WARREN TAKES KID ROCK ‘SERIOUSLY’
Musician making U.S. Senate bid in Mich.
WEST BARNSTABLE — U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren said she’s taking Detroit musician Kid Rock’s bid for a Senate seat in Washington, D.C., “seriously,” noting President Trump’s surprise victory means no candidate should be taken for granted.
“There were a lot of people who weren’t concerned about Donald Trump running for the presidency,” said Warren, who used the threat of a Kid Rock run in a fundraising pitch. “I think there were more jokes than people who took it seriously. So, I take it all seriously right now. And I know that (U.S. Sen.) Debbie Stabe-
now in Michigan takes it very seriously. I just spoke with her yesterday.”
Warren, who held a town hall-style meeting yesterday at Cape Cod Community College, dismissed any comparisons between Kid Rock — known for hits such as “Wasting Time” and “Bawitdaba” — and Al Franken, the Democratic U.S. senator from Minnesota who once performed on and wrote for “Saturday Night Live.”
“Al Franken paid his dues as a policymaker. He got out there and studied and worked and developed experience before he ran for the United States Senate. And once he got into the Senate, he paid his dues again. He worked hard and he studied hard and he is a first-rate senator. He is not there to be an entertainer. He’s there to be a senator and he’s doing a terrific job,” Warren told the Herald after the meeting.
About 1,300 people attended the event yesterday at the campus. Warren was joined on stage by U.S. Rep. William Keating, both pressing the idea that the Republican plan to replace and repeal Obamacare must be defeated.
Warren didn’t address a potential 2020 run for president. When asked by a member of the audience who other than herself and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders would make a good Democratic nominee, she sidestepped the question, saying she’s focused on the 2018 elections.
“If we can’t make Democrats turn out in 2018, then we have a big problem going forward. 2018 has to be our year.”
Attendee Harvey Feltquate, 77, of Osterville said he’s “very concerned” about health care and would like to see Warren make a bid for the White House.
“She’s a very, very smart woman. She would know how to run the country and what’s important for Americans. She’s for the middle class. We got to put the middle class up there,” Feltquate said.
A contingent of supporters for Warren challenger Geoff Diehl gathered at the campus’ entrance yesterday holding up signs for the GOP Bay State representative.