a job,Brownie!"

[avebury]

40. Brown should apologize.

My grandmother on my Dad's side was 1/8th Cherokee but you would have never known it unless she told you. For Brown's supporter to be doing the "tomahawk chop gesture" and "war whoop chants" is an insult to all Native Americans.

[Anthony McCarthy]

41. The Real Scott Brown Is Exposed

This is what Scott Brown really is, his average guy image is about as real as Mitt's Massachusetts governor candidate persona. He is a creep. There are no nice Republicans, the last one left the party in the 1980s/

[catbyte]

44. Damn straight. I feel personally insulted and I live in Michigan!

One of my pet peeves and something that hurts my heart are those fake "war whoops" and "tomahawk chops." They are desecrating our culture and making a mockery of sacred things. How well would it go over, do you think, if some guy came out in a pope outfit and fake genuflected, prayed, and waved a fake rosary around and yelled fake "Hail Marys"? Yeah, that would go over real big, I'm sure. There's no difference.

BTW, I am so thankful that Rachel Maddow brought up the topic of that despicable name for the Washington, DC NFL team and how ironic it was that such an ugly racial slur is so universally accepted in OUR NATION'S CAPITOL. Shameful. The R word is our N word. I guess we don't have a big enough lobby.



Mom to Taz, Nigel, and baby sister Sammy, members of Dogs Against Romney, Cat Division
"Dogs Aren’t Luggage--HISS!”
and
“THANK YOU, DU, FOR SAVING OUR HOME–PURR!”

[northoftheborder]

48. I'm sending that Warren contribution form that has been rattling in my bill stack, TODAY!!!

[TheCowsCameHome]

55. Uh-oh. Scott Brown's macaca moment has arrived.

Bwahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahaha.

[CitizenPatriot]

57. Endemic of the real GOP

was the frat boy bullying behavior. They will mock anyone who isn't white and rich and male and straight and Christian. Jesus would be so proud. /s

[Duval]

58. Thank you, Chief Will John Baker.

You have spoken for many Americans who despise this public display of racism.

[yellowcanine]

61. Backward baseball cap man needs to be fired if he is a staffer for Brown.

He was outrageously racist.

[frylock]

65. backward baseball cap man needs a forearm shiver to the chest..

followed by being stood over and dared to pick his sorry ass up off the ground.

[DirkGently]

77. The smirk on that guy. Every College Republican A-hole rolled into one.

[frylock]

83. yep

[redstatebluegirl]

63. How could they think this was ok?

I live in Oklahoma, we have a large Native American population. Since moving here 12 years ago, I have worked very hard to learn about their customs and beliefs. I have a gained a great deal of respect for all of the tribes. How they have overcome so much adversity. Their culture and customs are magnificent and worthy of respect.

My main question is seeing these stupid people in Brown's campaign is "how can you think that is ok"? It is anything but ok to make fun of any culture or group of people. Except of course stupid white men which seems to be a growing group that does not deserve to be protected!

[bluerum]

64. br0wn is going down (catchy rhyme)

Repubs have wonderful ability to shoot themselves in the feet. It's like the script writes itself.

[JoeyT]

66. I don't want an apology,

I want Scott Brown to fuck off into obscurity where he belongs. I suspect that's also what Chief Baker wants.

No one is impressed when racists apologize. Seriously, we're not. The apology is demanded because it makes bigots accountable to everyone that might not have been paying attention. No one ever believes they're sorry about being a bigot.

[Berlum]

68. I want Brownie to apologize, too

For crying out loud

[MrScorpio]

70. As a direct descendant of Cherokee Chief Charles Hunkerfoot, I thank you, Chief Baker. nt

[umikaimu]

86. Charles Hunkerfoot

Hello, I am a descendent of Chief Hunkerfoot as well. Do you have any more information?

[MrScorpio]

87. I'm a member of the Barrow family, as in the late Joe Louis Barrow

Charles Hunkerfoot, as you know, was the father the Victoria Harp Barrow, my maternal grandmother's grandmother. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Harp-671

Here's the Barrow family FB page. https://www.facebook.com/barrowfamilyhistory/?ref=page_internal. It's where we exchange a lot of info amongst the extend family.

Anyway, if you haven't connected with the Barrows, you've got a lot of distant cousins out here.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

72. Republicans would hear some of the Native American proverbs and call them anti-American....

Things like, "We don't inherit the land, we borrow it from our children" doesn't go down well with "Drill Baby, Drill!!!"

[iamthebandfanman]

79. awesome!

ive been soooooo waiting for this to happen

[polmaven]

81. I am sooo embarrassed

that this child is one of my US Senators!!! "Well, it's all her own fault. She started it!! She asked for it!!"

Racism is racism, Senator Brown. There is no excuse. Particularly the one you actually did try to use...that she *asked* for it!!!! How old are you? :face palm:

[redstatebluegirl]

82. They look like a group of drunken Frat boys

They really do, they look like a fraternity out doing what they do.