Sen. Brown warns staff over war whoops and tomahawk chops


[YouTube: Scott Brown staffers do "Indian war whoop", "tomahawk chop"]

Sen. Scott Brown (R-Massachusetts) said he reprimanded his staffers for making stereotypical "war whoops" and doing "tomahawk chops" at a rally in Boston.

"Senator Brown has spoken to his entire staff – including the individuals involved in this unacceptable behavior – and issued them their one and only warning that this type of conduct will not be tolerated," his re-election campaign said in a statement. "As we enter the final stretch of this campaign, emotions are running high, and while Senator Brown can’t control everyone, he is encouraging both sides to act with respect. He regrets that members of his staff did not live up to the high standards that the people of Massachusetts expect and deserve.”

Two of Brown's Capitol Hill staffers were seen on the video. They were identified as deputy chief of staff Greg Casey and constituent services counsel Jack Richard.

Although Brown's statement expressed regret for the actions of his staffers, he didn't directly apologize. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker called the behavior "downright racist" in a statement yesterday.

Brown is locked in a tight race with Democrat Elizabeth Warren, who has claimed Cherokee and Delaware ancestry from her mother's side of the family.

Get the Story:
Brown cracks down on 'tomahawk' (Politico 9/27)
The fight over Elizabeth Warren’s heritage, explained (The Washington Post 9/27)

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