Professor TARP and the Manufacturers

Prof. Elizabeth Warren and Sarah in her Elaine Marshall for U.S. Senate tee shirt at Netroots Nation 2010

So okay, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid were at Netroots. (Harry Reid got the less warm reception.) Sen. Al Franken closed out the conference. But the real rock star treatment went to TARP Congressional Oversight Panel chair, Prof. Elizabeth Warren, who perhaps got more applause and support than anyone.

A close colleague was so pleased to meet Warren that she asked if I would post the picture.

Manufacturing was a hot topic at the conference. We met these guys from the Alliance for American Manufacturing at the conference in Las Vegas. Executive Director Scott Paul mentioned the possibility of holding a forum on manufacturing in Western North Carolina. Rep. Heath Shuler, he noted, is a strong supporter.

I recognize the venue for the America’s Future Now! conference in some shots in the AAM video, so I’d say those segments aren’t exactly man-on-the-street interviews. Their data and presentation nonetheless raised eyebrows.

Nancy Pelosi addressed American manufacturing on Saturday after delivering a special taped message from President Obama:

Pelosi spoke about “Making It in America,” the Democrats’ manufacturing agenda that she said would roll out in coming weeks to help restore and create industrial jobs. “Jobs, jobs, jobs is very important, but we have to get it done,” Pelosi said. “People have to see the difference between what the Republicans want to do about this — nothing — and what we are advocating.”

No, Madame Speaker, people will have to see what we are *doing* about it if jobs, jobs, jobs is to be anything more than a slogan.