The surging candidacy of Elizabeth Warren seems destined to become a referendum within the Democratic Party on whether to bet the house on the brightest, most adept candidate or play it safe and placate “conservative” – read white – men, who may be put off by her bossy irreverence toward regressive inclinations. The issue goes further than whether or not it is even worth the effort to solicit what was once the prize of national campaigns, or accept most are lost to Trumpist grievance and resentment. Now there is also some talk of Warren softening her edges so as not to “insult” or “needlessly incite” the goateed Ward Cleavers with paunches, lest it create a blowback that impacts other electoral tributaries like their wives perhaps. In other words, do your best not to bring out their worst. Why provoke them?
Exhibit A was an LGBTQ town hall CNN hosted Thursday, where Warren demonstrated why she has gained traction. Asked how she would respond to a voter who declared their strong belief that marriage is between one man and one woman, Warren was top notch, summoning her inner Molly Irvins. After asserting she’d assume it was a man she was dealing with, she flat-toned “I’m going to say… then just marry one woman. I’m cool with that.” Then, with perfect timing, she added: “…Assuming you can find one.”
At 70, Warren seems impossibly well preserved. Next to Biden and Sanders she looks to be a very attractive 50-something. And while age has an insidious way of dulling charisma, Warren showed Thursday that’s not a problem for her. Anybody who has watched her dismantle a petulant CEO in the hearing room appreciates her bona fides as a crusader for those without, or barely enough, or even with enough but doubtful the rules favor their interests. Ironically, it is Warren who suffers most as Trump impeachment takes center stage with Joe Biden an attached subplot, albeit with baggage to explain. As our President will be the first to tell you, even as he denounces “Pocahontas” at his rallies…. if you’re not part of the story, who are you?
Yet and still, it’s a marathon, and so far all Bernie has to show for his efforts is a new stent. Likewise, Biden has not been a world shaker. Dipping poll numbers and a son with no problem cashing in on connections in a very swampy way does not a winning campaign make. Meanwhile, Warren is thriving, gaining ground by the week where it counts, Iowa, New Hampshire, even down south. She is now the assumed heir to Bernie’s bloc, fully acceptable to their exacting anti-corporatism. It seems now only a question of when he will turn his holdings over. At that point, 25% becomes over 40 plus and that should get it done. But then what? What should Warren emerge as the nominee with to sell? And who are the qualified prospects she should be going after assuming Trump remains the nemesis?
The “horse race” crowd weighed in Friday to wonder aloud whether too much Warren is necessarily a good thing. Apparently, she needs to beware appearing too high and mighty. “It’s about telling people that don’t agree with you that they are backward,” warned one Democratic strategist. Her quip Thursday wasn’t so much evidence of her razor sharpness, but instead “a battle cry for men to turn out against Elizabeth Warren.” Better to finesse her response and adeptly ride the rail between what’s right (and the law!) and troglodyte sensitivities that may actually come around in November; but even if they don’t, why get them riled up? Honestly, with advice like that, who needs enemies!
What would be a more measured response? “Yes sir, I share your concern about the sacredness of the institution of marriage and understand your impulse to be selective as to who may enjoy its many blessings. However, perhaps we should expand our perception to possibly allow other more unconventional relationships to be sanctified. What do you say?” Newsflash… those obsessed with excluding gay couples from marriage are now devout Trumpies, far more inclined to yelling “Pocahontas!” and flipping Warren the bird than beseeching her to bless their bigotry.
Culture war nonsense is the flyover sweet spot. Warren isn’t winning Oklahoma no matter how well she behaves for misogyny-addled creationists. Ceding them the credibility of a voting bloc worth anything other than a good punchline is exactly how you turn genuine articles into fakes. Who could forget when the man entrusted to rid us of W, the guy who made his bones protesting senseless militarism, bounded up to the mic to accept his nomination with a ridiculous salute followed by “John Kerry reporting for duty!” There was a candidate only a Democratic strategist could love.
Plenty in the Warren bag of goods needs to be tightened up for next year, most prominently her penchant to come up with costly fixes for everything wrong with America. Campaigns are about establishing priorities and she needs to trim down hers. Moreover, she will need to move from bashing CEOs and corporate greed to calmly schooling voters on how dramatic reform will help everyone’s bottom line.
But most important to her general election candidacy will be Warren’s embodiment of how much better the US can do than what our shirked responsibility produced in 2016. A big part of that is being herself… sharp, dynamic, poised and empathetic…. always the smartest person in the room and never afraid to speak her truth. That includes telling white knuckle draggers they can come along or be left behind, but the ship will leave without them. If they want to use the Bible to pick on those simply trying to make their way in this world with the same milestones to look forward to as the rest of us, they will only marginalize themselves. Four years of going backward is way too long! BC