The Republican National Committee Is Weaponizing Bernie Sanders Single-Payer Plan

[krawhitham]

http://www.thedailybeast.com/the-republican-national-committee-is-weaponize-bernie-sanders-single-payer-plan

The Republican Party’s attempt to sell its latest bill to repeal and replace Obamacare relies heavily on scaring the public about what Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) wants to do to healthcare in America.

Talking points put together by the Republican National Committee, which were obtained by The Daily Beast, ostensibly promote the health care overhaul written by Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). But the top two sections of the document don’t address the bill at all, focusing instead on declaring Obamacare to be in a state of collapse and turning the current debate into a binary choice with Sanders’ single-payer bill.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/the-republican-national-committee-is-weaponize-bernie-sanders-single-payer-plan

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. More dystopian madness from the "rulers" who offer nothing but lies

and misery.

[Autumn]

2. Oh my

Fuck them, they weaponize everything.

[ehrnst]

6. Yeah, that's what I said to people who thought Pelosi should go because

the GOP attacked her relentlessly.

Same thing....

[Autumn]

7. Good for you.

[ehrnst]

8. Yes. (nt)

[Weekend Warrior]

24. This.

Consistency is nice.

[peggysue2]

3. This is exactly . . .

what the Republicans are doing. Whether we like it or not, Graham and others are using the single-payer push as a rally call because: socialism.

Their word, not mine.

I know this is a contentious subject at DU but the truth is that Bernie Sanders' ill-timed bill is being used as a club to sell the GOP's awful ACA repeal and replace. This was entirely avoidable. There would have been nothing lost by waiting until after the September 30th reconciliation deadline.

The whole mess is water under the bridge now but should serve as a future warning: timing is everything in politics. You either learn that or you get crushed.

[Fresh_Start]

4. +1 nt

nt

[ehrnst]

5. Yep. (nt)

[Control-Z]

19. Many/most of us knew this would happen.

Sigh.

[CentralMass]

26. Sure. This is Bernies fault..

Do you people spend your time looking for ways to slam Sanders ?

[Henhouse]

60. +1

[ehrnst]

9. But we were told it would only move the ACA towards single payer.

How could this be?

[JCanete]

42. until this campaign has actually worked, as stupid as it is, you have no proof that those people,

myself included, were wrong, only that the GOP is trying it. I have no idea why they think this will be effective, and it doesn't cover up just how shitty their own plan is. If the GOP passes the repeal, it will to so inspite of public opinion. It will be a big fuck you to the will of the people. There's no way this garbage is actually going to move the needle at all, and it actually makes the ACA look like the moderate plan in the middle.

[ehrnst]

44. I have no idea how that relates to my post.

But apparently you have a need to contradict anything I post, even if it makes no sense as a rebuttal.

[JCanete]

47. what? You said "but we were told that this would only move us towards single payer." Is there any

proof it hasn't? The GOP trying to use it to move us the other direction is not proof. I have no interest in contradicting you at every turn, and I promise you that where I find common ground with you I'll try to emphasize it.

[temporary311]

10. Well, better abandon it, then.

Can't risk supporting anything that Republicans might "weaponize."

[tonedevil]

16. It appears we need to order...

more fainting couches.

[ehrnst]

45. As we saw with the hue and cry that Pelosi was being weaponized by the GOP, so she had to go...(nt)

[temporary311]

48. Yeah, if we dropped everything that Republicans used as ammo

I'm not sure what we'd have left.

[leftynyc]

11. Anyone who didn't know this would

happen the very second Sen Sanders pushed that plan has zero idea of how the cons work. He handed them all the ammunition they needed.

[standingtall]

12. It was a mistake to push single payer before the Sept 30 deadline

If you are winning at the end of a football game. You keep the ball on the ground. You don't air the ball out by throwing hail Mary's.
Bernie didn't believe repukes would try this before the deadline. He was wrong.

[Hortensis]

14. This. Timing and strategy are the big issues here. But, just what's the goal?

Sanders knew tossing this in now would guarantee a great deal of attention to it.

But the Repubs weaponized single payer for their base a long time ago into a big evil socialist, commie bomb.

If Sanders didn't know by now that the Repubs would eagerly use the opportunity his bill created in their efforts to destroy the ACA, he'd have learned absolutely nothing in 25 years in DC politics. But that seems very unlikely.

[Control-Z]

20. This.

That's all.

[ehrnst]

23. (nt)

[CentralMass]

27. Wow. The hatred for Sanders is somerhing. Is anyone else in Congress speaking out on this ? Are

Schumer and Pelosi hiding under a rock ?

Do you think that the Republican's were going to play nice if Bernie didn't bring up single payer ?

