Cory Booker & Jeff Merkley announce support for Bernie's Medicare for all

[GoTfan]

Sherrod :/

How dare Sherrod be pragmatic.

The purists are only able to comprehend political nuance and pragmatism when it's time to explain away any of Bernie Sanders' problematic votes like the Crime Bill or putting nuclear waste in poor Hispanic communities.

What about Hillary regerring to African-Americans as superpredators?

And remind me who pushed for the Crime Bill in the first place.

[Santander]

But Hillary...

[DrScholl]

If the Crime Bill was really such a big problem, why did Sanders support it in the first place? With that said, the crime bill was necessary because there were super predators and they needed to be dealt with. That's not the topic of this thread is about, though.

[Rookie Yinzer]

Sherrod :/

How dare Sherrod be pragmatic.

The purists are only able to comprehend political nuance and pragmatism when it's time to explain away any of Bernie Sanders' problematic votes like the Crime Bill or putting nuclear waste in poor Hispanic communities.

What about Hillary referring to African-Americans as superpredators?

And remind me who pushed for the Crime Bill in the first place.

Bernard Sanders is the only 2016 Democratic candidate who voted for the crime bill. Deflecting to Hillary does not change that fact.

[History505]

Both men making the moves of a potential presidential campaign, pretty obvious at this point with their actions and schedules.

[Possiblymaybe]

You really don't have to be a socialist to think that not being left to die because you're poor is a right. This is just common sense, and I, as someone who can be described as neoliberal, wholeheartedly support this stance (even though I'll reserve judgement on the bill for now).

Correct, only in America is universal healthcare seen as a socialist policy.

[McGovernForPrez]

Sherrod :/

Stop bullying Sherrod Brown his policy proposal sounds really promising.

[MAINEiac4434]

Sherrod :/

How dare Sherrod be pragmatic.

When Cory Booker is being less "pragmatic" than you, you're on the wrong side.

Cory Booker is attaching his name to a bill that has zero chance of passing. Brown, to his credit, is at least working on something remotely feasible in the foreseeable future.

Exactly, so he should have no qualms about signing it.

[McGovernForPrez]

Sherrod :/

How dare Sherrod be pragmatic.

When Cory Booker is being less "pragmatic" than you, you're on the wrong side.

Cory Booker is attaching his name to a bill that has zero chance of passing. Brown, to his credit, is at least working on something remotely feasible in the foreseeable future.

Exactly, so he should have no qualms about signing it.

I think the point is that Sherrod would prefer to work on a bill that has a chance of passing than the non-real bill that's floating around right now. I think that's fair.

[Figueira]

Being pragmatic while still being on the left is not a bad thing, and Ohio is not New Jersey.

[Lord Admirale]

Do we need a thread by Shadows every time someone supports Medicare for All?

[publicunofficial]

The annoying thing about Brown's statement is that he makes it sound as if one cannnot support both bills, when AFAIK Schatz has co-signed both.


Also I know "muh pragmatism" but having your opening proposal be a bipartian comprise is infuriating Dem tactics and will never not annoy me on any issue.

[PoliticalJunkie23]

Surprised Merkley wasn't already backing it. Also that's nice Cory.

Apparently a black man from New Jersey is more progressive than some white savior from Oregon that berniebros have latched onto instead.

He's more white than black.

[publicunofficial]

Dem tactics and will never not annoy me on any issue.

Clearly.

Why walk into the room already promising to give Republicans some of what they want, especially when everything they want when it comes to healthcare is terrible will likely sabotage any good parts of your bill?

[publicunofficial]

Other Senators:

Wyden: Says he's undecided but looking at the Sanders bill, "open to persuasion"

Kaine: Has ruled out supporting the bill, says he prefers "choice in the marketplace" (Gag me)

[Santander]

Kaine: Has ruled out supporting the bill, says he prefers "choice in the marketplace" (Gag me)

FF

[💥💥 brandon bro (he/him/his)]

Question to those multitudes who think that Booker is nothing but a shill for pharma: what would he have to do to gain your support? Is there anything he could do or are you permanently convinced that he's a corporate hack?

