Alms Matters

Globe Finally Issues Correction.. Warren Lied!

In my past blog I said that Elizabeth Warren may be 1/32  Native American  but I was going on information based on what I read in what I thought was a trustworthy news outlet, the Boston Globe.  It turns out they were injecting themselves into a story that would ultimately make their reporting look shoddy, again. Finally, after most news outlets had reported the truth the Globe has come clean and recanted.

Elizabeth Warren claimed to be Native American  with the Association of American Law Schools.  A a result of this, she has been touted as a minority hire at the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University. 

Based on the facts that no living person can find any evidence that Elizabeth Warren has any link to Native Americans heritage what so ever, there is no question in my mind that Mrs. Warren lied to the Association of American Law Schools.  Then Mrs. Warren used the lie to forward her career into a tenured lifetime appointment into a cushy job with Harvard Law School. Good thing I can't afford to send my kids there...Even if the people of the Commonwealth decide to not elect the liar (Elizabeth Warren), she will still have a half million dollar a year job at Harvard.

So lets go over the facts, Elizabeth Warren lied her way to the top of academia, into national politics and policy, and now wants YOU to trust her as your United States Senator. Scott Brown wears a $600 barn coat, made some money from a book he wrote that nobody thinks is fictional and drives a pick up truck instead of a Mercedes.  

Where do they get these idiots to run for office??? I don't think Scott Brown is any sort of political genius or superman and just about everyone in the country felt he would lose in November in liberal Massachusetts, but it sure seems to me that the talent on the other side of the aisle is filled with a group of true jackasses.

So what about the truth? It appears actual Native Cherokee Americans are looking into this and they take this type of thing seriously, as they should.. Below is part of what Twila Barnes, writer of the blog Thoughts from Polly’s Granddaughter and actual Native American had to say in a letter to Mrs. Warren. 

I am writing this letter in the hope it will help end the current situation you have found yourself in. It seems you are being ripped apart in the media because of your claim of Cherokee ancestry and you don’t like it. According to a recent article in the Boston Globe, you believe your opponent is “creating a distraction” by “ridiculously” attacking you “with questions that have already been answered.” It seems you would like the “attacks” against your claims of Cherokee ancestry to stop so I thought I would offer some advice on how to make it stop.

Tell the truth….

While you cling to a family story and the inaccurate report that ONE document was found that supports your claim, we real Cherokees understand that those things mean nothing. You see, we Cherokees have lots and lots and lots of documentation supporting our claims of our ancestry. Our Cherokee ancestors are found on every roll of the Cherokee Nation (30+ rolls!) dating back to before the removal and in all sorts of other documentation, including but not limited to claims against the US government for lost property; the Moravian missionary records; ration lists before and after the forced removal, etc…yet your ancestors are found in NONE of those records.

But, your ancestors are found in plenty of historical records, and every time, they are found living as white people among other white people. Never are your ancestors ever found living among the Cherokees. Never, never, never, never…….yet you claim they were Cherokee….

So, Ms. Warren, you see, it is not just your opponent who has questions. We Cherokees have questions too and those questions have yet to be answered by you. You see, for us Cherokees, this is not political. This is about the truth.

You have claimed something you had no right to claim — our history and our heritage and our identity. Those things belong to us, and us alone. These are not things we choose to embrace when they benefit us and then cast aside when we no longer need them, but that is what you seem to have done by “checking a box” for several years and then no longer “checking” it more recently, when apparently you no longer needed it.

Several people who are experienced researchers in Cherokee genealogy have been working together exploring Elizabeth Warren’s ancestry. They have uncovered many documents that, combined, paint a very clear picture that Warren descends from white people who had no connection whatsoever to the Cherokee Nation. These documents will be posted soon.

Obama got this one right.... [Alms Matters]

President Obama declared his unequivocal personal support for same-sex marriage a position that just two days ago was evolving. Be careful not to step in the BS folks...  I have no doubt that President Obama has all along been in favor of same-sex marriage, he just never had the guts to say it out loud. 

Some are saying that the biggest reason he said it yesterday is because the gay community was holding back it's fundraising until he did so. If this is true, good for them, some people in this country feel that people with similar interest grouping together and pooling their money to affect change in government should be illegal. Especially groups like the NRA, The Tea Party, and Pro Lifers. I am pretty sure it's simply called free speech and thank God for that!

I think it's ridiculously sad that government could play any sort of role or have any sort of say in whom I am in a relationship with. Who I marry, or  who I choose to take care of me when I am old or sick or  who I choose to raise my children with. These are not issues for any government to decide, they are personal issues, and they are mine. It should not be left up to government hacks to decide what is right for me or anyone else.  The President should not have had to say he supported same-sex marriage because it should not be a matter of government in the first place! 

