HOLYOKE — Elizabeth Warren plans to “take a hard look at running for president” after the Nov. 6 midterm elections, the senator announced at the City Hall auditorium on Saturday.
It’s time, she said in a preceding remark, “for women to go to Washington to fix our broken government, and that includes a woman at the top.”
Warren was met with a standing ovation in the crowded room as she made the announcement.
At a town hall hosted by Warren, Marty Dobrow, who teaches journalism at Springfield College, asked the senator where she is in considering the possibility of running for president in 2020.
Warren at first stressed the importance of next month’s midterm elections. But, she said, “Working people have taken one punch to the gut after another. And I am worried down to my bones about what Donald Trump is doing to our democracy.”
After watching the Brett Kavanaugh hearings this week, Warren continued, she summarized her thoughts in two words: “Time’s up.”
This week’s Kavanaugh hearings were almost immediately brought to the forefront of the town hall, with Warren pointing out the double standards that she said are exemplified in the hearings.
She criticized Kavanaugh and Republicans in Congress for not wanting to listen to Christine Blasey Ford, who alleges that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were in high school. Two other women, Deborah Ramirez and Julie Swetnick, have also come forward with sexual misconduct allegations against Kavanaugh.
These attempts to deny Kavanaugh’s accusers, Warren said, are “enormously disrespectful,” not only to women, but to all Americans.
Furthermore, Warren said, women are not allowed to act angry. When Kavanaugh has become visibly angry during the hearings, she said, he is called “tough,” while Ford is required to act in a deferential manner.
“Here it is,” Warren said. “One of the worst days of her life. And she’s not allowed to be angry. She’s not allowed to push back.”
Warren added, “Girls aren’t supposed to be angry because it makes us unattractive. Unattractive … to powerful men who want us to be quiet and not cause any trouble.”
She said it is not only women who are targeted for anger, but that all marginalized groups face this double standard.
“Because ultimately what this is about, is this is about power …. So I’ll tell you this: Today, I am angry,” Warren said. “And I own it.”
At the town hall, Warren also addressed issues such as climate change, increasing voter turnout, health care access and affordable housing.
Lindsay Sabadosa, who recently won the Democratic primary for the 1st Hampshire District in the Massachusetts House, was among the audience members.
“It feels nice to have a senator show up who clearly is fighting for us in Washington,” Sabadosa said, adding that she is looking forward to opportunities for change brought about by the midterm elections.
Sabadosa was accompanied by her daughter, who she described as a big fan of Warren’s.
“I love that my daughter is growing up in a world where there are many strong women leaders,” Sabadosa said.
Andy Anderson of Amherst, who was also in attendance, said he has admired Warren since before she ran for Senate. “She addresses economic issues in a way that I don’t see many people in Congress doing … We need more people like her to make a change.”
Donna G. Seymour of Springfield, who said she has worked at the polls for just over a decade, reiterated Warren’s emphasis on the importance of voter mobilization.
“People are going to have to get up, get out and vote,” Seymour said.
As she closed out the town hall, Warren encouraged people to take care of themselves and to take care of each other.
“We will persist,” she concluded.
Jacquelyn Voghel can be reached at jvoghel@gazettenet.com.