It doesn’t seem likely that Elizabeth Warren will run for president. But that is what political movements are all about: people joining together to effect needed change that does not appear likely to happen on its own.
As progressives know, nothing is going to fundamentally change from the top down. Real change has always come from the bottom up, from grassroots politics – the suffragettes, the civil rights movement, the labor movement. The Occupy movement was successful in pushing the problem of overly powerful banks and corporations into the national debate. Now we have Elizabeth Warren giving ’em hell in the U.S. Senate.
Yes, an Elizabeth Warren presidency seems unlikely. But why not ride the wave and see what happens? Only good can come from it.
Here’s a note from MoveOn.org.
Dear Iowa MoveOn member,
The Des Moines Register: “This is Elizabeth Warren’s time, activists tell Iowans”
Real Clear Politics: “Warren Won’t Rule Out 2016 as Draft Movement Gears Up”
The Wall Street Journal: “Iowa Liberals Try to Will Elizabeth Warren Into 2016″
Associated Press: “Effort to draft Warren into ’16 race lands in Iowa”
WHO-TV Des Moines: “Iowans Encouraging Elizabeth Warren to Run for President”
Iowans Kick Off Run Warren Run Campaign in Des Moines
Last night in Des Moines, 100 Iowans gathered to kick off the Run Warren Run effort in Iowa. The room was electric as we launched our plans to build a grassroots organization across the state—neighbor to neighbor, person by person, to demonstrate to Elizabeth Warren that she’s got the support she needs to run for president and win, starting in Iowa and across the country.
This comes just after Chris Cillizza, the Washington Post analyst, wrote, “It’s uniquely possible that the populist/’draft Warren’ movement in the party grows strong enough that it forces the senator to reconsider her past denials of interest in the race. And if Warren runs, it’s a totally different race.”1
Click here to view a slideshow of Wednesday’s kickoff. Then, please share it with your friends, and ask them to join you in signing the petition to Elizabeth Warren, which says, “Dear Elizabeth Warren: Please Run for President.”
Last night’s kickoff was an exhilarating, inspiring start to a grassroots effort that could change the future of this country. If you were there, thank you. If you missed it—don’t worry, our organizers will be reaching out in the coming weeks with opportunities to get involved.
Here’s a great snippet of what we experienced, from Peter Nicholas of The Wall Street Journal:
The people in the room were devising a strategy to entice her to jump in. They told stories about why they’d like to see her run. An Iowa State student said she was holding down two jobs and working 45 hours a week to pay for school. She said she is carrying a 12% interest rate on her student loan.
Ms. Warren, she believes, would fight to curb student debt.
“Please run for president, Elizabeth,” she said.
Standing in the back of the room, Beverly Swecker said she had never before attended a political rally. She was there with her husband, a farmer.
Why the plunge into politics now?
“I like her commitment to the common person,” Mrs. Swecker said. “That’s what we need more of in this country right now.”
President of the Iowa Senate Pam Jochum addressed the crowd, calling Elizabeth Warren “brilliant” and “courageous” and calling on her to enter the race.
Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Scott Brennan told Real Clear Politics that Elizabeth Warren “has an excellent populist message that has been well-received by Iowans and the folks who are caucus attendees.”3
And our allies at Democracy for America announced that their members had voted overwhelmingly to join the draft Warren movement, and pledged $250,000 to the effort. With our friends at Ready for Warren, we’re showing that momentum is on the rise.
You caught the nation’s attention in Iowa last night. Thank you. We’ve got momentum. Now’s the perfect time to share the energy, and the petition, with your friends.
Iowa, you’re changing the conversation in this country, and each day proving to Elizabeth Warren why this is her moment.
Thanks for all you do.
–Victoria, Alejandro, Ilya, Mark, and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. “Amid Warren buzz, Clinton might do well not to wait too long to announce 2016 bid,” The Washington Post, December 14, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=302054&id=106071-4139708-APN4FXx&t=4
2. “Iowa Liberals Try to Will Elizabeth Warren Into 2016,” The Wall Street Journal, December 18, 2014
http://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-WB-51632
3. “Warren Won’t Rule Out 2016 as Draft Movement Gears Up,” Real Clear Politics, December 16, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=302055&id=106071-4139708-APN4FXx&t=5
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