Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) said Monday that Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-MA) minuscule percentage of Native American blood is “probably not enough to be counted” as part of any tribes, but dismissed the story as less important than the very real struggles of indigenous populations.
According to a Tuesday Hill report, Tester made his remarks at an event with the Chippewa Cree tribe.
“The real issue that revolves around Native American people is poverty and unless you’re a gaming tribe, it’s a problem and we’ve got to figure our solutions to get it fixed,” he said. “Two months ago I had a listening sessions in Missoula. Thirty women have been missing since the first of the year. One of them have been found. We got a problem here. Why aren’t we fixing this problem out there?”
Per the Hill, Tester will need Native American votes to push him over the finish line in his tight race against Republican candidate Matt Rosendale. Real Clear Politics currently has Tester up just over 4 points.
Why is the Warren thing even an issue in MT Senate race? Beyond that Tester’s answer was spot on.
Only a middling movie, with a white-man saves “Indian” theme, still “Wind River” takes on the issue of violence against Native American women. Hopefully, more attention will be paid to an issue that is currently under the radar.
It’s NOT enough to count…most tribes require 25% but then t hat was NEVER the issue. EVER. She said her parents passed down family lore that she had Cherokee blood and the Cons ran with it. Lying, smearing mofos that will target any competent woman and the Dems that acknowledge their ‘points’. C’mon Tester…just brush it off.
Agreed. “Questions about Senator Warren should be directed to Senator Warren. Now if you want to talk Montana/ my role in D.C …”
Kind of hard to know if that was a good answer without seeing the question(s) he was asked that prompted it. Doesn’t seem like he dwelt on it long or said anything really offensive about her.