Brown gives warning to staff for "tomahawk chops"

Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass. / Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images

(CBS News) Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., has issued his "one and only warning" to members of his staff captured on camera making "tomahawk" gestures and chanting Indian war whoops during a campaign rally in apparent mockery of Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren's claim of Native American roots.

"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," Brown spokesperson Alleigh Marre said in a statement, according to the New York Times. "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," she concluded.

Brown's warning came shortly after Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation Bill John Baker called on the senator to apologize for "the offensive actions of his staff and their uneducated, unenlightened and racist portrayal of native peoples."

"The conduct of these individuals goes far beyond what is appropriate and proper in political discourse," the chief said. "The use of stereotypical 'war whoop chants' and 'tomahawk chops' are offensive and downright racist. It is those types of actions that perpetuate negative stereotypes and continue to minimize and degrade all native peoples."

One video, from outside Brown's campaign stop Saturday at the Eire Pub in Boston, showed several members of Brown's congressional and campaign staffs joining with supporters to use the mocking behavior against shouts from Warren supporters. Another recording, released Wednesday, captured audio of "war whoops" erupting during a campaign event in Chatham, Mass., this summer, after Brown mentioned Warren's self-identified Native American heritage.

Warren's background has been the subject of much debate during the Massachusetts Senate race, with Brown supporters calling on her to provide documented proof of her alleged Native American ancestry. Her campaign released an ad Wednesday fighting back on the issue, which Brown has continued to focus on.

Watch the video from Saturday's campaign stop:

[odojoe]

Perhaps the chant and tomahawk chop are offensive to the Cherokees, but it sure sounded like the FSU Seminole chant and chop that don't offend the Seminoles who BTW desire the University to continue with the Seminole name.

[Mick_from_Amsterdam]

This Scott Brown character seems to be a typical mud-slinging Republican sleaze!

He's the incumbent, but his entire campaign seems to revolve around Ms Warren being only 1/32 native American...or maybe even not at all.

BIG DEAL!

Not much to say about his own record in the Senate, though...or on any of the REAL issues that should be addressed in a senatorial cmapaign

If he's that concerned about the interests of the noble redskin...perhaps he shoud run for an office that effects them...like game warden on a reservation...or as a dealer in a casino

[gwolf57]

I am not familiar with Warren and whether she is corrupt like was said earlier or not, I don't know,not an Obama fan either.Don't know nothing about Brown either,but what his supporters did reminded me of the chanting and heckling you would get at a kkk anti-anybody else rally. This shouldn't be done to anybody for any reason,election or not.

[tafhdyd]

I was a bit disappointed in the actual information of the article. I know very little about Brown or Warren but I was hoping that Brown was a person involved with the Atlanta baseball team and was asking the fans to stop their ridiculous tomahawk chop at the ball games.

[bbinfla]

I hope he loses

[TimeToEvolve]

Hard to believe there is even a Republicon of any kind in office in MA. I am sure they will not be repeating that mistake after this election cycle.

[RetiredArmy_Nurse]

The fact that Brown has people like this working for him says volumes. Living in many different states during my military career I had the opportunity to have many representatives from many states. I constantly found the repug staff members to be very inadequate with a bit of a "thug" mentality. None of them operated at a high level. Dem rep staffs bent over backwards to help constituents. BTW, anybody know where to get the 1980s Playgirl Brown was a centerfold in? I'll guess it is a hot item on Amazon.

[RetiredArmy_Nurse]

Hey, just looked it up. Brown was nude centerfold in the June 1982 issue of Cosmopolitan, not Playgirl (like there"s a difference?).

[rob1755]

Has anyone asked Professor Warren why she has not taken a mitochondrial DNA test to prove her family lore? If her grandmother were Native, the markers would be apparent.

[RetiredArmy_Nurse]

This should not even be an issue. Many people get family lore stories about ancestors that just were not there. I was told I had a great great great grandmother Buffer scalped by Indians. Turned out there was no grandmother Buffer in a lineage search. I was also told no Civil War ancestors. Turned out that there were 4 with 2 Union & 2 Confederate soldiers. In the end, why should we care about any of it?

[bluejacket2-2009]

Typical tactics used by GOP bigots often... Brown should be ashamed. All Native Americans need to be made aware of this and vote for the Democratic slate in every state.

[2kids2dogs]

newsieee, in your own words it was "oral" because "she was told" and the fact that the verb, was, is past tense is history. Here's a dictionary definition to wrap your head around: information about the past that you get from talking to people about their experiences, families, etc. And, how is it that your claim is "truthful"? What is your source? Is it credible? Are you aware of her mindset at the time? Did she benefit? Past employers have publicly stated that it didn't impact their decision. And, if it did open the door, the only way she remained is by virtue of brilliance, sound research and hard work.

[Mick_from_Amsterdam]

Tell me newsieee...

Are tou a troll for Scott Brown...or just a mean-spirited, judgmental reich-winger?