In the world of politics, heroes can be hard to find. Americans wonder (and rightly so) about the agendas of every official claiming to defend the common good, and whether it’s really the financial giants and special interests that have their representative’s ear. While it is often difficult to tell the difference, I want to give a shout-out to one of my political role models who passes this test any day of the week.
U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren recently reaffirmed her goals of financial reform in the face of Wall Street and big money. When banks like Citigroup and J.P. Morgan talked about withholding contributions to Democrats in retaliation to their “negative” portrayal, her response was this: “Bring it on.”
You can’t write talking points for that kind of fearlessness – such a reply is the product of character.
Senator Warren has consistently delivered her progressive populist message without hesitation, calling out Republicans, bank CEOs and even her own party. This senator from Massachusetts is not afraid to interrupt a hearing to point out inconsistent and cynical behavior from legislators, and she does not shy away from telling it like it is, when she points out that the market is rigged to heavily favor big business over the pursuits of American wage-earners.
I have personal respect for these actions because they illustrate the qualities that separate real leaders from capable politicians. When you’re willing to critique your own party when their actions don’t measure up to their words, that’s when partisanship is overcome by vision, and government begins to make sense again.
That is the kind of resolve our party needs – the willingness to stand by our ideals, and ask the tough questions that keep people honest. It’s the path I walk in the Missouri Senate, especially when potential distractors threaten to pull us away from what needs to be discussed.
Institutional racism, constitutional protections and a still-crippled student transfer system – these are issues I am unwilling to let fall by the wayside. The conversation on Ferguson is far from over; my most recent legislation preventing interference with civil rights by police or other agencies (SB 567) was heard in committee only just last week.
Even now, legislators rush forward to pass a budget ahead of schedule, and end that conversation – but those same appropriations include a measure that threatens to disqualify the children of illegal immigrants from college scholarships. Aside from the injustice of punishing children whose presence here was not their decision, trying to float this hateful measure along with the budget is outright dishonesty.
I am unwilling to give these problems a pass, and I will not be deterred by underhanded tactics, or any of the special interests that would like to change the subject. To those interests who are hoping I sit quietly in the weeks to come, prepare for disappointment. My commitment to resolve the issues faced by my constituents may very well provoke attempts to undermine my efforts across the board; we can safely expect this from those who are happy with the status quo.
In regards to that possibility, I can only echo the words of Sen. Warren: “Bring it on.”
Maria Chappelle-Nadal (D – University City) represents District 14 in the Missouri Senate.
