Democratic debate revives ‘Medicare for All’ battle
ATLANTA – The top Democratic presidential candidates clashed Wednesday night over a “Medicare for All” plan to provide universal, government-run health insurance – again.
As it had in a string of debates before it, Wednesday’s tussle began with squabbles over a program that some Democrats worry could alienate general-election swing voters who are wary of fully government-run health care and will be extraordinarily difficult to get through Congress. And yet, partly because it’s one of the few areas where the field has clear ideological divides, Democratic primary contenders can’t stop talking about it.
Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie
Sanders, representing the most progressive wing of the Democratic Party, defended Medicare for All, with Sanders saying, “Some of the people up here think we should not take on the insurance agency,” but adding, “I think now is the time.”
Former Vice President Joe Biden argued that many people are happy with the private insurance that comes through their employers. “My friends say you have to only go with Medicare for All,” he said, but he instead trusts Americans to make their own choices.
South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg complained about others taking “the divisive step” of ordering people onto universal health care “whether they like it or not.”
Another early clash came between two candidates looking for big moments, Sen. Kamala Harris of California and Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who has criticized prominent Democrats including 2016 nominee Hillary Clinton.
“I think that it’s unfortunate that we have someone on the stage who is attempting to be the Democratic nominee for the president of the United States who, during the Obama administration, spent four years full time on Fox News criticizing President Obama,” Harris said.
“I’m not going to put party interests first,” Gabbard replied.
Democrats were more united on one issue saying President Donald Trump should be impeached.
“The president broke the law again and again and again,” Warren said in the event’s opening minutes. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar said Trump “puts his own private interests” ahead of the country’s and “this is wrong.”
Sanders called Trump “the most corrupt president in modern history” but added, “We cannot simply be consumed by Donald Trump” or the Democratic Party will lose the election. He said Democrats instead should focus on the needs of working people.
New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker took issue with the wealth tax proposed by Warren, saying it’s cumbersome, has failed in other countries and would stunt economic growth in blighted urban areas. Warren has proposed raising taxes by 2 cents on income over $50 million to finance a host of programs including universal preschool and higher teacher pay.
Medicare for All has dominated the primary – especially for Warren. She released plans to raise $20-plus trillion in new government revenue on universal health care.