Support Elizabeth Warren in her Biggest Battle for Consumers

Today in Washington a great battle is unfolding between Republicans preparing to filibuster the nomination of Richard Cordray to lead the new consumer protection agency and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who is battling to save the agency from these Republican attacks.

In my latest column in The Hill I called for all out support for Senator Warren and the consumer agency and suggested that pro-consumer Democratic Senators should go to the Senate floor, with as much detail as Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) offered in his 13 hour talking filibuster, and itemize the consumer rights that a Republican filibuster would be designed to destroy.

Let's be clear. The real Mr. Smith Goes To Washington is Ms. Smith, and her name is Elizabeth Warren.

It is important readers understand the Republican game. They want to destroy the consumer agency by filibustering the nomination of Richard Cordray to lead it, unless Senate Democrats surrender and weaken the agency. Our plan should be: no surrender. We will win extended debate when we explain why women, workers, veterans, hispanics, blacks, students, the poor and the disabled must not have their consumer protection destroyed.

Elizabeth Warren is the best thing that has happened to the Senate, and for consumers, in many years. Her biggest fight begins now, to save the agency she brilliantly envisioned.

Elizabeth Warren is a senator in the tradition of Robert F. Kennedy. We should all rally to support her and the consumer protection agency in the great battle now unfolding in Washington.