Did Warren’s DNA Test Backfire? [OPINION]

It might seem that Senator Elizabeth Warren's DNA test may have actually caused her more harm than good. Warren, under pressure from her Senate challengers and President Trump to back up previous claims that she had Cherokee blood, released the test results to the Boston Globe.

The results, which Warren says vindicates her, indicate that she may have had a Native American ancestor some six to 10 generations ago, though nothing is conclusive and the test in no way links her to the Cherokee.

While Warren's people are almost entirely European, Republicans cite a study which suggests Warren, based upon the numbers contained in her DNA test, could actually have less Native American heritage than most white European-Americans.

Cherokee Nation, apparently less than impressed with Warren's test results, issued a statement saying DNA tests are "useless to determine tribal citizenship." The tribe has asked Warren to stop claiming Cherokee heritage, as it has no records that link her ancestors to the tribe.

I think Senator Warren, like most of us, listened to family folklore over the years and probably believed herself to have a Cherokee connection. Unfortunately she, according to the Boston Globe, changed her ethnicity from white to Native American on applications with the University of Pennsylvania Law School and Harvard Law when applying for positions.

Once questions were raised, rather than just admitting that she might have gotten it wrong, Warren dug in.

Once she decided to run for president, she had to set the record straight or produce a DNA test. She chose the latter. The test results do not make her case and, in fact, raise more questions than they answer.

An attempt to fix the situation now may be too late to re-establish credibility for 2020. Elizabeth Warren will forever be known as "Pocahontas," or the "fake Indian."

By the way, the Boston Globe was forced to issue two corrections to its piece that suggested Warren's claim of Native American heritage had been proven, each time reducing the likelihood that Warren actually can claim Native American ancestors.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.