Yesterday was probably the most significant day in President Obama's Presidency.  Although he did not say that he supported any change in any of the laws that effect personal rights that should be free from government intrusion, particularly same-sex marriage, he opened the door at the highest level and for that he deserves recognition. 

Christine Greeley of Yarmouth for DY School Committee [Alms Matters]

It is my opinion that some change is needed on the Yarmouth side of the DY School Committee. I sent identical emails to Christine Greeley and Stephen Edwards both running for Yarmouth School Committee. Mrs. Greeley responded to my questions and we spoke on the phone at length about DY schools, school choice, and other issues I find to be important to the average parent. Mr. Edwards never responded.

Since Mr. Edwards never responded I can only base my opinion on his actions on the committee and his statements at candidates night held a few weeks ago.

First let me give you a brief synopsis of how I feel things are going in the DY School District.

Academic change for the good

A few months ago I attended a meeting with Mr. Jenks, Mrs. Woodbury, Mrs. Knell and Mrs. Eichner regarding the 8th grade STEM program at DY. Although the program was hastily put together it appears to be a success. Most of the dozen or so parents I have spoken to are happy with the program and feel their children are learning more. The same things are said about the Wixon Middle Academy which like the STEM program voluntarily groups kids into blocks where accelerated learning can take place. Score two for DY and Mrs. Woodbury because it's at the middle school level that DY is losing the greatest number of students to school choice. I addition to the work being done at the middle schools, the DY high school has increased it's standards for graduation and we have a new innovative school at Marguerite E. Small.  In the area of academics change has been rapid, much needed and I hope it continues.

Change that is still needed

I recognize that schools operate within a bureaucracy and that things move slowly, but if you are a parent you don't have time to wait for the schools to adjust, your kids need an education now. I have looked at no less than seven schools for my children to attend on the Cape. The differences on the public side academically are minimal. However, all of the schools with the exception of DY schools and one private school offered an online grading system that was up to date and accessible to parents 24 hours a day. On a smart phone parents can check to see if their children have done their homework for that day, what a math grade is etc.  DY has a program like this called Edline, but it's never used, as Mrs. Woodbury put it, Edline is optional for teachers...  

I feel  that it's difficult for DY to compete with schools that communicate with parents in a manner consistent with the technology of 2012 and  most importantly encourage parental involvement. I want to know what is going on in my children's education. I want to be involved. I want parent teacher conferences into the high school level, and parents need to be part of the process.  It is in this area that DY is far behind and I think it's a big reason parents can be easily lured away to another district. Edline should not be optional, it should be mandatory and every parent should be able to access grades and attendence at a moments notice because the  technology is there, and it's being used by everyone else.

The candidates

Mr. Edwards

Often times here in Yarmouth we told that it's the negativity that is driving parents and students away to other districts and school choice, this is a mantra that Mr. Edwards believes. As a parent of school aged kids, I happen to disagree.  Mr. Edwards seems to be aware of the success DY is having but also appears to be oblivious to the change that is needed. For me, I cannot vote for a person that will attempt to shout down a person as being negative when they suggest ways of improving things. The only way to get better is with fresh ideas and an open mind.

Another major factor in my decision to not vote Mr. Edwards is the 6 years contract extension that he suggested and voted for with  Superintendent Carol Woodbury.   Although I think Mrs. Woodbury has changed many things for the better no superintendent anywhere I could find got a six year contract, it's unheard of and was unnecessary.

Mrs. Greeley

Like I stated before Mrs. Greeley responded to my emails and we talked on the phone. She is very knowledgeable about the areas of education and listened to my concerns for the district.  She is clearly not going to sit by and rubber stamp anything that comes across her desk. She was critical of the six year contract for Mrs. Woodbury and recognizes that the days when kids lived in a town their entire lives and just went to all the public schools are over! She correctly calls the system of education a "product" because  in essence that is what DY and every other school is offering, either it's a quality product or it's not.  Mrs. Greeley has the kind of forward style of thinking that DY needs and it's residents expect.

It is important that we elect a person smart enough to know what to change and intelligent enough to know how to change. Christine Greeley is that candidate and she is the person I will vote for Yarmouth School Committee on May 15th.

Harvard Powwow's...Mrs. Warren loses more credibility... [Alms Matters]

I have been watching to see what would happen with the Elizabeth Warren Native American story. I can report that it's pretty much what I expected. The Boston Herald keeps digging, the Globe ignores or tries to support Warrens claims and our own local rag seems to be parroting the Globe, we all know they couldn't get out of their own way anyways...