[Donkees]

30. Some here have been griping for months about Bernie delaying release of his plan ...

'Why is he delaying?, What's the problem?, He promised!, He promised!, Why is he so slowwww releasing it?, etc'

[Hortensis]

32. I don't hate Sanders. I do absolutely oppose what I believe are dangerously foolish

efforts now though.

Huge existential threats from ultra-right wealthy classes could literally destroy our representative democracy as we know it, replacing it with a kleptocratic, fascist-leaning, faux version. They've made great gains recently, and half the nation are cluelessly supporting their skyrocketing accumulations of wealth and power. And then there are the hugely escalating and dreadful consequences of climate change that must be addressed, 30 years ago, or else.

But Sanders thinks this is a good time to put himself in front of the cameras with a call (but no plan) to replace the ACA with single payer. Right now! And the right is smiling because they can use this, and are. But I'm not.

By the way, whatever happened to fighting the vast inequality of wealth distribution? How on earth did representing himself as leading the effort to replace the ACA from the left turn that into a single, passionate issue for his loyal followers?

[CherokeeFiddle]

33. Where is your outrage over Conyers plan which was made public long before Bernie's?

[Demsrule86]

39. He does it every year, and it is not significant as he does't have the Sander's following.

[Hortensis]

43. Just quiet pride that he's ours. :) Conyers is a true progressive liberal and

civil rights leader who has been fighting in and out of government (88 now, after all) for over 50 years now. Amusingly, he was one of the elders of the house's progressive group when Sanders arrived and reportedly used the first introduction to relay what became his signature contempt. Lol. Still, Sanders was another another progressive.

As for "outrage," lol, doesn't that require some degree of surprise or disillusionment, and who's still surprisable who's not new to paying attention? Liberals have always been alternating happy-progress highs with dig-in-and-fight-to-hold modes. We get more wins than losses. Always have -- after all, the advances of humanity are our direction.

[Demsrule86]

51. Good point. And you know he does it sincerely...and has always done it.

[Demsrule86]

40. He handed them a weapon by not waiting until October 1st and even then...I think we lose if

we run on single payer.

[JustAnotherGen]

17. Excellent post/comment

[MADem]

21. Now, we're in real danger. People could die for an idea that doesn't have

enough backing to pass never mind now, but in the next three legislative sessions (conservatively).

[George II]

13. Many of us knew this would happen. Hopefully a few republican senators will realize the folly....

...of voting to repeal the ACA in favor of the draconian step in the wrong direction of "trumpcare".

[SharonClark]

15. They lie and 'weaponize' everything. If it weren't Sanders it would be Pelosi

or Obama or Hillary or liberals or atheists or city folk or gays or environmentalists or teachers or scientists or artists.
They create hate and fear against everything positive in this country.

Buck up people.

[Demsrule86]

50. They are using the weapon provide by the Sanders bill which should never have been put forward

until after October 1st.

[Demsrule86]

52. Pelosi is not a threat to the ACA...she warned about this in fact... very different. The single

payer bill is being used to take down healthcare. people would have nothing since Medicare for all can't pass at the moment.

[NastyRiffraff]

18. All too true

But anyone with any knowledge of Republicans knew this would happen.

[Vinca]

22. This could backfire on them. From what I gather, both Democrats AND Republicans will lose coverage.

Bernie's bill will look pretty darn good after a person is presented with a bill for medical services in the thousands of dollars.

[Weekend Warrior]

25. Most agree with you in concept. Not about the individual part.

After Republicans trash the ACA some of the people will wake up. A necessary part of your argument includes the need for a different strategy. Sanders legislation should have been offered at a later date.

It's not that Sanders will look good. The person who understands the process better and presents the legislation at a better time will look good. Sanders will be viewed as aiding in the destruction of the ACA.

[CentralMass]

28. Sanders proposed legislation has nothing to do with the GOP's relentless efforts to repeal the ACA.

[Vinca]

34. When people are impacted by the GOP plan, they'll realize "socialized" medicine isn't bad.

Seniors love it. Vets love it. We don't have to be victims of big insurance.

[Demsrule86]

36. No, given most still get their insurance through work, Medicare for all is a non-started for now.

A public option and lowering the Medicare age to 55 is doable when we get back in power even without a super majority...in reconciliation. But the ACA must survive.

[Demsrule86]

53. That is probably one of the most heartless comments I have ever seen.

You literally are talking about killing people in order to make them like a plan there is no way to get. I doubt anyway that after the GOP is done...they will say the ACA was always doomed and that it should be left to the states and that medicare for all will raise taxes enormously and people who get insurance in the work place will lose their coverage...yada yada yada...that people will enthusiastic for single payer and will now believe the ACA can't work. This was a terrible idea..it should not be introduced when you can't pass it.

