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Sexist Attacks on Elizabeth Warren
Why are Passionate Women A Threat?
Durga is a Hindu goddess who rides a tiger. I thought of her the other day, when I read about the attacks against Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass), who could be our next Democrat Presidential candidate.
Warren is passionate. Whether or not you agree with her, you know she cares about universal healthcare, powerful corporate interests, immigration and many other issues. She is an intellectual, a policy wonk. She doesn’t indulge in easy sound bites or pretend to a superficial empathy. The Senator doesn’t spend a lot of time feeling your pain; instead, she has a plan to fix it.
In that sense, she bucks the male/female stereotypes presented by movies like White Men Can’t Jump. She won’t make sympathetic murmurings about your thirst — Lizzie Warren wants to get you a glass of water.
Perhaps this is behind her appeal. Or it might be that, unlike the rest of the triumvirate of top contenders for the party nomination, she’s not an elderly white male. Maybe voters appreciate her focus on policy vs. launching attacks on her opponents. Or it could be those high cheekbones…
Whatever the cause, Warren’s candidacy is surging. A new Iowa poll has her leading the field with 20% as Biden falls into fourth at 15%.
