Elizabeth Warren has her own plan for everything — except health care
WASHINGTON — Elizabeth Warren has a plan for that. But on health care, she’s with Bernie.
Ms. Warren, a Massachusetts senator and a leading liberal Democratic presidential candidate, has stood out in the 2020 race for her extraordinary focus on detailed plans to address the nation’s most pressing issues. Her website lists specific policies for 43 topics, from gun violence and Social Security to the Electoral College and family farmers.
But on health care, an ultra-crucial issue to many voters, Ms. Warren is all in on opponent Bernie Sanders’ “Medicare for All” plan.
The seeming inconsistency was highlighted during this past week’s presidential debate by Democratic front-runner Joe Biden as he defended his own plan to expand the health care overhaul put in place while Barack Obama was president.
“The senator says she’s for Bernie,” Mr. Biden quipped. “Well, I’m for Barack.”
No issue has defined the early months of the nomination fight more than health care, which has emerged as a powerful proxy in the broader fight for the party’s soul in the age of Trump.
The issue is a delicate one for Ms. Warren. She needs to unify the progressive wing behind her candidacy to overtake Mr. Biden in the primary, if she is to emerge as the nominee against President Donald Trump in the general election.
Medicare for All is Mr. Sanders’ signature issue, and as such, she can ill afford any daylight on health care between her and Mr. Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, if she ultimately hopes to win over his supporters.
On such a key issue, Warren allies say there’s no reason to complicate the debate.
“Making clear that they’re aligned on the North Star goal of Medicare for All is an important long-term investment in her relationship with Sanders’ voters — as well as an important short-term investment in clarity for all voters,” said Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and a vocal Warren supporter.
Indeed, the internal battle over health care has two very clear factions.
Mr. Biden leads those who prefer to leave the private insurance market in place but give people the choice to join a government-backed “public option.” Mr. Sanders leads the approach that would replace private insurance with a single-payer system requiring virtually no out-of-pocket costs.
From the beginning, Ms. Warren has been clearly aligned with Mr. Sanders’ faction. Yet some of Mr. Sanders’ supporters are not yet convinced that committed to Medicare for All.
“I support Medicare for All. I think it’s a good plan. And look, I support a lot of plans — other things that people have come up with. When they’re good plans, let’s do it,” Ms. Warren said. “This isn’t some kind of contest (where) I got to think of mine first. It’s what’s best for the American people.”