[Vinca]

57. Yes. Call me mean and heartless because I think healthcare is a right not a privilege.

The ACA can work well if a few changes are made. No problem. And if one of those changes happened to be a public option we'd eventually have what Bernie is now suggesting. There's no reason for big insurance to take a piece of the pie. They don't provide medical care, they're paper shufflers. That raises the cost of medical care by about a third.

[Demsrule86]

59. The ACA is severely endangered...and we may lose it...you posted that people will realize

how great single payer is if that happens...doubtful as the GOP has a demonetization campaign going. But what is not in doubt is that people will die... I am glad to hear you too want to fix the ACA and proceed with a public option. I do too-sorry if I misunderstood your post...cheers.

[Demsrule86]

37. It does as many of saw how the GOP would use it ...I myself made multiple posts on the subject.

[Demsrule86]

38. ouch, but true.

[alarimer]

29. So fucking what?

They will do that for everything. Now, for once, Democrats are not being cowards and all they need to do is weaponize "Trump Care" in return: about how it will actually KILL people.

Or you know, explain why single payer is a good idea and explain how it helps Canadian, for example. Tell the truth for once, instead of just reacting to bullshit with more bullshit.

[ehrnst]

46. About single payer in Canada vs Single payer as seen in the M4A bill

30% of healthcare in Canada is paid through private insurance. The Canadian plan doesn't cover prescription drugs, home care or long-term care, prescription glasses or dental care (which are paid out of pocket, or through private insurance), like Bernie says M4A will, making cost much more than what the Canadian plan does. One reason Canada's costs are lower is that they cover less, and keeping prices down starting in the 1940's is way easier than bringing prices down from what they are now in the US.

Canada didn't go single payer federally until all the provinces had implemented their own, separate from each other, and independent of the federal government, and that took nearly 20 years. Then very liberal federal government was voted in and added the federal layer to it. The failure of Vermont's single payer, and Coloradocare being voted down last November means that it's likely going to take much longer to go that route, if at all. And Sanders' M4A bill says it will do this in 4 years, and not over a longer time frame like Canada had in implementing provincial systems. And it was still being tweaked in 1989.

Now, if Democrats were to say that the M4A bill was like Canada's single payer, that would be bullshit, and would be accused of lying just as Obama was when he said of the ACA, "you can keep your doctor."

[Donkees]

31. Bernie Sanders SLAMS Republicans On Health Care "YOU HAVE NO CREDIBILITY!"

Bernie Sanders tells Republicans they have lost all credibility on reforming America's health care system after nearly passing legislation in 2017 that would strip 32 million Americans of their health insurance.

[Demsrule86]

35. Yes this is what I feared would happen having worked elections for years...run on

the ACA Democrats. Do not give the GOP an opening.

[JCanete]

41. That looks like a weak-ass argument and does more favors for the ACA than not. It makes it the

middle ground plan. They want people to believe the Sanders plan is an evil government takeover...and people already don't want the GOP plan. This does nothing to actually polish their own plan into a shiny turd. It does a poor job of trying to connect the dots of Obamacare to Medicare for all, and even if that were to work, the funny thing is people are actually liking their Obamacare coverage and are afraid to lose it.

How is this supposed to be effective?

Shout-out to Demsrule though, you said they would do this and I said I'll believe it when I see it because it seems ridiculous. They did do it, so credit where its due. It doesn't change the fact that I think the tactic is absurd.

[Demsrule86]

54. Thank you for the shout out...I would rather be wrong.

Here is hoping. They don't get away with it.

[Willie Pep]

49. Of course, they did the same with Obamacare.

Remember the death panels? You have to assume that the Republicans will play dirty and try to turn the narrative into a scare story. The important thing is to not let them gain control of the narrative like they did during the Obamacare debate, scaring people will their BS. I remember that they had my grandmother thinking that Obama was going to take away her Medicare.

[brooklynite]

58. Except that, TODAY, people like Obamacare...

...and will oppose the Trump bill UNLESS they're distracted by fear-mongering about Single Payer.

[onecaliberal]

55. 83% of America is against the republican plan. ALL of the healthcare industry is against

The republican plan. EVERYONE knows who is trying to take AWAY their healthcare. Republicans are trying to change the subject but now so many know what it's like to have healthcare. This attempt will not work for the cons.

[Locrian]

56. god I F-ing hate that term....

"National Committee Is Weaponizing"
Must EVERYTHING be militarized and hyped to the nth degree?