Discussion for article #229268
I don’t know. I think “abortion” as a standalone word has become politically charged, regardless of your views about it.
Maybe laying the groundwork FIRST with the economics and privilege arguments while talking about women’s health care and freedom gives her ammo for when she finally does drop the A-Bomb.
I don’t know that it’ll do any good. Her opponents all believe it’s a human from the minute a man tells a young staffer that he and his wife are basically separated already.
I hope she runs. She’s new enough at politics to still be frank and caustic when faced with idiots.
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Perhaps one doesn’t hear a full-throated defense of abortion is due to the fact that feminism has waned as an effective voice, movement or platform for women.
Increasingly, it seems that feminism has moved over to the cultural realm, especially pop culture, with women attacking other women, usually celebrities, who don’t wear the feminist name tag. Over the last year or more I read article of young female actors who are read the riot because they are using the label feminist to describe themselves.
Or, you have feminist bell hooks (sic) accusing Beyonce of being a terrorist. Meanwhile Beyonce after a booty-shaking spectacular declares herself in large lights: FEMINIST.
Yet, most state have designed efforts to actively curb women’s right to an abortion.
Yet, you barely hear this as an issue from this generation of feminist.
So, it’s no small wonder that Elizabeth Warren doesn’t make an open defense of abortion. Neither do most feminists.
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What a terrible article. Warren doesn’t mention abortion, so Mattas goes ballistic about it. Like her job is satisfying him on reproductive rights. Google Warren and abortion – turns out she has used the word a lot. http://www.ontheissues.org/social/Elizabeth_Warren_Abortion.htm
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But this article completely misses the point of Elizabeth Warren. The point of Elizabeth Warren is to center the Democratic Party on issues of putting a stop to gross economic inequality and doing something about the fact that three quarters of the country lives paycheck-to-paycheck.
If anything, this article says more about why it has become possible to attack legalized abortion than it does about Elizabeth Warren’s stance on it. The feminist movement in this country is failing miserably, on this and a lot of other issues.
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Wow. I am not sure I have ever seen a worse article on TPM, and given some of its recent contributions, that is saying something.
First off, Elizabeth Warren has given repeated denials that she is running in 2016. Not hedged answers, denials. Now it remains to be seen whether she may still be persuaded, but to ask “how can” someone run in 2016 when they have repeatedly denied they are doing so is ridiculous.
Secondly, you cannot mention every issue in every speech. She outlined a wide-ranging and very positive progressive platform, which included that women have the right to their bodies, which covers a whole host of issues from sexual harrassment to rape to contraception to abortion.
And thirdly, what the hell is this doing here now? Netroots nation was weeks ago. Nobody is thinking about the 2016 election right now, everyone is focused on the 2014 mid-terms, where, incidentally, Elizabeth Warren is putting in an amazing amount of effort to try to get Democrats elected across the country.
So TPM, it is a false accusation based on a false premise at the wrong time. Do us all a favour and pull it.
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Gimme a break! The writer is obviously obsessed with a single issue and faults Warren for not being similarly deluded. Ms. Warren’s positions and votes have always been consistently in support of a woman’s right to choose. The writer would have her turn herself into a one-issue, un-electable fanatic. The right to choose is fundamental and important, but it is not the only issue.
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The enormous ax that Ms. Mattas is grinding must be getting awfully heavy by now.
Maybe if she put it down she could write a cogent article about Sen. Warren that doesn’t proceed from a patently false premise and arrive at an equally false conclusion.
This is the kind of mindless tripe I expect to see from RCP or Politico or the Daily Caller.
This steaming pantload is----or it should be—far beneath the standards Josh should have for TPM.
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You have heard of single issue voters? Meet a single issue writer.
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Hard not to agree with all the commenters here. The author clearly doesn’t understand what Elizabeth’s brand is (economic equality). Every time she talks about another issue, she’s doing a disservice IMO. She votes well on democratic issues, but she doesn’t represent the party in all things.
I doubt Senator Warren reads these comments, but if you are are out there good senator, please stay focused on economic issues.
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All other issues be damned? Abortion 1st? Sorry we have to move beyond this.
While the Democrats continue to fight this issue, and increasingly are losing in many states, they have not delivered on any other issue in what, 20 years?
I do not care what the demographics say, people respond to advances. If the Democrats do not advance some agenda other than abortion, they will lose.
A single issue Party isn’t going to win.
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First of all, learn how to spell canon.
Second, give Warren a break. She has been the single most outspoken person about the biggest threats from within that this country faces, and that includes the forces who want to roll back Roe V. Wade. You can’t expect her to openly attack every third rail issue at once, unless you want her to be another Ralph Nader. She’s making it clear enough where her inclinations lie.
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“She named a bevy of long-range and deeply controversial goals she said progressives are willing to fight for: financial regulation, living wages, preserving entitlements, equality legislation, and immigration reform.”
Women are targeted by predatory lending more than men, earn minimum wage more than men, depend on Social Security more than men in their retirement years, etc, etc, etc,
Her expertise is financial issues and she is one of the best spokespeople to convey complex financial policy in language that can be understood by people regardless of their education level.
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Elizabeth Warren should mention abortion, and she should remind voters that the right to choose has been ruled a Constitutional right and is therefore the equal of the right to own a gun.
She should repeat this often. And oftener.
Well, I would call that a bit hyperbolic, wouldn’t you? The recent increases in minimum wage in some locations and the ACA were delivered by Democrats.
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In some States. That said, while the ACA has done some good those people who have seen their min. wage increased by the local municipalities, that is cities not states, still cannot afford the ACA . Yes the Gov. picks up the tab for a very high deductible policy, that protects the hospital but does not afford the patient the means to see a doctor, get treatment before they end up in the hospital.
In the mean time, roads are in a shamble, education is no better, we are a nation in fear, polarized, my wages are decreasing, my healthcare costs are increasing, my voice is smaller, SS and Medicare are threatened. And the Democratic Party is hiding in the corner, trying to keep their job and we keep voting for them, because we hope that someday they will come out of hiding and do something.
Just like the Republicans all they want is a job.
From the “Yes, Democrats will continue to be corporate sell-outs, but we’ll let you have an abortion. Deal?” branch of the Democratic Party.
No Sale. What a terrible article.
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Wow, this article falls into linkbait territory. The author wants to write about abortion - fine - and uses Warren’s name to get published. I thought TPM had editors.
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Googling “Elizabeth Warren” and abortion produces hundreds of thousands of results citing Warren’s commitment to reproductive freedom — like this one. To say she can’t run for president because she didn’t sufficiently highlight that position in one particular 17 minute speech is bizarre.
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Even those on those on the front lines of the pro choice movement rarely use the term abortion. Right or wrong, it was a strategic choice made years ago to counter the so called right to life movement. Virtually no one says they are pro abortion or anti abortion. Both sides of the movement prefer to attempt to persuade by the use of somewhat misleading phrases.
The fact that Warren does not choose to use the word abortion does not make her less pro choice than anyone else that is for the right to abortion. Besides, the use of the term pro abortion is also misleading since it misses the point that most people simply want a choice.
In leading the progressive movement, Warren recognizes that she must cast a wide a net as possible. I am totally pro choice but an not offended that she may be choosing not to unduly alienate those who are pro life.
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