Preach it Liz!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) went to bat for a fellow Democrat's underdog Senate campaign here Monday, railing against Rep. Shelley Moore Capito's (R-W.Va.) financial industry connections. The historic Shepherdstown, chartered in 1762, played host to Warren's upbeat rally in support of West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant.
Tennant and Capito are vying to succeed the retiring Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) in a race that will produce the Mountain State's first-ever female senator. Warren, who has campaigned this cycle for Senate candidates across the Democratic political spectrum, gave a scathing criticism of Capito's record on financial issues.
"When [Wall Street] needs her, [Capito's] been there," Warren said in a packed hotel ballroom. "She's out there for Wall Street, she's leading the charge. ... We need some more people who are willing to work on the side of America's families."
Since the once strongly Democratic state has rapidly taken on a red hue, Tennant must strike a balance between economic populism and more traditionally conservative stances on issues like guns and coal. Yet Warren wasn't entirely out of place in a town populated by vintage stores, vegan bakeries and organic smoothie joints. Those in attendance enthusiastically shouted "2020" and "2016" as Warren took her seat next to Tennant.
Shepherd University's presence in the town also provided a convenient tie-in for Warren to discuss the 40 million Americans who collectively owe $1.2 trillion in student loan debt.
Tennant declared her support Monday for Warren's bill -- which was defeated in the Senate last month -- to refinance student loans by taxing the wealthiest Americans at higher rates.
“I strongly support Natalie's campaign because I have no doubt she will work in the Senate to make sure working families have a fighting chance to succeed in this country again," Warren said in a statement ahead of her visit. "Wall Street already has enough Senators looking to advance its interests, and West Virginia deserves a Senator like Natalie who will wake up every morning and go to bed every night focused on how to fight for working families."
Echoing that message, Tennant painted Capito as a politician who puts Wall Street interests ahead of those of local West Virginians.
"Do you want ... a senator who has fought time and time again to protect the handouts to Wall Street?" Tennant asked the crowd in a voice that made evident her background as a local television anchor. - Huffington Post, 7/14/14
It's very true what Warren is saying because Capito is the anti-Warren:
http://www.politico.com/...
While Warren made a name for herself as an outsider bashing big banks, Capito has long been comfortable operating at the crossroads of Washington and Wall Street. Her father is a former congressman and West Virginia governor and she is married to a veteran bank executive. Since her election to the House in 2000, Capito has been a dependable friend to business and banking interests in Washington.
The financial industry, in particular, considers Capito a go-to person for its concerns about the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial regulation law. And it’s more than returned the favor this cycle. Individuals and PACs associated with the finance, insurance and real estate sectors have donated more than $750,000 to Capito so far in support of her Senate bid, with Citigroup, Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs ranking among the top contributors, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Industry leaders in both West Virginia and D.C. say they’re counting on Capito to be an ally in the upcoming Congress – next year, as a member of the Senate.
“People are already thinking about what role Congresswoman Capito might have when she goes to the Senate and people are already thinking about what her role might be in terms of helping the financial service industry on the assumption that she goes to the Senate,” said Steve Roberts, president of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce. “I was with bankers the other day who were really praising her for her legislative service.”
Democrats, who recognize Capito has a solid advantage in the race, are hoping voters balk at Capito’s Wall Street ties. Using Warren as a surrogate for this message comes with some political risks — Democrats are gambling that Warren’s anti-Wall Street message will resonate with West Virginia voters and that her liberal policy positions, such as on coal, won’t be be a distraction.
Tennant, West Virginia’s secretary of state and a former TV journalist, has derided Capito for putting “Wall Street millionaires” ahead of regular West Virginians. She has labeled Capito as a champion of out-of-state companies and accused her of being in the deep pocket of the big banks.
She has even directed some fiery attacks toward Capito’s family, going after the congresswoman’s husband, Charles Capito, who for decades worked at Smith Barney — the brokerage firm is now a part of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. In a news release, the Tennant campaign said her appearance with Warren on Monday in Shepherdstown would contrast Tennant’s “West Virginia first” message with Capito’s “record working for Wall Street banks where her husband works.”
“This is about West Virginia and this is not about Wall Street and she has chosen which side she wants to be on,” Tennant said in an interview with POLITICO earlier this year. “I am clearly West Virginia and she is clearly Wall Street, because she has voted to allow these bank executives to get bonuses while taxpayers are bailing them out.” - Politico, 7/14/14
And the distinction between Capito and Tennant couldn't be any more clear. Just look at who's campaigning for Capito:
http://time.com/...
Across the state in Charleston, Tennant’s opponent to fill the seat of the man the ballroom was named for was also holding a special event: This one featured House Budget Committee Chairman and 2012 vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan campaigning for Tenant rival and Republican Rep. Shelley Moore Capito.
“The best thing to do is send the Administration back to the drawing board,” Ryan told the small gathering 30 business leaders. “You can only do that with both houses of Congress.”
The subject of these two opposing events was strikingly similar: West Virginia’s struggling middle class. But the takeaways were vastly different. Ryan blamed President Barack Obama for West Virginia’s stagnant growth. Warren tied Capito to her banker husband and accused her of being in bed with Wall Street at the expense of every day West Virginians. “Shelley Moore Capito thought it was more important to protect Wall Street than Main Street and that’s why I’m here today,” Warren said.
Both Ryan and Warren have become their respective parties’ spokespeople for populist politics. Ryan has been giving speeches about poverty, while Warren just inked a best-selling book, A Fighting Chance, that focuses on the challenges the middle class faces. With West Virginia’s unemployment rate holding at 6% and per capita income at $34,477—making it the fourth-poorest state in 2012—West Virginians’ top concern remains the economy. - Time Magazine, 7/14/14
Lets hope Warren's visit will help bring momentum to Tennant's campaign and maybe pull off a surprise win. Click here if you want to donate and get involved with Tennant's campaign:
http://natalietennant.com/