As I understand it (and to my great dismay) U.S. Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren’s unsubstantiated -- and subsequently discredited -- “claim” she is Native American has demonstrably failed to hurt her political prospects. In fact, according to a PPP survey conducted earlier this month, Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) holds a paltry five percentage point lead over his Democratic challenger; and a MassINC poll conducted in July shows Ms. Warren slightly ahead. It comes as no surprise, then, that many political observers speculate this will be the closest -- and perhaps most expensive -- U.S. Senate race in November. Hence, it’s rather perplexing -- and ironic! -- to see a contingent of disgruntled Native American delegates (inside the Democratic National Convention, of all places) urging her to come clean about her false ancestral claims (via the Boston Herald):
As far as I can tell this is a lose/lose situation. If Professor Warren meets with the delegation (which seems very unlikely) she will be forced to answer unpalatable questions from an indignant crowd of Native Americans. Conversely, if she doesn’t meet with the delegates (we’ve seen her run from inquisitive reporters before, by the way) it will raise serious questions about her character and integrity. Either way, Ms. Warren comes out on the losing end. And while I doubt such unwanted and unwelcomed attention at the DNC will negatively impact her Senate campaign (even though it should), it’s nevertheless refreshing to see Democrats demanding more transparency and accountability from their purported leaders.