Cherokee Nation chief condemns Scott Brown staff for 'downright racist' actions

Massachusetts Democrats chronicle the media reaction to Scott Brown's negative campaign. The principal chief of the Cherokee Nation has condemned Sen. Scott Brown's campaign staff and supporters as "downright racist," demanding an apology from Brown for the behavior of his staff at a recent rally, where they attempted to shout down supporters of Elizabeth Warren with Indian "war whoops" and making "tomahawk chops."

'The conduct of these individuals goes far beyond what is appropriate and proper in political discourse,' Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker said in a statement. '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,' he said. '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.'

Brown has so far refused to take responsibility for the behavior of his senior-level staffers. His only statement on the event as of this writing attempted to turn it into another attack on Warren. Saying that he doesn't "condone" what his senior staff did isn't enough, certainly not for the Cherokee Nation or any other Native people.

Brown's nice-guy, non-partisan, above-the-fray image is already fading fast as he takes the campaign in a more negative and nasty direction. Unless he apologizes for the disgusting, racist display of his staff, that image is toast. As goes his likability in this Blue state, so goes his Senate seat.

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