Last night I went to the big Elizabeth Warren rally at Washington Square Park. It ostensibly started at 7 but they announced that doors were at 4. Doors at Washington Square Park? Apparently the closed off the park as they set up. You had to register or check in to go. I registered as soon as the event was announced. I wasn’t looking forward to standing for three hours but I wanted to be close enough to see and be sure to get in so I got there around 4:20. There were already a ton of people. Warren was right in front of the arch and I was in the space between the arch and the fountain. Not bad. I could see her.
There’s an element of fun and excitement in the wait, as we were all there for a common purpose. At first there was an annoying person pontificating behind me so I put in earbuds and read. Then a light sprinkle of rain came and he fled so I could socialize with the people around me. I even have a selfie with the young NYU student from Georgia that was next to me. One of the earlier speakers, or was it Liz herself? asked everyone to take a selfie with a stranger standing next to them. I don’t usually do selfies.
Someone asked why I supported Warren. I hate that question, but answered. It’s because I’m nerd and she’s a wonk. She is the official candidate of nerds. She doesn’t wave her hands or use magic asterisks. She makes the numbers balance without unreal assumptions. It’s not the specifics as much as loving that she knows that the devil is in the details. It would be disastrous to have a poorly executed progressive agenda, that would devastate the movement. I trust her to do a good job.
This might seem minor but it’s not. Liz went on at 7:07, amazingly punctual. A Broadway show typically starts about seven minutes after the announced curtain time. It shows that she can make a complicated operation, a campaign rally, operate smoothly. A president has to be able to do that.
Washington Square Park is just a few blocks from the site of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. The fire there was one of the worst industrial accidents in American history. The factor was filled with young immigrant women, mainly Italian and Jewish, working under terrible conditions. The stairways were locked out of fear that they might steal cloth or equipment. When the fire struck they could not get out. They had the choice of burning or jumping to their death. They were so high that some crashed right through the sidewalk into the basements below.
Liz made this the centerpiece of her speech. The owners of the garment industry put their profits ahead of the safety of the workers. They used their political influence to keep the government from regulating them. The tragedy was an impetus for change. It set a young Frances Perkins. On the path to greatness. She became tireless in support of workers’ rights. She eventually became New York’s State’s first Industrial Commissioner and when FDR became president he took her with him to Washington to be Secretary of Labor. She was he first woman in the cabinet. Warren used the tragedy of the fire to show the need for government regulation and Frances Perkins as an example of how major structural changes can happen.
Warren is a wonderful speaker; she lacks the poetry of a Martin Luther King; instead she wins you with sincerity and affability. I could never see Reagan’s appeal as his message was so distasteful to me, but he was the great communicator, and Warren works the same way. She speaks from the heart and the mind. This wasn’t just me. The crowd felt the connection. It was like being at a ballgame where everyone cheers at the same time. We all shared the experience.
I was a geezer in the crowd, most of the people were young, not surprising as we had to stand for so long. We had to stand in the rain for a short time. Nobody complained. We were all thrilled to be there.
More people need to see Warren live. She’s a total wonk but comes across as unpretentious. You might have heard that she’s not likable. You might have heard that she’s not inspiring. You might have heard that she’s didactic. What you might not have heard was the little voice inside those speakers saying, “She’s a woman and that’s not how a woman is supposed to act.” All women in politics face this. All women in every field face this. It’s not misogyny. It’s not about hatred of women. It’s about expectations developed from a lifetime of living in a world dominated by men. When we think of what a leader looks like all we see are men. As I wrote yesterday, we need to stay aware of our unconscious biases.
The speech was both inspiring and substantive. She outlined her plans for fighting corruption. She included something that I’ve always felt, that members of congress and the cabinet should be permanently banned from lobbying. They should not be thinking of their next job when they are still working for us, the people.
When Warren was finished speaking she had a mass selfie session. Anyone that wanted could pose for a selfie with her. I see on Facebook today that my friend Diana took advantage of it. Not me. I wanted to get out of the crowd. I was never much for having my picture taken with people. It bothers me when I don’t have pictures with my friends, but not at all with celebrities that don’t know me. Most people lined up. I headed home.
As I usually do when I’m busy during my normal dinner hour I brought a peanut butter sandwich. When I got home I rewarded myself for going to the rally by making French fries. This time I made them spicy, I added some cayenne. That was so good I had to mention it.
Sorry I am posting this so late. I’m still having problems with depression-related inertia. At least I was able to get out of the house last night and I’m going out again later to get training at Warren HQ.
Wise Madness 