Republican politicians react most aggressively any time one of them is shown the slightest discourtesy, but hypocrites that they are, they refuse give the respect and courtesy to others that they demand for themselves. That is doubly true when the recipient of their abuse is a champion for consumer rights, one that they truly fear, Elizabeth Warren. Yesterday’s House Oversight Committee hearing was ugly.
House Republicans have been adamant since last year that they don’t like the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — and they also made it apparent they don’t like Elizabeth Warren, the Obama administration advisor who is helping launch the agency.
After a bitter and contentious House oversight subcommittee hearing Tuesday, Warren showed that the feeling might be mutual.
The clash highlighted how Warren has become a lightning rod for opponents of the agency, created by last year’s financial reform law. And it also could explain why President Obama hasn’t nominated her to be the agency’s powerful full-time director despite strong support from congressional Democrats, consumer advocates and liberal interest groups.
Warren, a Harvard Law professor, is so beloved by liberals that some Democrats are encouraging her to challenge Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) in her home state next year.
"In one respect, I congratulate you for instilling such fear … because they understand how effective you are about getting the message out to the American people," Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) told Warren, apologizing to her for what he called "the rude and disrespectful" questioning by some Republicans.
Warren and Republicans clashed often during the hearing, which followed approval by the House Financial Services Committee this month of legislation limiting the consumer bureau’s power. That bill, however, is likely to die in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
The disputes started with allegations from subcommittee Chairman Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) that she had misled Congress about her role in federal and state negotiations with large mortgage servicers to resolve investigations into botched foreclosure paperwork.
McHenry said agency documents indicated that she and other consumer bureau staffers were actively involved in the negotiations, not just advising other federal agencies as she had said at an earlier hearing.
Warren denied misleading lawmakers and said the agency was only providing advice.
McHenry also pressed her about whether she would accept an appointment from Obama to head the agency… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <LA Times>
Falsely accusing her of misleading Congress is .bad enough, but McHenry also accused her of lying. Rachel Maddow reported the exchange.
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As much as I like the sound of Senator Warren, we need her expertise at the CFPB, or better yet, replacing Timmy the Tool at Treasury. Since Senate Republicans have promised to block any appointment to head the CFPB, Obama should appoint her at the next recess. Do you agree? Tell him! (202) 456-1414
34 Responses to “Warren Stands Up to Rude Republicans”
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I love how, when all else fails, the Republicans just start calling people liars. Ms. Warren is going to be an enemy of the Republicans now and in the future. If she runs for the senate even moreso. I’m thinking she might have a good shot at being the first woman president down the road.
Totally! Kind of like how when you disagree with a Democrat you’re likely to be called a racist, intolerant, uneducated, childish, a homophobe, a bigot, ignorant, etc. When all else fails, of course.
Good on Warren for standing up to rudeness, but the ‘Pubs hardly have that market cornered.
Joe, it kind if depends. There are some exceptions, but most Democrats will wait until justified. I’ve called lots of Republicans such things in posts, but I always justify it. For example, when Republicans disenfranchise black voters, because they’re black, I call it racism.
Blue if she is a friend to consumers, she is an enemy to Republicans by definition.
As long as she stays in Federal service (although like you say some places would be better than others) I will feel comfortable having her as a spokesman for my rights.
A point well made, Mark. I will as well.
KICK THEIR SORRY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN ASSES, ELIZABETH WARREN! You are a HEROINE to all consumers!
Sic’em Jack!! 🙂
The Republicans don’t like her because she is a woman and she is smart. And she’s got their number.
Leslie, I’ll put my money on your third choice.
Ok, that was just uncalled for. What an asshole and good for that Congressman for standing up to the Chairman’s hissy fit.
Absolutely!
Personally, I was impressed with (and proud of) how classy Ms. Warren’s demeanor was during the entire exchange … amplified in stark contrast by the rude and loutish behavior of McHenry. What an asshole!
Nameless, Warren also carries herself well.
All Republicans are assholes. Show me one who isn’t and I will show you a RINO.
