Elizabeth Warren has been both passionate about fighting for financial protection for the average American and successful at the same time. Unfortunately, Republicans (and some Blue Dog Democrats), beholden to their wealthy benefactors, want nothing more than to see Warren fail in her quest to protect ordinary Americans from predatory lending, while strengthening oversight on the industry.
Missouri Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer directly provoked the Massachusetts Senator by suggesting she be 'neutered,' rather than spayed. We aren't sure whether Luetkemeyer views Warren as an opponent with far greater testicular fortitude than he has or he simply doesn't know the difference between males and females. Likely, he holds females in very low esteem, mirroring the positions of his own political party.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has been in the midst of a heated battle over the predatory practices of payday lending. Luetkemeyer, your standard Mid-Western Republican, who holds typical positions on major issues, is part of the problem Warren and consumers are facing. He's a little too chummy with those he's supposed to be overseeing.
The Kansas City Star reports:
Luetkemeyer is a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee and recently sponsored a bill to deregulate community banks. He has also led multiple congressional efforts to protect the payday loan industry, according to Fortune.com.
Warren welcomes the fight between herself and Luetkemeyer after he threw the first punch.
Speaking at the American Bankers Association conference on Wednesday...the Congressman, who is a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, called Warren “the Darth Vader of the financial services world” and told an audience of bankers that they needed to “find a way to neuter” her, according to a tweet by Washington Examiner writer Joseph Lawler.
At ABA, Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer calls LIz Warren the "Darth Vader of the financial services world," says need to find way to "neuter" her
— Joseph Lawler (@josephlawler) March 16, 2016
Warren said in a fundraising email she’s always seen herself “more as a Princess Leia-type,” who has never been tempted by the dark side.
Warren called Luetkemeyer “a Wall Street yes-man.”
Warren said “they can call me Darth Vader or Voldemort or the Wicked Witch of Massachusetts for all I care — but I won’t be neutered.”
This is definitely going to be a ferocious fight, but my bets are on the Professor Senator from Massachusetts. Charlie Pierce explains:
I'm sure it's a comfort to Rep. Luetkemeyer's constituents that he is so cozy with the people he's tasked with overseeing. I have no doubt that Senator Professor Warren will laugh this off, but the knives are definitely out.
