It has not been the best week for Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who continues to face challenges over her claims of Native American ancestry. On Tuesday, it was reported that she claimed “American Indian” ethnicity back in 1986 when registering for the Texas State Bar, yet another occasion where her now-discredited claims to being Native American were made headline news.
Nevertheless, the Massachusetts Democrat formally declared her candidacy for president on Saturday, introduced by Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Joe Kennedy.
“It’s time to fight back,” Ms. Warren told the crowd from an outdoor stage in the city of Lawrence, vowing to “change the rules” and restore a populist, worker-friendly agenda to Washington.
“We will take on a fight that will affect our children and our grandchildren,” the newly minted candidate said — calling President Trump a “symptom of what has gone wrong in America.”
Ms. Warren has already planned a campaign tour and has an active website. In the immediate future, she’ll travel to Iowa and New Hampshire — with future stops in South Carolina, Georgia, Nevada and California.
Republicans have already dismissed her bid.
“We’ve always known that Elizabeth Warren’s socialist policies were far outside the mainstream. But Warren’s disastrous handling of her false minority claims and her refusal to apologize until now has everyone, including her own supporters, cringing at her campaign,” said Republican National Committee spokesman Michael Ahrens.
“Elizabeth Warren has already been exposed as a fraud by the Native Americans she impersonated and disrespected to advance her professional career, and the people of Massachusetts she deceived to get elected. The American people will reject her dishonest campaign and socialist ideas like the Green New Deal, that will raise taxes, kill jobs and crush America’s middle-class. Only under President Trump’s leadership will America continue to grow safer, secure and more prosperous,” said Brad Parscale, campaign manager for Mr. Trump’s re-election push.
Progressives were ready with support, however.
“We proudly endorse Elizabeth Warren because we believe she’ll be the most electable Democrat, and the best President, for America. To defeat Trump in 2020, we need someone who voters know will always be on their side against powerful corporate interests and who is willing to challenge corruption. Warren has a proven track record of fighting for regular people and taking on power — from challenging Wall Street, big Pharma, and big polluters, to taking on the rigged economic system, systemic racism, and gender inequality,” said Stephanie Taylor, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee.
A Boston Herald editorial, however, advised Mrs. Warren to say out of the race — and instead “recommit herself to the people of Massachusetts who elected her to a six-year term just three months ago. Warren’s national journey is over, for all practical purposes.”
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
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