Here we go again. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) just released a video addressing her belief she was a descendant of one of the tribes of indigenous people of the Americas, also known as Native Americans. In the video, Warren explains her mother had told her that she eloped with Warren’s father because his family disapproved due to her Native American ancestry. The video shows Warren’s GOP family members talking about how ridiculous it is that President Trump made fun of Warren’s claims by repeatedly calling her “Pocahontas.” Warren also includes interviews with those who hired her over the years in an effort to push back against claims she exploited her perceived heritage to further her career. Turns out, according to the DNA test, Warren has a distant relative who was Native American. The science shows the lineage is not what Warren believed, but it also demonstrates that her mother wasn’t a liar. Like many in this area, including me, she had believed her family’s version of her history. Remember, she had this belief before DNA tests were commonly used. All was she had was her mother’s word.

After the video’s release, Warren reminded Trump that he promised to donate a million dollars if she could prove she did have Native American heritage, or, in his words, was an “Indian.” She called his bluff and took the test and told him to send the million-dollar check to the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center. Trump, of course, will never pay. It isn’t his style to pay his debts. He has called for another DNA test performed by him.

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And there is the problem. The DNA test. Warren’s release of the results to quantify her heritage was deeply offensive to many, including the Cherokee Nation. “Tone deaf” is the term I’ve seen most used. There is no arguing that it was misguided. Warren should apologize. However, the left should also recognize that Warren is one of the few politicians to consistently push back against Trump. She knows that the time for going high is over. Before she is disqualified from running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 over this current fiasco, the left should take a look at the other frontrunners. Each is problematic in his or her own way.

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.Y.), despite being a consistent voice for social justice, cast a controversial vote on a pharmaceutical bill. U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), a tough and brilliant contender who will surely make a run for the White House at some point, defended both the death penalty and the three strikes rule and fought against transparency in police shootings in her role as California’s attorney general. Even beloved U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has a history of mixed votes on gun control. He stood by for many years while private prisons flourished in Vermont. Then there is that creepy story he wrote about rape fantasies. Rounding out the most talked about frontrunners is former Vice President Joe Biden, who some younger progressives may only know as the cool sidekick to President Barack Obama. Many are only just now learning about his very problematic questioning of Professor Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings. Even Rep. Robert “Beto” O’Rourke is going to have to deal with a controversial vote he made while on the El Paso City Council to allow the use of imminent domain in an historic immigrant neighborhood if and when he makes the jump into the presidential race. The point is all politicians are problematic. It’s the nature of the game. And we all know that the winner of elections these days is the candidate with the most money or the best messaging. It’s all marketing. Trump knew that. He is a master of using racism and classism to creative the narrative that he is the best man for the job. And now we learn he has a $100 million dollars in his campaign war chest. The person who runs against Trump better be able to get out the vote with their narrative because his bankroll will be hard to beat.

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What I admire in Warren is her willingness to bring the fight to Trump, Wall Street and big corporations. Sure, her policy positions are not perfect. She will surely be blinded by her white privilege again. But at the end of the day she has a strong progressive voting history. It’s obvious she scares Trump and those who want to keep dark money in politics. They will do everything they can to turn the left against her, including ignoring her heartland upbringing and focusing on her career as an “elite.” They will call her shrill. They will call her crazy. They will try to distract from her history as an experienced fighter against corruption in a time when we have an incredibly corrupt administration.

Until a magical candidate emerges that is pure as the driven snow, Warren should remain a contender. What the country needs to see is the tough working mom from Oklahoma who was raised in a middle-class, military family contrasted with the trust fund, pussy-grabbing racist who lives in a golden tower. That’s a narrative that the left can take to the bank.

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