Charles, take care. An asshole may sue you for defamation of character.
People are flocking to McHenry’s FB page and joining it just to leave a nasty comment.
It serves him right. I bet most are deleted in short order.
Of all the important topics you could have reported on about Warren’s testimony, you had to pick the most irrelevant. 😳
Now onto Dancing with the (washed up) Stars.
Kevin, you appear to be alone in your opinion.
I suggest you check the rules page here about substituting personal attacks for arguments. You have been warned.
It is another area where their contempt for women is apparent-She is a strong woman and a wonderful model for younger women ; at best the pigs that call themselves Republicans these days , have no manners.-
Phyllis, manners stem from decency. If course they have no manners.
the united states government should cancel all regulations and oversight of the “financial sector” except for savings entities, or community banks. the oversight agencies will never have the power to stop the corruption rampant in the “financial sector”. these agencies do nothing but fool citizens into believing that “financial sector” entities are trustworthy. they have not been, they are not, and they will not ever be trustworthy. let the “financial sector” be a foot note in the dustbin of history.
Welcome John. 🙂
I agree with your diagnosis, but not your prescription. The oversight agencies have failed to do their job. However, cancelling regulations maintains the status-quo. That is the Republican plan. To me it makes sense to staff the agencies with people of integrity and empower them to reign in the Banksters’ criminal proclivities.
you could be right, but i think that if there were no regulation of the financial sector, the corporate entities involved would very quickly commit such huge frauds and cheat each other so badly that no one in their right mind would give even a penny to them. thus they would soon be out of business, like they already would be sans bailouts,and constant streaming subsidy. also, regulating the financial sector implies some government responsibility when the thieving gets completely out of hand and the sector starts to topple. the financial sector is of no actual value to the citizens of the united states, they sell no tangible goods, and given the global nature of the sector, are a major detriment to the citizens of the united states. the entire business plan of entities in the financial sector is market manipulation, bribery, monopoly, and fraud. the citizens government should not regulate such acts. elizabeth warren might be a bright, clear thinking, competent person, but within ten years her agency would be corrupted, and rendered toothless through legislation. i say no regulation, and let them devour themselves in their own misdeeds.
John, what you are describing are exactly the conditions that existed in 1929. I trust you know that there were side effects that went beyond the Banksters.
that is an interesting point. would the government allow a depression to happen? some say we are in a depression. we cannot allow financial sector corporations to extort their existance from our government based upon their own financial scare stories. the only things that are “too big to fail” in the united states are the rights of the citizens, and the citizen’s government. i think in the event of a depression the citizens would look for relief at the door of the houses of those enriched by the financial sector; maybe from inside the house. i think it would be possible to follow the path of the big money in the event of a depression, and recover it. with the demise (by their own misdeeds) of goldman sachs, bank of america et al, we would see a huge dividend not only in non-extorted monies, but in the destruction of a large amount of utter corruption. these corporations take wealth from the united states, they do not create or add wealth to the united states. we will end up in a permanent depression if we continue to prop up and pay tribute to those in the financial sector, allowing them to extract all our natural resources and auction off our assets on the global market. a consumer watchdog may sound like a good idea; but how can an honorable person regulate or watchdog an industry they know is the manifestation of fraud, corruption, and extortion?
John, whether or not Banksters are regulated has no bearing on whether or not government would want to allow a depression to happen. However, in the absence of regulation, the depression they would cause would be too severe for government to prevalent, in my opinion. An honorable person could regulate such an industry by setting rules with penalties that kick Banksters hard, right in their fat assets, for every violation, not the puny pitty-pat spankings there now.
Of course our discussion would be mute if Congress (after some pest control by voters) would break up the TBTF banks.
straight up. break up the tbtf banks.
I’m glad we could find common ground. 🙂
this woman has my full support.
Welcome Katherine. 🙂
She has mine as well.
I have only One thing to Say Too Elizabeth Warren… I am With You 150% With YOU!!!! Madame President!
Welcome Dewey. 🙂
Well… President Warren would dump Timmy the Tool. That works. 😉