Why Elizabeth Warren’s DNA Test Was So Problematic

FEATURING SIMON MOYA-SMITH – Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren is under attack for taking a DNA test in response to President Trump’s repeated goading of her claims of Native American ethnicity. The potential Presidential candidate and progressive Democrat, unveiled in elaborate detail the results of a DNA test that apparently showed she had Native American ancestry going back 6-8 generations, including a slickly produced video.

Although she said she does not claim membership in any tribe, the Cherokee Nation’s spokesperson Chuck Hoskin shot back saying, “Using a DNA test to lay claim to any connection to the Cherokee Nation or any tribal nation, even vaguely, is inappropriate and wrong.” He added, “Senator Warren is undermining tribal interests with her continued claims of tribal heritage.”

President Trump, has repeatedly belittled Warren calling her “Pocahontas.” He attacked Obama in a similar way constantly claiming the President was not a natural born US citizen.

Read Simon’s Op-ed on CNN.com, “I am a Native American. I have some questions for Elizabeth Warren,” HERE. Follow his work on Twitter @SimonMoyaSmith.

Simon Moya-Smith is an Oglala Lakota and Chicano journalist. He recently wrote an op-ed on CNN.com entitled, “I am a Native American. I have some questions for Elizabeth Warren.” He is the author of the forthcoming book, “Your Spirit Animal is a Jackass.”