Despite claims by some of the left leaning bloggers on this site I am not a spokes person for the GOP, I want nothing to do with them. I am Libertarian and like most libertarians I have views that both parties and most people with common sense share. One of my beliefs is that if Scott Brown had claimed similar ancestry without any proof he would have been chased out of town by the aforementioned news outlets and probably 4 or 5 bloggers on this website who have also been silent.

The Globe and the Times most recent story about the issue reports that Harvard Law School professor Charles Fried, who served as U.S. Solicitor General under President Reagan (don't forget) said "Warren was recruited to be a tenured professor because she was pre-eminent in the fields of bankruptcy and commercial law"......and  said "the subject of her Native American ancestry was never mentioned" during the  hiring process.  In addition to working in the Reagan administration  30 or so years ago, Mr. Fried recently donated $250 in support of  Mrs. Warrens effort to become a U.S. Senator, so I think he is pretty much full of it.

In reality, today in the Herald it was reported that at Harvard College they held the 17th annual Harvard Powwow, and surprisingly Mrs. Warren didn't attend. Mrs. Warren is the person who claimed that she  listed herself as a minority in law school directories because she was hoping to meet others with Native American roots. Oh really? It's funny nobody can remember Mr. Warren ever attending a Harvard Powwow in the 17 years that she has worked there. Nor did Mrs. Warren ever mention that she even knew Harvard had Native American Powwow's.  Powwows seem to me like a logical place to meet other Native Americans if you are so inclined. Maybe Mrs. Warren was looking for  latte sipping caucasian looking Native Americans that you usually see in Harvard Square talking about their ancestry,  but most probably, she is a liar!

In 1986 we missed Soul woMan, Elizabeth Warren... [Alms Matters]

In 1986 a movie was released to scattered reviews called Soul Man, it was about a young, white, rich kid named Mark Watson (C. Thomas Howell), that was accepted to his dream school, Harvard Law.  Mr. Watson had a problem however, his wealthy parents decided that Mark needed to start earning his way and refused to pay the tuition. 

This didn't stop the eager young man, Mark was able to find a full scholarship and applied, the only problem is that the scholarship was for African Americans. As with current U.S. Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren, Mark didn't let the facts get in the way of his ambition and he found a way to alter his heritage and became a black man. The prank works until he falls in love with an African American women that  as fate has it, should have been the recipient of the scholarship Mark was stealing.

It just so happens that in 1986, the same year Soul Man was released, Mrs. Elizabeth Warren decided to claim herself as a minority professor with the  Association of American Law Schools.  Mrs. Warren had no proof of her status, as it turns out, most of the time people take your word on these things because well, it's rather distasteful to claim something you are not. 

Unlike our protagonist in the movie Soul Man, Mrs. Warrens great, great, great grandmother listed herself as Cherokee on a marriage certificate some 150 years ago or so. I don't  understand how being 1⁄32nd Native American  allows Warren to claim herself to be a minority, clearly she is pasty white, but that didn't stop her from accepting an interest free loan from Harvard in 1996.  The same Harvard University Law School  that had promoted her as a minority hire when the school was getting heat for a lack of diversity in its faculty.  Coincidence?  I don't think so.

• Consider what Mrs. Warren put on her CV (curriculum vitae).  Rutgers School of Law–Newark (1977–78), the University of Houston Law Center (1978–83), the University of Michigan (visiting, 1985), and the University of Texas School of Law (1981–87). The University of Texas at Austin (1983–87). The University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1987, where she became the William A Schnader Professor of Commercial Law in 1990. She joined Harvard Law School in 1992 as the Robert Braucher Visiting Professor of Commercial Law, and began a permanent position as the Leo Gottlieb Professor of Law in 1995.

Take note that for the most part Mrs. Warren was teaching at good colleges, but she didn't break into the Ivy League until 1987, one year after she claimed to be Native American with Association of American Law Schools. From 1987 on, Mrs. Warren was living the dream making almost a half million dollars a year at the world most prestigious law school. She was then hired by the Obama administration as a Special Advisor for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Now she wants to be our United States Senator. Not bad for a 1/32 Native American. 

There is a very good chance that Mrs. Warren displaced some other candidate at the University of  Pennsylvania and Harvard Law School. There is also a very good chance that Mrs. Warren would still be teaching in Austin Texas had she not claimed minority status.

In the movie Soul Man, Mark sees the error of his ways and gives the scholarship back to Harvard. Elizabeth Warren's career is built on the same lie, only she never owned up to it, instead has used it to propel herself to power. 

It never ceases to amaze me what people will do to succeed at whatever their goals are, no matter the cost, or who they hurt on the way up.