Elizabeth Warren Steps Up for Populist Politics

[xchrom]

http://www.thenation.com/blog/179052/elizabeth-warren-steps-populist-politics



Democratic insiders have been slow to embrace the populist campaign of South Dakota Senate candidate Rick Weiland. As we noted this week on TheNation.com Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, has dismissed the Democratic candidate for South Dakota's open US Senate seat as "not my choice." Washington observers point out that "the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee routinely leaves off its competitive list, the seat of retiring Sen. Tim Johnson, D-SD." And there will not be a lot of corporate cash flowing to Weiland, who says his first act as a senator will be to propose a constitutional amendment declaring “that the votes of all, rather than the wealth of a few, shall direct the course of the Republic, Congress shall have the power to limit the raising and spending of money with respect to federal elections.”

But Weiland, a veteran congressional aide and advocate who formerly headed the South Dakota branch of the American Association of Retired People, has mounted a high-energy campaign that has already seen the candidate visit more than 300 of the state's 311 towns with an old-school populist message. “I was born here. I grew up on this land. It was ours because our democracy kept it that way," he says. "Today our democracy is being bought by big money and turned against us. To feed their profits we lose our jobs, our homes and our farms, our kids’ education, even our health, and the Congress they have bought looks the other way, or worse."

Democrats who "get" that their party must embrace a people-centered grassroots politics if it is to be viable in 2014 and beyond are starting to take notice.

US Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, has given Weiland a strong endorsement—hailing him as a "smart, experienced, bold progressive." She's urging support for his campaign today as part of a national appeal circulated by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, with which the senator has worked closely. "Rick led South Dakota’s AARP and federal emergency management in his state, and he worked as a top Senate aide," says Warren, whose own populist campaign of 2012 dislodged Republican Senator Scott Brown. "He is campaigning actively on campaign finance reform and taking back government for hard-working everyday people."

[polichick]

1. "Democrats who "get" that their party must embrace a people-centered...

grassroots politics if it is to be viable in 2014 and beyond are starting to take notice."

YAY!

[djean111]

2. “that the votes of all, rather than the wealth of a few, shall direct the course of the Republic"

That is a direct shot to the bank accounts and future job prospects of much of our government.
Of course the DNC won't support him.

[reddread]

3. war(ren) is brewing

get em.

[Scuba]

4. Kick for Rick Weiland and Elizabeth Warren.

[libodem]

5. I have a girl crush

On her.

[Oakenshield]

6. Democrats who "get" that their party must embrace a people-centered grassroots politics...

Pity more Democrats don't "get" it. Bugger the banks and the businesses. We're the ones who will give you the votes. Not them.

[passiveporcupine]

7. He'd get my vote!

And I think the people are starting to wake up. I thank the internet. It is reaching a lot of people and they are becoming informed of what is really happening in this country. Yes some bad messages are spread that way too, but I think the good will win in the end. It's a slowly turning wheel...and I wish I could push it faster. I'd like to see some progressive reforms in this country (and money out of politics) while I'm still here to cheer it on.

[ZM90]

8. Elizabeth Warren 2016!

As for the whole "she's not running thing" I would like to point out 90% of people in politics say that and we won't know whether or not she is truly running until mid 2015 or early 2016. I hope she does run though, we really could use her in the White House.

[radiclib]

9. So what the hell is Harry's problem with this guy?

Isn't Sen. Reid trying to personally take down the Koch brothers?