,
23 tweets,
7 min read
Read on Twitter
I'm going to piss some people off with this thread.
But much as it pains me, we have to be willing to call out even those who are supposed to be our allies if we're going to make them do better.
And we need to have an honest talk about Elizabeth Warren.
But much as it pains me, we have to be willing to call out even those who are supposed to be our allies if we're going to make them do better.
And we need to have an honest talk about Elizabeth Warren.
Now, I'm not going to sit here and brood about who she didn't endorse in 2016. I could forgive her for that if she showed since then she was willing to do better by the movement.
But looking at the money, it does not appear she's correcting course as we would hope.
But looking at the money, it does not appear she's correcting course as we would hope.
For starters, having the vice chair of NASDAQ fundraise for you in the midterms just isn't a great look. nytimes.com/2018/06/09/nyr… 
Nor is fundraising from the head of a union-busting law firm and his colleague. Nor from Ed Rendell. philly.com/news/elizabeth…
Nor is taking the kind of money from MIC and various industry PACs found in this thread (h/t @Alt_LeftAlabama ):
"But she stopped taking corporate and lobbyist money!" you tell me.
That's great! But not when you commit to throwing such a pledge back out the window in the event you're nominated because "we have to beat Trump."
That's great! But not when you commit to throwing such a pledge back out the window in the event you're nominated because "we have to beat Trump."
You know how you *don't* beat Trump? By taking from the same swamp he's a creature of.
Warren, of all people, should know better. This is the same Liz a few years ago calling out the disastrous influence of that sort of cash.
Warren, of all people, should know better. This is the same Liz a few years ago calling out the disastrous influence of that sort of cash.
There was also this closed...whatever the hell this is.
How are we supposed to trust she'll actually fight for the policies she's throwing out and claims to support when she's just recently taken money from contrary interests, and may well take from said interests all over again, if nominated?
Money in politics is why we can't have nice things. It's my largest concern with her, but not the only one.
She's also randomly thrown pock shots at Bernie for no good reason on multiple occasions.
An older instance, pre-run: buzzfeednews.com/article/rubycr…
She's also randomly thrown pock shots at Bernie for no good reason on multiple occasions.
An older instance, pre-run: buzzfeednews.com/article/rubycr…
I'm sorry, but private time with a journalist is not exactly being that private unless your comment was supposed to be off the record but was published anyway (and if that was the case, why not call them out?).
Here's a fresh pock shot from only a few days ago, though.
Here's a fresh pock shot from only a few days ago, though.
We know damn well that wasn't what Bernie was asking a soul but those who already watch Fox News. He was trying to court their audience, not support the network. This sly shade was totally not needed.
But who knows? Perhaps some of the Hillary staffers she hired on (ie. hiring Ashley Woolheater as press sec) or others have been leading Liz astray.
And I've warned before the dangers of Devil's Advocacy, but this also doesn't inspire confidence.
And I've warned before the dangers of Devil's Advocacy, but this also doesn't inspire confidence.
Especially when this "respect" is from the same person who's dunked both on Bernie and on Tulsi on multiple occasions.
But that might get towards things Warren can't help. Let me bring this back around.
But that might get towards things Warren can't help. Let me bring this back around.
I do not want to presume this is what Warren's doing, nor should you without MUCH more evidence, but I have to be honest:
Based on what I see right now, I fear Warren may be choosing personal expediency over accomplishing progressive policy.
Based on what I see right now, I fear Warren may be choosing personal expediency over accomplishing progressive policy.
I hope to God I'm wrong to fear that. But it seems like she (or the people around her, to be honest) is angling for a VP/cabinet post if she can't run the table. And if Bernie won't give it to her, she just might throw the delegates she collects to a corporate Dem who will.
It would also be quite the gross establishment trick for the sake of "unity"--playing second fiddle to a corporate Dem a la Ellison to Perez. Doesn't matter this happened because she did her part and split votes away from Bernie--shut up and unite, plebs!
This is something we have to be wary of, whether that's Warren's intention or not.
I say none of this with the intent of drumming up a food fight between progressive camps.
On the contrary: I want Warren to do far better to restore our confidence she's in for the right reasons.
I say none of this with the intent of drumming up a food fight between progressive camps.
On the contrary: I want Warren to do far better to restore our confidence she's in for the right reasons.
There are a number of things she can do to course correct and rebuild our trust:
-Commit to not taking corporate money, including in the general election, because Bernie proved in 2016 you can run an effective campaign on small dollars.
-Cease needless swipes over policy debate
-Commit to not taking corporate money, including in the general election, because Bernie proved in 2016 you can run an effective campaign on small dollars.
-Cease needless swipes over policy debate
-Send refunds to at least some of the most egregious funders from 2018, since much of that Senate cash now funds the POTUS bid
-Put your foot down on the policies Americans need and support most, ie. Medicare for All, rather than waffling about "multiple pathways" etc.
-Put your foot down on the policies Americans need and support most, ie. Medicare for All, rather than waffling about "multiple pathways" etc.
I still think Warren has a ton of potential to do good. She could still be a good fit for a cabinet post under a Sanders admin, for instance, who will help keep her honest while letting her do her best banker-busting.
But if she wants primary votes for POTUS, this ain't it.
But if she wants primary votes for POTUS, this ain't it.
If she truly wants people to trust her and choose her over Bernie and Tulsi, or to trust her as a VP pick, let alone stand a chance in hell vs. Trump, she has got to do better than this.
FAR better.
Fingers crossed she'll come out with us on the right side of history. /FIN
FAR better.
Fingers crossed she'll come out with us on the right side of history. /FIN
Oops, one addendum because Hillary reminded me.
Warren's top career donor? EMILY's List.
opensecrets.org/members-of-con…
More on Warren's ties to EMILY's List and its relevance: reddit.com/r/WayOfTheBern…
Warren's top career donor? EMILY's List.
opensecrets.org/members-of-con…
More on Warren's ties to EMILY's List and its relevance: reddit.com/r/WayOfTheBern…