Sherrod :/

How dare Sherrod be pragmatic.

The purists are only able to comprehend political nuance and pragmatism when it's time to explain away any of Bernie Sanders' problematic votes like the Crime Bill or putting nuclear waste in poor Hispanic communities.

What about Hillary regerring to African-Americans as superpredators?

And remind me who pushed for the Crime Bill in the first place.

THE PRIMARIES ENDED OVER A YEAR AGO

[Shadows]

Sherrod :/

Stop bullying Sherrod Brown his policy proposal sounds really promising.

Buying into Medicare is a tepid policy proposal at best. These are the most unhealthy people in the market (that are not in Medicare) so the premiums wouldn't be very low. Also doesn't help much with 28M odd uninsured or the vast majority with super high premiums.  Anyways Sherrod Brown is in a tough election in 2018 & shouldn't be pushed too hard.

Brown was fighting for Single payer before Merkley or Warren. He sponsored or cosponsored a Single payer bill years back. He will do it again after being re-elected in 2018. Edward Markey, Tammy Baldwin have cosponsored HR676 before & they will do it again as well.

[publicunofficial]

Sherrod :/

Stop bullying Sherrod Brown his policy proposal sounds really promising.

Instead of "Medicare for All" it's "Medicare for Boomers who can afford it". Very promising indeed.


Also I would note that Brown's "bipartisan" reform has 0 Republican senators co-sponsoring it.

[Mr. Morden]

So Klobuchar is the biggest holdout on this among Senate Dems deemed likely to be looking at a 2020 presidential run?  (Brown hasn't really been dropping 2020 hints in the same way.)

[Statilius the Epicurean]

Human rights protect individuals from others, and are not related to tangible goods or services. Nobody is entitled to the property or labor of others without compensation. Everyone has the right to life, but that does not mean a right to food, water, shelter, or healthcare, since all of those are tangible goods and services that belong to someone.

That does not mean, that as a civilized society that believes in human rights, (a relatively modern concept that was not recognized for most of human history) we do not have certain responsibilities towards those who cannot provide for themselves, but collective obligations are not human rights.

I checked OED and it defines 'right' as "A moral or legal entitlement to have or do something". Nothing about whatever nonsense you've asserted without any backing. I can define a pig to mean an animal with five legs, doesn't make it true.

[Santander]

Human rights protect individuals from others, and are not related to tangible goods or services. Nobody is entitled to the property or labor of others without compensation. Everyone has the right to life, but that does not mean a right to food, water, shelter, or healthcare, since all of those are tangible goods and services that belong to someone.

That does not mean, that as a civilized society that believes in human rights, (a relatively modern concept that was not recognized for most of human history) we do not have certain responsibilities towards those who cannot provide for themselves, but collective obligations are not human rights.

I checked OED and it defines 'right' as "A moral or legal entitlement to have or do something". Nothing about whatever nonsense you've asserted without any backing. I can define a pig to mean an animal with five legs, doesn't make it true.

And it says nothing about tangible goods or services, so I'm not sure what you're trying to get at. Life, freedom, and citizenship are "things" that all individuals are entitled to, but not tangible things like food or drugs. All goods and services belong to someone, and if you believe in property rights, you cannot simultaneously believe that people have a birthright to the goods and services of others without compensation.

[Gass3268]

Let's be honest, if Baldwin and Brown weren't up for reelection next year in states that Trump won, they'd both be cosponsoring here. Disappointing, but I get it.

[publicunofficial]

Richard Blumenthal also backed the bill this morning.

[publicunofficial]

Let's be honest, if Baldwin and Brown weren't up for reelection next year in states that Trump won, they'd both be cosponsoring here. Disappointing, but I get it.

Apparently someone forgot to tell Baldwin she's up for re-election.. Becomes the first vulnerable 2018 Dem to sign on.