A song booms through the loudspeakers. Dolly Parton sings "Nine to Five."
"Workin' 9 to 5, what a way to make a livin'
Barely gettin by, it's all takin' and no givin'
They just use your mind and they never give you credit
It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it
They let you dream just to watch 'em shatter
You're just a step on the boss man's ladder
But you've got dreams he'll never take away
You're in the same boat with a lot of your friends
Waiting for the day your ship'll come in
The tide's gonna turn and it's all gonna roll you away."
Elizabeth Warren bounces up to the stage.
It's showtime.
She began her Town Hall talk to 500 people in Exeter, New Hampshire High School with her log cabin story. Her "daddy" got sick. The family lost the station wagon and nearly the house. Her mom clerked at Sears. Her own goals were modest. She went to college, fell in love, dropped out, got pregnant, got a minimum wage job.
She is working against the "elitism" meme. The scent of educated professional class Harvard is a spot that won't wash out. Joe Biden called her elitist on CNN on Monday, saying she thinks she knows better than us the kind of health care we must have. He parsed that she personally wasn't elitist, maybe, but Medicare for All is elitist, taking away individual choice. He said, "Growing up in my neighborhood the last thing we wanted was someone telling us what to think."
She is working against the "elitism" meme. The scent of educated professional class Harvard is a spot that won't wash out. Joe Biden called her elitist on CNN on Monday, saying she thinks she knows better than us the kind of health care we must have. He parsed that she personally wasn't elitist, maybe, but Medicare for All is elitist, taking away individual choice. He said, "Growing up in my neighborhood the last thing we wanted was someone telling us what to think."
Her story is full of humor, mostly self effacing. You can start a kitchen fire by forgetting toast in a toaster without an automatic turn off timer. "Ask me how I know," she said.
She was asked the question, what do we have to do to have a woman be considered seriously as a presidential candidate. Her answer:
"How about we give them a strong, tough woman to vote for."
That is her brand.
She is the strong, tough woman who struggled, just like a great many Americans who lacked a silver spoon, just like the workers in the Dolly Parton song. And now she is the civic warrior who takes on those corporate interests who stack the deck.
Men--as a gender--aren't "the man." Corporations are "the man," the oppressors.
She is the strong, tough woman who struggled, just like a great many Americans who lacked a silver spoon, just like the workers in the Dolly Parton song. And now she is the civic warrior who takes on those corporate interests who stack the deck.
Men--as a gender--aren't "the man." Corporations are "the man," the oppressors.
She takes some care not to sound like she opposes wealth. You got rich? Good for you, she says. Now give other people a chance. Her wealth tax isn't described as punishment or confiscation. It is simply the fair share equivalent of what average people pay right now when they pay property taxes on their own primary asset, their homes. Two percent. She asks for a show of hands for people who grew up in a home or have one now. Most people raised their hands. See? And you all pay taxes on that property.
Her presentation continues the pattern I have seen in previous Town Halls. High energy, high enthusiasm, and lots of time for selfies. Her hands and arms are in constant motion.
Campaigning was "work" for Hillary. Warren seems to love this. This isn't grim, sullen socialism in policy nor is meeting with people a duty.
Warren projects joy and energy. She projects that she is itching to take on Donald Trump.
Campaigning was "work" for Hillary. Warren seems to love this. This isn't grim, sullen socialism in policy nor is meeting with people a duty.
Warren projects joy and energy. She projects that she is itching to take on Donald Trump.
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| Signs at the Town Hall |
4 comments:
All things considered, Sen. Warren is an improbable presidential candidate. Yet, there she is, getting lots of positive attention.
Establishment Democrats are nervous. She is one of them...sort of. After watching Sen. Sanders's success and Sec. Clintons's meltdown she has navigated the issues masterfully. If the DNC is skittish about Medicare for All and the wealth tax that's a good sign; their chicken little protestations only expose a cynical lack of faith in the American people and the likelihood of being on the wrong side of history.
She will make a great president, if she can get past her own party.
In my dreams, Dolly Parton would endorse Elizabeth Warren. (I know that Dolly is not political and it would probably damage her universal appeal). But there is some similarity with Dolly and Liz in background. And in their universal warmth and compassion.
And Warren is ready to BE president.
If Warren wins it all, maybe Dolly will sing at her inauguration! I heard a really interesting piece on NPR about how Dolly’s concerts bring together fans of very diverse backgrounds and political views. Dolly for VP!
Improbable...
And yet she persisted.
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