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Elizabeth Warren insists 'day is coming' for American progressives at Netroots Elizabeth Warren insists 'day is coming' for American progressives at Netroots
(about 1 hour later)
Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren has issued a rallying cry to progressive Americans, bloggers and reporters gathered for the Netroots Nation conference, telling thousands gathered in Phoenix, Arizona: “American people are progressive and our day is coming.” The Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren has issued a rallying cry to progressive Americans, bloggers and reporters gathered for the Netroots Nation conference, telling thousands gathered in Phoenix, Arizona: “American people are progressive and our day is coming.”
Kicking off the weekend event on Friday, Warren told those gathered at the tenth annual conference that “our values are America’s values” before launching into an attack on the host state’s controversial immigration law, which allows local police departments to enforce federal immigration laws. Kicking off the weekend event on Friday, Warren told those gathered at the 10th annual conference that “our values are America’s values” before launching into an attack on the host state’s controversial immigration law, which allows local police departments to enforce federal immigration laws.
“I know there was some controversy about being in Arizona and it’s not because it is hot enough out there to melt your flip-flops,” Warren said. “I’m going to start right off the bat before we get any further in this – as loud as I can: no ifs, no ands, no buts, Arizona’s SB1070 is a stupid law. It is stupid. It is racist. It is unconstitutional and it should be struck down.”“I know there was some controversy about being in Arizona and it’s not because it is hot enough out there to melt your flip-flops,” Warren said. “I’m going to start right off the bat before we get any further in this – as loud as I can: no ifs, no ands, no buts, Arizona’s SB1070 is a stupid law. It is stupid. It is racist. It is unconstitutional and it should be struck down.”
Related: Netroots: where liberals come together to let it all outRelated: Netroots: where liberals come together to let it all out
For Warren, speaking at Netroots is a homecoming of sorts. Last year, she was welcomed with a roaring applause and chants of ‘Run, Liz, run!’ by attendees urging her to seek the Democratic nomination for president. This year, the chants came later in her speech and just for a few seconds. For Warren, speaking at Netroots is a homecoming of sorts. Last year, she was welcomed with a roaring applause and chants of “Run, Liz, run!” by attendees urging her to seek the Democratic nomination for president. This year, the chants came later in her speech and just for a few seconds.
Warren has spent the last year insisting that she is not running for president in 2016. Yet, she might have just issued a challenge to all of the Democratic presidential candidates: America is progressive and its leaders should be, too.Warren has spent the last year insisting that she is not running for president in 2016. Yet, she might have just issued a challenge to all of the Democratic presidential candidates: America is progressive and its leaders should be, too.
“I am here to make an announcement to insider Washington: America is far more progressive than you are,” Warren said. The Massachusetts’ senator then ticked off all the issues she believes American voters have progressive leanings on: minimum wage, student debt, tax fairness, paid sick days, social security, trade, campaign finance and Wall street reform. “I am here to make an announcement to insider Washington: America is far more progressive than you are,” Warren said. The Massachusetts senator then ticked off all the issues she believes American voters have progressive leanings on: minimum wage, student debt, tax fairness, paid sick days, social security, trade, campaign finance and Wall Street reform.
The loudest applause came when Warren spoke on the issue of racial inequality, which she said was not just a moral issue but also an economic one.The loudest applause came when Warren spoke on the issue of racial inequality, which she said was not just a moral issue but also an economic one.
“Progressives believe that it should not take a revolution on YouTube to drive a revolution in law enforcement. It shouldn’t take a hurricane in New Orleans or a massacre in Charleston for Americans to wake up to what is happening, what is still happening to people of color in this country. And it sure as heck shouldn’t take poll numbers to unite us in our determination to build a future for all of our children,” she said.“Progressives believe that it should not take a revolution on YouTube to drive a revolution in law enforcement. It shouldn’t take a hurricane in New Orleans or a massacre in Charleston for Americans to wake up to what is happening, what is still happening to people of color in this country. And it sure as heck shouldn’t take poll numbers to unite us in our determination to build a future for all of our children,” she said.
“House Republicans might still want to fly the confederate flag and republican leaders may cover in the shadows of Donald Trump, but American people understand that black lives matter and America is not a country that stands for racism, bigotry and hatred.” “House Republicans might still want to fly the Confederate flag and Republican leaders may cover in the shadows of Donald Trump, but American people understand that black lives matter and America is not a country that stands for racism, bigotry and hatred.”
In addition to advising Washington to not be afraid of progressive values, Warren had a few words of wisdom for her Republican colleagues in both Congress as well as at the local level in Arizona.In addition to advising Washington to not be afraid of progressive values, Warren had a few words of wisdom for her Republican colleagues in both Congress as well as at the local level in Arizona.
Related: Arizona immigration battle turns bitterRelated: Arizona immigration battle turns bitter
“And let’s say it to the Republicans, loud and clear, if you truly want to do something about immigration then get out of the way, get on the right side of history and let us pass comprehensive immigration reform,” Warren said.“And let’s say it to the Republicans, loud and clear, if you truly want to do something about immigration then get out of the way, get on the right side of history and let us pass comprehensive immigration reform,” Warren said.
The annual conference runs Thursday through Sunday. On Saturday morning, Democratic presidential candidates Vermont senator Bernie Sanders and former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley will appear in a town hall session. The Democratic frontrunner, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, will not appear at this year’s conference. This is the second year in a row that Clinton had declined to attend the event. The annual conference runs from Thursday through Sunday. On Saturday morning, Democratic presidential candidates Vermont senator Bernie Sanders and former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley will appear in a town hall session. The Democratic frontrunner, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, will not appear at this year’s conference. This is the second year in a row that Clinton had declined to attend the event.
Earlier this month, Clinton said: “I take a backseat to no one when you look at my record in standing up and fighting for progressive values.”Earlier this month, Clinton said: “I take a backseat to no one when you look at my record in standing up and fighting for progressive values.”