Elizabeth Warren persisted, and she’s seeing the benefits of her actions.
Before Jeff Sessions was confirmed as Attorney General, Senator Warren and her fellow Democrats were voicing their opposition to Sessions’ nomination. Warren was referencing a letter from Coretta Scott King about Sessions in 1986, where King said that “Sessions has used the awesome power of his office” before Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell stepped forward with an objection.
“The senator has impugned the motives and conduct of our colleague from Alabama, as warned by the chair,” objected McConnell before calling to order Rule XIX, which prevents senators from acting toward another senator(s) in a way that is unsuitable for a senator.
When Warren asked to continue her remarks after the objection, presiding Senator Steve Daines instead told the Massachusetts’ Senator that the objection was heard and that she was to take her seat.
Since the Republicans silenced her on the Senate floor, support for Warren has surged.
MoveOn.org officials report that over nine thousand members have stepped up to financially support Warren. Over $250,000 has been raised for Warren’s re-election campaign in 2018.
“By standing with Elizabeth Warren, we’re standing up against that kind of bigotry,” stated MoveOn officials. “We’re standing up for freedom of speech. And we’re standing up for something else that is under threat in the age of Trump: Truth.”
McConnell may have been the one to silence her on the Senate floor, but his defense of his actions later would soon spark a movement.
“Senator Warren was giving a lengthy speech. She had appeared to violate the rule. She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted,” wrote McConnell.
Immediately, ‘Nevertheless, she persisted’ would become the battle cry for many in support of Warren. The hashtag #LetLizSpeak quickly found itself trending on Twitter, and Warren took to social media to read the letter and say that she wasn’t going to stay silent.
“They can shut me up, but they can’t change the truth,” said Warren.
Elizabeth Warren is far from done fighting the President’s nominations, already ready to take on Department of Labor nominee Andrew Puzder. Warren has 83 questions for the fast food executive in a 28 page letter before his confirmation hearing later this month.
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