Sen. Elizabeth Warren found herself yet again denying claims that she is anti-capitalist amid rumors that she may run for president in 2020.
The Massachusetts Democrat who recently said the “rich and powerful just keep sucking up all the value” in America took to CNBC on Tuesday to discuss the political landscape with journalist John Harwood. She rejected the idea that she is a “polarizing” figure within the general electorate or within the business world.
“That’s funny you’d say that,” she replied when confronted with the critique. “I actually don’t see it that way.”
The lawmaker said that “a lot of folks agree with me” and respect her opinions.
“But you recognize that, say, with businesspeople, with Wall Street you’re a very polarizing figure?” Mr. Harwood countered.
“Look, I get that there are a lot of folks who like having the power and the riches they have, they like being able to tweak their little pinkie and the United States government does just what they want,” Mrs. Warren said, the Washington Free Beacon reported. “They like being able to get regulations rolled back or not enforced. I totally get that. And I get that I push hard against that, that I may be a threat to them on that. But my view on that is, don’t call me the polarizing figure. They’re the ones who want to take advantage of this country. They’re the ones who want to cheat.”
The senator then exclaimed “Come on!” when pressed on whether she thinks capitalists are “bad people.”
“I believe in markets. What I don’t believe in is theft. What I don’t believe in is cheating. That’s where the difference is. I love what markets can do. I love what functioning economies can do. … Markets without rules is about the rich take it all. It’s about the powerful get all of it. And that’s what’s gone wrong in America.”
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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