By Staff Writer Sawyer Pollitt.
The media circus surrounding the current U.S. government administration has fired up again, and this time its hitting home in our own state of Massachusetts with our own senator, Elizabeth Warren.
Last week, she technically proved her Native American heritage, much to the ire of sitting president Donald J. Trump.
In July of this year, Donald Trump challenged the native ancestry of Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren. He offered to pay one million dollars if she could back up her claim with DNA evidence. Naturally, Senator Warren took a DNA test and the results show that around eight generations back in her family line existed a member of the Cherokee nation.
He stated “ And we will say, ‘I will give you a million dollars, paid for by Trump, to your favorite charity if you take the test and it shows you’re an Indian … we’ll see what she does. I have a feeling she will say no but we will hold it for the debates.”
Needless to say, he has now gone back on his offer saying “I didn’t say that. You better read it again.” Some have made claims that this entire event is an attempt by the current administration to undermine Elizabeth Warren in anticipation of her potential bid for the presidency in 2020.
Others are condemning Warren herself for taking the DNA test. They claim that she is simply feeding into the “freak show” that is modern American politics by humoring Trump and his requests for evidence. Some also claim that she is using her heritage as a Native American to further her own political agenda.
However, most are supporting Warren, saying that by taking ownership of these issues she is setting herself up as a strong and reliable candidate for her supporters in Massachusetts and around the country should she decide to run in 2020.
Regardless of whether or not Trump plans on paying his one million dollars, and regardless of Elizabeth Warren’s true heritage, Native American or not, one question remains. Why does any of this matter?
The fact that this story clogged the major news cycles for nearly a week is an issue. The fact that it took the literal torture, murder, and subsequent dismemberment of an American Journalist on the orders of the Saudi Arabian government to shift it out of the spotlight is an issue.
There doesn’t seem to be a reason for this fiasco to be as important as it is. By this point into Trump’s presidency, we all know that he routinely goes back on his word and makes promises he never intends on keeping. This is not news. If anyone is actually upset with or concerned by Elizabeth Warren’s ancestral claims, there is a slim chance that this will change their minds. This story is the classic tale of an unstoppable force meeting an unmovable object.
So why has this event captivated the hearts and minds of the American people? Perhaps it is because it offers ammunition for both sides of the debate. For the Trump supporters, his denial of Warren’s proof shows his ability to make tough deals and stick to his guns. For the supporters of Warren it shows them that she is able to stand up to an man who may very well be her main political adversary when the 2020 elections come around.
Either way, unless there is some major shift in the identity politics that make up the entire American governmental scene, there is little chance that a story much like this one won’t be gracing your television or news feed sometime soon.
Stay strong and keep up to date on the news, not everything is meaningless. Every once in a while something important is talked about.
PHOTO COURTESY: ABC NEWS