Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumWarren takes aim at Biden: A 'Washington insider will not meet this moment'
LOS ANGELES While former presidential candidates Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar and Beto ORourke rallied around Joe Biden in Dallas, Elizabeth Warren provided a sharp dose of criticism instead, calling the former vice president a risk to the Democratic Party and the country.
"I respect his years of service," Warren said Monday night during a Los Angeles rally. "But no matter how many Washington insiders tell you to support him, nominating their fellow Washington insider will not meet this moment."
"Nominating a man who says we do not need any fundamental change in this country will not meet this moment. Nominating someone who wants to restore the world before Donald Trump, when the status quo has been leaving more and more people behind for decades, is a big risk for our party and our country," Warren said in her strongest critique of the former vice president in this race so far.
The Massachusetts senator railed against Biden in a moment when moderate Democrats are coalescing in an effort to strengthen support against Bernie Sanders. Warrens rhetoric sets her up as an alternative to Biden and Sanders and aims to paint her as a candidate with progressive values who can also get things done
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/warren-takes-aim-biden-washington-insider-will-not-meet-moment-n1147696
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
DanTex
(20,709 posts)The centrists all got behind the leading centrist. If she had endorsed Bernie, that may have made a difference.
It sort of rings hollow at this point. Does she actually want free college, universal healthcare, and everything else she's campaigned on?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
BeyondGeography
(39,276 posts)And were it not for the culture of scorn and rejection that Bernie World has saddled itself with, where he is The Only One and everyone else is a sellout who is just pretending, there would be a lot more momentum behind those ideas.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Eyeball_Kid
(7,410 posts)And she's got a good point. IMO, she should remain part of the conversation. She presents some good and even vital perspectives that MIGHT motivate Biden to move his positions to the left as a tactic to accommodate those who will feel left out of the total conversation. Further, she has leverage in her own right to be the nominee. No one should count her out. There are a lot of factors currently at play.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
DanTex
(20,709 posts)I'm just pointing out that there is a viable candidate (or at least was viable) that shared her progressive views, that she could have gotten behind in the same way that other centrist candidates got behind Biden.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)If he had dropped out and gotten behind Warren as a progressive candidate, then she, a younger, healthier and more effective legislator, would be at the top of the ticket. And a woman, and after all, isn't Bernie all about the feminism?
After all, he did say that he ran in 2016 because he didn't feel there was a progressive choice in the race. (and before you waste time with the copy/paste dogwhistle about "re-litigating" do a google search on his statements.)
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
DanTex
(20,709 posts)The way it's played out, though, is that currently Bernie is the only viable progressive who can actually get the most delegates heading in to the convention.
I was undecided between Warren/Bernie until it became clear that Bernie was the only one who had a chance to win for this very reason.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)progressive choice for the people, doesn't it?
And she is younger, healthier, and has a better resume for it. And it would have really cemented Bernie's claim to be a feminist, and he really is in it for us, and not him.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
DanTex
(20,709 posts)It would be silly to ask any candidate to step out right from the start.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)After all, he wasn't the only progressive running this time, and the heart attack and his health history is something to consider.
That would have been walking the walk on feminism after all.
It would have clearly demonstrated his concern was about "us" and not "him."
But he didn't offer.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)And still dragging the net that he's not establishment?
"It sort of rings hollow at this point." Indeed.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Happy Hoosier
(7,068 posts)someone who has been in Washington 30+ years and doesn't have a network of friends and allies, I guess you're right.
I mean, HE'S sure to really get stuff done, right? I mean, once the magic Revolution happens.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
msongs
(67,193 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
beachbumbob
(9,263 posts)such considerations.
Then the question on who can gather a team to do it. Biden by far is the best choice
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
peoli
(3,111 posts)If Biden thinks we don't need fundamental change then he is not paying attention!!!!!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
beachbumbob
(9,263 posts)we need to gain back all thats been lost in past 3 years and then build on that.
We centrists understand what it takes to get where we need to go.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Eyeball_Kid
(7,410 posts)It's a metaphor, not a strategic objective.
Sanders' positions are CONSISTENT with the wishes of the majority of Americans. That's not "revolution". That's listening to what the population wants.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Zoonart
(11,747 posts)Governmental triage and amputations. Anyone who can't see this. is not looking closely enough. Rump and his gang of criminals will leave this country and government a smoking crater. I want someone who knows this government Indies and out that can help put it all back together again.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
jalan48
(13,797 posts)statement, especially from Warren supporters who are so concerned about similar statements made by Sanders.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
peoli
(3,111 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
jalan48
(13,797 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
lapfog_1
(29,166 posts)how much more insider do you have to be?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
hlthe2b
(101,701 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
AGeddy
(509 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JustAnotherGen
(31,681 posts)We have three Washington Insiders left in this race - is she saying Bloomberg's billons are better than her tactical on the ground knowledge as a Senator?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
brush
(53,467 posts)for decades, Washington insiders themselves, but try to pretend they're not.
WTF?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cuthbert Allgood
(4,857 posts)NOT A DEMOCRAT.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
brush
(53,467 posts)as part of the establishmenta Washington insider.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TwilightZone
(25,342 posts)"Sanders Unveils Bill to Combat Corporate Polluters and Protect Drinking Water
ASHINGTON, January 29 Today, Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) introduced the Prevent Future American Sickness (PFAS) Act to require the cleanup of a class of toxic, so-called forever chemicalsknown by their acronym PFASfrom Americas drinking water."
Do you see the I? What does that stand for?
Here's his listing on Congress's website:
https://www.congress.gov/member/bernard-sanders/S000033
"Party - Independent"
Let's not pretend that Sanders isn't an Independent. He's only identifying as a Democrat for purposes of this election because it's a requirement.
That doesn't mean he hasn't been in government and part of the Democratic caucus for decades. For him to act as though he's separate from the fray is pretty disingenuous.
The two are not mutually exclusive.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
beachbumbob
(9,263 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
atreides1
(16,046 posts)Is there some kind of time requirement before one is labeled a "Washington insider"?
Isn't every elected official in Washington, an insider?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
turbinetree
(24,631 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
frazzled
(18,402 posts)Pretty weird statement about Washington insiders from a two-term senator.
Are people allowed to self-determine who is an insider and who is an outsider?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
CentralMass
(15,265 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
evertonfc
(1,713 posts)oh, ok. Anyway She Is an insider. Bernie is an insider who literally has never had a real job. Really.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
nini
(16,670 posts)My God.. WTF isn't she a Washington Insider herself?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Bettie
(15,995 posts)OH, wait, only old white men can do anything. Women speaking up are just "shrill", right?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
nolabear
(41,915 posts)Cmon Liz...you and Bernie are both Washington insiders. I love ya girl but stay out of that playbook.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
abqtommy
(14,118 posts)"insiders" by people like Liz and Bernie who have been involved in (and received payment for services rendered by) the same Government that they're criticizing. What is this, a Primary or The Twilight Zone? Or both?
*and angers
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden