Biden invokes family tragedy to campaign against Medicare for All -- and the media plays along

[Uncle Joe]

(snip)

The advertisement continued Biden’s practice of dishonestly conflating Republicans who want to repeal the Affordable Care Act — also known as Obamacare — with those advocating a national health insurance program like most developed countries have. He mentions in the same breath Donald Trump’s efforts to repeal the ACA and proposals for a Medicare for All system, as advocated by rival primary contenders like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren:

(snip)

Corporate media have shown they have no problem devoting attention to tracking other falsehoods Biden has told on the campaign trail, like when he offered “my word as a Biden” that a false war anecdote was “the God’s truth” (Washington Post, 8/29/19). Perhaps this is because telling lies about Medicare for All protects insurance industry profits (FAIR.org, 4/29/19), which are not threatened by the exposure of fake war stories?

(snip)

If Joe Biden wants to get personal, I can also get very personal. Before my mother passed away last month, following an amputation for bone cancer, I was caring for and accompanying her to many doctors’ appointments, and I recall the numerous times my mother was rejected from hospitals for not having the proper insurance, along with delays, redundant tests and the frequent anxiety of wondering whether her insurance would cover her treatment — because we don’t live in a country where health care is a human right.

People can use personal tragedies as justification for perpetuating and inflicting injustices on others, and they can also use those tragedies as inspiration and motivation to prevent others from going through the same hardships. Biden’s latest ad is an example of the former masquerading as the latter, and corporate media’s coverage of it exemplifies how some personal tragedies are amplified and others neglected to protect corporate profits.


https://www.salon.com/2019/09/11/biden-invokes-family-tragedy-to-campaign-against-medicare-for-all-and-the-media-plays-along/

[stonecutter357]

1. good let's go Joe !

[Peacetrain]

2. Now this royally p*sses me off.. what the f**k is he supposed to talk about..

This is what has made him.. I have survived cancer also..just like Joe Biden.. but I have not also lost a spouse and two children.. one also to cancer.. and you can disagree with his approach to insurance.. he wants to get the ACA back up.. that is one thing.. but to go after him because he uses what he knows.. his own life experience to talk about things including the need for affordable health care, I just have not words for the author of this thing that you have put up with snips to attack the VP..

[Uncle Joe]

4. Here is the problem with Biden's Ad and the corporate media's coverage,

with many citations on the link.

(snip)


Health care is personal to me. Obamacare is personal to me. When I see the president try to tear it down, and others propose to replace it and start over. That’s personal to me too. We’ve got to build on what we did because every American deserves affordable health care.

Corporate media uncritically transmitted the ad’s message as if it were merely a campaign strategy, instead of explaining what Biden, Sanders and Warren’s proposals actually are, and clarifying for voters whether Biden’s charges against his primary opponents are accurate.

(snip)


https://www.salon.com/2019/09/11/biden-invokes-family-tragedy-to-campaign-against-medicare-for-all-and-the-media-plays-along/

[Peacetrain]

5. It is not Joe Bidens job to explain MFA to anyone.. that is Sanders and Warrens job

and I am not so sure Warren is on the same page as Sanders..but that being said it is their job.. they do propose to replace and start over.. and they have to explain how this works in ways people can understand if they truly want to put this forward.. Biden is on board with his plan, and he has to explain how he gets it back up and running again.. that is his job.. and I do not ask Sanders or Warren to explain how the ACA works..

[Uncle Joe]

20. The thrust of the article is that a free press should objectively

explain differences in regards to misleading ads and policies

Bernie has explained how Medicare for All would work, there is a bill of record on it as well in Congress.

No one loses coverage, no one has to sell their home or rely on the President of the United States to personally help them out if they or their family members face catastrophic medical bills.

[comradebillyboy]

54. Isn't it Bernie's job to adequately explain his own proposals?

If people are confused about MFA maybe Bernie just hasn't provided a satisfactory understandable explanation. Few people actually believe that what Sanders proposes is even doable.

[sheshe2]

53. Exactly.

Thank you, Peacetrain.

[uponit7771]

14. " and others propose to replace it and start over."... what's false about that? tia

[thesquanderer]

24. It's not false, but arguably misleading in conflating a Repub position with what MFA would do.

"Repeal then Replace" has been talked about as a Republican plan (after "Repeal and Replace" didn't happen)... creating a period of uncertainty between the two, and with no one having any idea what the replacement would look like.

MFA replaces ACA, but with a no-gap transition to a plan whose basic outline is documented (for example, no doubt about pre-existing conditions being covered).

They are not equally scary propositions, but they could both be broadly described as proposing "to replace it and start over" -- though only the Republicans have actually emphasized the word "Replace" in their numerous statements, which could skew people's perceptions of the phrase and make it seem even scarier.

That said, it's a political campaign, and it is not Biden's job to make sure his competitors' positions are carefully delineated from those of Republicans.

[Gothmog]

58. I trust Biden's ad

Link to tweet

[Uncle Joe]

61. There are some highly relevant and profound responses on that tweet countering

Biden's ad.

You might change your mind, should you read them Gothmog.

[Gothmog]

62. I did and I still strongly disagree with these opinions

Again, I stopped paying attention to Salon, TYT, Cenk, Greenwald and similar sources a long time ago.

BTW, I am having lunch with Joe on Friday at a fundraiser.

[Demsrule86]

79. Biden is for the ACA as are most Americans...thus it is not his job to explain MFA ...I don't like

it and I am a Democrat.

[Uncle Joe]

89. The OP is about the media's job, not Biden's n/t

[Cuthbert Allgood]

8. He needs to be honest that progressives working for MFA

AREN'T trying to dismantle ACA in the way the right has been trying to repeal it. MFA is about adding to it to get us closer to single payer. Which is what ACA started as, lest we forget.

[Autumn]

9. I remember people saying the ACA was supposed to be a stepping stone to Heath care for all.

I guess it was just a selling point, not a fact.

[awesomerwb1]

32. Uhhh no.

No House and no Senate meant no progress could be made to improve it as reps were hell bent on dismantling it.

Even if it had been a "selling point". It saved lives and provided coverage to millions who had no access before.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

85. Yup

It was a compromise and the best we could get at the time, but we were told they would keep working for health care for all.

[Demsrule86]

90. No it wasn't...what nonsense...Republicans got elected...and what happens when we lose over MFA?

The ACA is a stepping stone and gave us the house in 18.

[Peacetrain]

11. You are going to have to go to war with the unions

who have given up their raises to get health care, that now they will have to pay for MFA.. and that has limitations.. I am on medicare.. and I pay a pantload for it and my supplemental because of my previous health history.. It is up to Sanders and Warren to explain how this works.. and they have not..

[uponit7771]

15. +1, there's usually no response to this fact from those who support MFA. Pisses me off that the ...

... candidates aren't explaining this simply either.

[Autumn]

19. I don't see why it should be a fight. Employers can offer MFA to their employees at a much

cheaper rate than insurance. And Unions can then fight for better wages for their members since insurance is offered to offset lower wages.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

86. I am a union member and have been for decades.

As a teacher, I fully understand that raises were given up to get health care. I'd be an asshole to oppose health care for all for that reason. Plus, if my school district isn't paying around a thousand dollars a month for my health care, they can increase my salary. Unions, where they are still allowed to exist, can make sure that happens.

[Demsrule86]

83. Yes they are dismantling it...MFA replaces it. A public option adds to it.

It would be a nightmare to implement and even the attempt will destroy the ACA...totally against it. I vote for whoever wins the primary...any Democrat and I include Sanders but MFA is fools gold.

[George II]

3. Yet another Biden hit piece, bashing the media along the way.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. What a pantload.

The cited article accuses Biden of "us(ing) personal tragedies as justification for perpetuating and inflicting injustices on others." That's a low blow and it's rank bullshit. The ACA isn't a vehicle for perpetuating and inflicting injustices on others; it's a regulatory scheme whose purpose was to prevent it. Before it was enacted insurance companies could do pretty much what they wanted - deny coverage, cancel coverage, refuse to cover pre-existing conditions and charge ridiculous premiums at will. Before the ACA the health insurance industry was almost entirely unregulated and an estimated 45,000 people per year died for lack of health insurance. If it's so terrible, why has the GOP tried so hard to repeal it? The ACA isn't perfect, but Medicare For All wouldn't be perfect, either, just like existing Medicare isn't perfect and doesn't cover everything. I realize that some people think MFA would be a better system, but to accuse Biden of using the deaths of his wife and son to intentionally promote a system that "inflicts injustice on others" is just about as crass and shitty as it gets. Some of Sanders's supporters seem to have forgotten his pledge not to bash other candidates.

[Autumn]

7. Even with good health insurance an illness can financially drain a family. Biden was at the

point to where he was discussing selling his home to help his son Beau with their finances. Many people who have cancer can't work but the insurance bills, medical bills, and living expenses don't stop. The Bidens were blessed. Not every family had a President for a friend who will tell them "no", they don't have to sell their home to help their child, and then offer to take care of the families finances the way President Obama did. Since personal tragedies are being used in ads against MFA and to prop up health insurance companies, Biden's own story could be used in support of MFA. That would be a compelling ad.


https://www.cnn.com/2016/01/11/politics/joe-biden-barack-obama-financial-help/index.html

"I said, 'But I worked it out.'" Biden recalled telling Obama. "I said, 'But -- Jill and I will sell the house and be in good shape.'"
Obama, Biden remembered, pushed back vehemently on the thought of Biden and his wife selling their home in Wilmington, Delaware.

"He got up and he said, 'Don't sell that house. Promise me you won't sell the house,'" Biden continued, speculating Obama would be "mad" he was retelling the story.

"He said, 'I'll give you the money. Whatever you need, I'll give you the money. Don't, Joe -- promise me. Promise me.' I said, 'I don't think we're going to have to anyway.' He said, 'promise me,'" Biden recalled.

[Uncle Joe]

13. Thanks for the addition Autumn, I missed that story.

[Autumn]

16. I had Obamacare for two years before my Medicare. Humana. Two years later I'm still paying

bills from a couple of surgeries from when I had Humana. I don't owe a dime on any medical costs since I have been on Medicare.

[Uncle Joe]

17. and Medicare for All; is superior to Medicare, 100% coverage, including

vision, dental, hearing and a cap of $200 on prescription drugs.

I am happy that you have more affordable coverage now.

[Autumn]

18. I bought a very good supplemental. At less than half the price of MY share of Humana.

[Demsrule86]

27. Our insurance is 300 at work...good insurance...we would pay double that for Medicare...I am no a

fan of a large unwieldy program which the GOP will cut to pieces year after year... no.

[Autumn]

37. You think the GOP won't attempt to cut the ACA to to pieces year after year? And let's not even

get into these massive new subsidies Biden is going to implement to "make it more affordable" . If you think that I have a great deal on a bridge for you. When I worked I had great insurance too. It cost me over 600 a month and that was for me alone, BCBS. I pay 105 a month for my Medicare and my supplemental is less than half of my share that I was paying for Humana under Obamacare. The only dr bills I have that I'm still paying for are the two surgeries I had when I was covered under Obamacare.

[Celerity]

42. +10000

[Demsrule86]

84. It would be way more difficult than a plan that is government run...and consider what Trump could do

if he could control the ACA as he would if MFA would be in force.

[vsrazdem]

39. I pay 135 for Medicare and 117 for Plan G which covers everything after I pay a 185 deductible.

I pay nothing for doctors, hospitals, etc. The only thing I pay in addition for is 53 for a drug plan. I don't see how you would be paying double what you are paying now.

[vsrazdem]

50. Agree. The only way you pay more is if you purchase a crappy K or L plan with a 5000 out of pocket

deductible, and they certainly know that going in, so I have no sympathy for the crocodile tears when there are other excellent supplemental plans that are very affordable.

[Hoyt]

56. Although, I support MFA in principle, that kind of distorts the full cost of being covered

by Medicare.

On top of your monthly "premium" costs ($135+$117+$53), the government is covering a bunch of cost too.

For example, the $135 you pay for the Part B monthly premiums is designed to cover approximately 25% of the actuarial cost of physician and related services. Except for the deductible, your hospital costs are paid by Medicare payroll and other taxes.

Point is, if you and others had not paid Medicare taxes for 30 or 40 years and were paying the full actuarial costs each month, it would likely be well over $1,000. Someone younger -- who hasn't been paying in for 30 or 40 years -- is going to have a much higher cost.

If Sanders wants to advance MFA, or any universal health care proposal, he's going to have to provide examples of what single and married people will pay at various ages, how much a family of 4, etc., at various ages, will be required to pay in "premiums" and/or taxes.

He's going to have to do it soon because the "we're already paying for it" and "MFA will save all kinds of money someday" argument isn't going to cut it.

[George II]

67. We pay about $120/month each for Medicare and about $25/month each for our supplement...

...there's a $20 or $40 copay for some doctor visits, but not preventive visits. Combined we have five prescriptions - they're $2/month each.

A few years ago when my wife was still working (and we were on her GREAT employer insurance, a hospital she worked at for 40+ years) she had cataract surgery at one of their facilities and it was about $2000 for each eye. A year later we were on Medicare and my second eye cost $900.

We're very happy with our Medicare and supplement.

[Demsrule86]

78. Sounds good but if you break your leg as my sis in law did...and require rehab it is a nightmare...

also check out in patient coverage in hosptial...my sis in law would have paid a few thousand until I put her on a way better wrap. I like my insurance...don't want MFA.

[Demsrule86]

77. You know what...I hear this but my sis in law is handicapped and I spent months reviewing what is

available...and none are what you say...she paid for hosptilization even with a very good wrap and when she broke her leg in four places without medicaid which she is eligible for, she would have been tossed out of the rehab hospital...she has a very good wrap but pays way more deductibles than you...but no matter what...even if hubs and I got your rate...our plan would cost hubs and me over $500.00 per month to replicate your coverage...we pay $300 for very good coverage and get 1500 per year in our medical spending account and we get to pay high taxes...no thanks...people won't go for MFA and it will destroy our chances in 20.

[vsrazdem]

96. I don't know what you are talking about. There are about several options for supplemental plans.

https://www.medicare.gov/medigap-supplemental-insurance-plans/#results&U2FsdGVkX1%2BgsrT9yUamZYeclgs%2Fm%2B4dLvqRLVrzii4npiKdBWF9Ym8DjQnwHhZFH8cuu%2F3mosEPWifhJlSaYw%3D%3D

There is varying coverage depending on out of pocket expenses and the premium you pay. I don't know about the rehab benefits as I really haven't checked into that. I do know that you have to have at least 3 hospital inpatient days in order for Medicare to even consider any rehab and if they admit you under observation, which hospitals are doing much more frequently these days, it will not qualify for rehab, until you have 3 "inpatient" hospital days. People think just because they were moved out of the emergency room to a hospital room they are considered inpatient, but that is not the case these days. I am a medical transcriptionist and I have done reports where patient's were under observation for almost a week and never even changed over to inpatient admission. The other issue is that in each one of these plans, Medicare requires ALL companies to cover the same benefits equally. So if you are shopping for a certain plan, you might be better off picking the one with the cheapest premium as they are all required by Medicare to offer the same benefits, but their premiums vary widely, for the same services. I have the G plan so only pay the 185 deductible per year, and no copays. When I got my plan the rates were 117 for the one I chose (cheapest) all the way up to over 250 a month for Blue Cross Blue Sheild for the exact same coverage. Sorry that you guys have had so many problems.

[Demsrule86]

97. I reviewed a number of plans...and her leg was broken...she couldn't begin therapy until she could

put weight on it...she was in bad shape in terms of strength to begin with...I could not take care of her, it was a big problem...review long term care and you will see difficult it is...she will not be there forever but it could take another seven months...I do no think MFA can pass...I worry about job losses and costs...and see the problems...and no hosptial in our area keeps people under observation.

[George II]

64. "Medicare" for All hasn't even been fully worked out yet, Sanders still has a lot to explain....

...regarding all the details of how it will be financed, who will administer it, how medical providers will be paid, etc.

And "Medicare" for All is a misnomer, from what little we know about it, there is very little in common with the existing Medicare program.

[Demsrule86]

25. Really because my sister in law does and has the same coverage...she broker her leg in four places..

had to fight for everything and she will end up wih a couple of thousand...right now we are fighting for therapy...Medicare is expensive and not intended for everyone...MFA is a bad idea and political suicided in 20. And Humana denies suff too...stuff the ACA covers.

[vsrazdem]

29. She obviously does not have a supplemental plan or she would never owe thousands.

[Demsrule86]

88. Wrong. She had a supplement plan...the rules are different for long term care ...IE rehab...as well

nursing home coverage...she doens't make much if hubs and I did not pay for her plan,she would have nothing...she only recently became eligible for medicaid as she used her life savings on various illnesses...we realized her situtation and stepped in..nothing you say will convince me about MFA...I see the loopholes in the current plan and know passing and implementing MFA will destroy the ACA and probably fail.

Be careful, read the fine print. She had hosptialization coverage but was required to pay so much for the first five days in hospital...found it reading the fine print...put her on a different plan but I find it lackin as well though it costs way more.

[Autumn]

38. She should have shopped for a supplemental. There are good ones out there.

I had Humana under the ACA, I still owe for things they didn't cover from a couple of surgeries that I had. With Medicare, I pay my co-pay and I'm done.

[LanternWaste]

10. "This is troubling for Bernie..."

[BannonsLiver]

12. Pay no attention, everyone

It’s just Salon. An unofficial media wing of the Sanders campaign. Nothing to see here.

[comradebillyboy]

55. The home of HA Goodman says what? Salon has no credibility.

[BlueMississippi]

21. MFA is political suicide

Go Joe!!

[redstateblues]

23. K&R 1000

[elocs]

26. I've been reading a lot of media scapegoating here lately. Isn't that what Trump and the GOP do?

Or is the media just against everyone because they are sure easy to blame if you don't like what they report?

[Demsrule86]

28. They are clearly pulling for Elizabeth Warren...why I don't know because she won't win a general...

We need votes in three moderate Mid Western states...she has no ties with these voters and MFA is a deal breaker.

[elocs]

30. Ahhh, the famous "they". n/t

[Demsrule86]

91. Salon and HA Goodman no doubt using what ever name he picked this year.

[Uncle Joe]

31. Do you believe there should be no criticism of the media because of Trump?

Bernie was criticising the corporate media conglomerates 10-20 years before Trump became one of their "reality" T.V. stars on "The Apprentice."

[elocs]

46. I hear both sides make the same type of complaints from opposite sides

and it's just too easy to blame the media for things as if they are this giant monolith that have meetings every Wednesday night.
Trump is a lazy thinker and that's why he does the fake news routine.

[Uncle Joe]

49. If you believe they're "the same type of complaints" you haven't been paying attention.

It's easy to blame the media precisely because they have become highly dysfunctional in serving or enlightening the American People as to the critical issues of the day.

Today there six corporate media conglomerates that control 90% of everything the American People hear, see or read.

Concentration of media ownership (also known as media consolidation or media convergence) is a process whereby progressively fewer individuals or organizations control increasing shares of the mass media.[1] Contemporary research demonstrates increasing levels of consolidation, with many media industries already highly concentrated and dominated by a very small number of firms.[2][3]

(snip)

Media oligopoly
An oligopoly is when a few firms dominate a market.[8] When the larger scale media companies buy out the more smaller-scaled or local companies they become more powerful within the market. As they continue to eliminate their business competition through buyouts or forcing them out (because they lack the resources or finances) the companies left dominate the media industry and create a media oligopoly.[7]

Risks for media integrity
Media integrity is at risk when small number of companies and individuals control the media market. Media integrity refers to the ability of a media outlet to serve the public interest and democratic process, making it resilient to institutional corruption within the media system, economy of influence, conflicting dependence and political clientelism.[9] Media integrity is especially endangered in the case when there are clientelist relations between the owners of the media and political centres of power. Such a situation enables excessive instrumentalisation of the media for particular political interests, which is subversive for the democratic role of the media.

Elimination of net neutrality
Net neutrality is also at stake when media mergers occur. Net neutrality involves a lack of restrictions on content on the internet, however, with big businesses supporting campaigns financially they tend to have influence over political issues, which can translate into their mediums. These big businesses that also have control over internet usage or the airwaves could possibly make the content available biased from their political stand point or they could restrict usage for conflicting political views, therefore eliminating net neutrality.[8]

(snip)

Diversity of viewpoints
It is important to elaborate upon the issue of media consolidation and its effect upon the diversity of information reaching a particular market. Critics of consolidation raise the issue of whether monopolistic or oligopolistic control of a local media market can be fully accountable and dependable in serving the public interest.

Freedom of the press and editorial independence
On the local end, reporters have often seen their stories refused or edited beyond recognition. An example would be the repeated refusal of networks to air "ads" from anti-war advocates to liberal groups like MoveOn.org, or religious groups like the United Church of Christ, regardless of factual basis. Journalists and their reports may be directly sponsored by parties who are the subject of their journalism leading to reports which actually favor the sponsor, have that appearance, or are simply a repetition of the sponsors' opinion.[unreliable source?][10][11][12]

Consequently, if the companies dominating a media market choose to suppress stories that do not serve their interests, the public suffers, since they are not adequately informed of some crucial issues that may affect them.

(snip)


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concentration_of_media_ownership

[awesomerwb1]

33. And the article is bull crap

Someone's really really DeSpErAtE OuT tHeRe

[crazytown]

34. I can't see a way to avoid a significant confrontation on this : Biden v Sanders

M4A is the centerpiece of Bernies campaign. Protecting and restoring the legacy of the Obama administration is Joe's. It will get nasty, on both sides.

Fact check: Joe Biden claims that Bernie Sanders' Medicare for All plan would cause a 'hiatus'
https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/18/politics/biden-sanders-medicare-for-all-fact-check/index.html

[Uncle Joe]

36. It depends on what President Obama wants his legacy to be.

In 2008 United States President Barack Obama declared that health care “should be a right for every American”.1 This statement, although noble, does not reflect US healthcare statistics in recent times, with the number of uninsured reaching over 50 million in 2010.2 Such disparity has sparked a political drive towards change, and the introduction of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).3 These changes have been highly polemical, raising the fundamental question of whether health care is a right; a contract between the nation and its inhabitants granted at birth, or an entitlement; a privilege that must be earned as opposed to universally provided.

(snip)

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being”.14 Healthcare, in turn, can be described as the provision of services necessary to treat disease and promote health. Several lines of political evidence support the concept of health care as a right:

First, in 1943, President Roosevelt proposed a ‘Second Bill of Rights’ that included: “The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health”.15

Second, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights published by the United Nations provided: “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being…including…medical care”.16

Third, the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (signed by the US in 1977) stated that it is “the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health” in addition to: “the creation of conditions which would assure to all medical service”.17

(snip)


https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4326121/

[crazytown]

40. I doubt Obama is going to be saying much in the primaries.

The story of healthcare reform in America is a tragedy, starting with social security in 1934 where medical coverage was planned, but put off, only for the reason that they wanted to get unemployment insurance out ASAP. Personally, I believe Senator Sanders 21st Century Bill of Rights is a significant contribution - and one thing that does make sense of the word socialism - conceptually it takes everything from health care to the living wage, out of the market. If something is a right, it does not depend on the largesse of the state either. How those rights are to be enforced with trump's goons on the judiciary is another matter.

At the time, I was disappointed with the Democratic Socialism speech. Over time it has impressed me more.

[OilemFirchen]

35. "Corporate media have shown..." "Corporate media uncritically transmitted..."

Salon is an American news and opinion website, created by David Talbot in 1995 and currently owned by the Salon Media Group (OTCQB: SLNM)

...

On May 15, 2019 Salon Media announced a $5 million dollar deal to sell the company.

Salon (website)

SLNM Salon Media Group, Inc.

[vsrazdem]

41. I could not wait to get on Medicare so I could finally have good insurance at less than what I was

paying for with my employer based plan, and with excellent coverage from Medicare. These scare tactics about Medicare are ridculous. Yes I have a supplemental plan to assist, and I am not sure how that works with Medicare for All, but I do not believe they would offer a plan that was worse than what I have with Medicare aleady, that just wouldn't make sense.

[Uncle Joe]

43. Medicare for All would be superior to Medicare,

100% coverage, no deductibles, co-pays or premiums, dental, vision and hearing are covered with a $200 cap on prescription drugs.

[Politicub]

45. Then stop calling it Medicare. It is a wholly new system. Sanders just keeps the name.

Medicare is nowhere close to 100 percent coverage nor has it ever been.

I repeat: Sanders' plan is not Medicare.

[Uncle Joe]

47. It's not called Medicare, it's called Medicare for All and M4A is 100% coverage.

[OilemFirchen]

52. That's hilarious.

"It's not called redundancy, it's called redundancy with repetitiousness."

[Amimnoch]

60. ROFL! -nt

[Hoyt]

57. If Sanders can convince people that taking on 45 million uninsured, no deductibles or coinsurance,

dental, drugs, etc., isn't going to cost us more in "premiums" and/or taxes than some people will be willing to pay, you might be right.

He hasn't done that yet. All those things are worthy, but he's got to show how much the average person will be paying.

[Politicub]

44. Biden is trying to thread the needle that MFA or bust advocates have created

I was surprised when it came to light that Warren and Harris (kind of) came out in favor of abolishing private insurance. I knew that was Sanders' position, though.

Even though I'm a strong Warren supporter, I know it is going to be a very hard sell to convince people to give up an advantage they have (employer insurance) in favor of single payer for everyone. Personally, I think a major reordering of our health care system, which would include getting everyone on the same single payer system, is what the country needs.

I just don't see how Democrats can win without a long glide path to MFA. During the glide, there should be a hybrid system until we get to single payer. It may take decades and expanding medicare coverage to include people younger than 65 on a sliding age basis.

Buttigieg and O'Rourke's positions -- Medicare for America or All Who Want It, building on the ACA as a platform -- are the ones that I favor. Biden's approach is close to that by bolstering the ACA with a public option.

This is tough for Biden because we Democrats do want health care for every American. I am certain Biden does, too. It puts him in the position of arguing against eventual single payer as the long term solution because of the position that the Medicare or bust folks have taken. That's politics, though.

On edit: I forgot to note that Sanders' proposal is Medicare in name only. It is an entirely new system that just keeps the name. I wish he would be more honest about that. He plays on people's lack of knowledge about what Medicare actually is today.

[Thekaspervote]

51. I quit supporting or reading anything salon.com some time ago... way to divisive

[Gothmog]

59. I stopped paying attention to Salon, the Intercept and TYT a long time ago

[Gothmog]

63. I trust Joe Biden on health care

Link to tweet

[DCofVA]

65. I am disappointed that Biden is using deception to make voters nervous about MFA

He is implying that Warren would eliminate the current system and start the whole process over again “from scratch”, which of course, is not true. The plan is to have a systematic transition.
Next debate I hope someone ask Biden which one of the other candidates is suggesting we start "from scratch."
I also need more details about his Public Option. Is it going to be free of all corporate influences? Or, will the insurance companies get their greedy little fingers into it as well? Jacking up the cost and washing down the coverage.

[Gothmog]

66. What is Warren's exact plan?

I trust Joe Biden on health care

Link to tweet

[Gothmog]

69. Medicare for All polls very poorly

Link to tweet

-- FOR EXAMPLE: Take ‘MEDICARE FOR ALL.’ When asked about supporting Medicare for All, and hearing it described as “guaranteed health care coverage regardless of … income, and every American’s health insurance would come from a single government-run plan,” 41% favor it, 55% oppose and 4% are unsure. When Republicans start describing it as causing “doctor shortages, longer wait times for urgent care and delays in access to the latest drugs for cancer and other serious diseases,” the numbers move to 34% favor and 60% oppose.

[Gothmog]

68. NEW POLL: Biden's health care proposal more popular than Medicare for All

Link to tweet

A new poll finds that more voters favor an optional government-run health insurance plan, as former Vice President Joe Biden advocates, than full-scale "Medicare for All" that eliminates private health insurance, as advocated by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

The poll could give credence to Biden's argument against his main two rivals in the Democratic White House race, Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), that an optional plan is more popular in a general election than the full-scale Medicare for All that Sanders and Warren advocate.

The USC/Los Angeles Times poll finds that 48 percent of eligible voters surveyed support giving everyone the option of a government-run health insurance plan, compared to just 14 percent who oppose it. Thirty-eight percent had not heard enough to have an opinion.

The full-scale Medicare for All, which eliminates private health insurance, polls somewhat worse. That proposal gets 39 percent support to 34 percent opposition.

[RhodeIslandOne]

70. I'm sorry his personal story offends you. n/m

[Gothmog]

71. That was my reaction also

[Uncle Joe]

72. Then you're sorry for the wrong reason, Biden's personal story does not offend me.

I have lost family members as well to cancer and would not want it to happen to anyone else.

Having said that I see no reason to sing the praises of "health" insurance corporations even with the ACA improvements ie: elimination of preexisting conditions or to miss their passing for M4A which is light years superior to both and would actually cover every single American.

Biden's ad is misleading and conflates Republicans "repeal and replace" with Medicare for All; which in fact would leave no one without coverage, that's what offends me.

Biden's own personal story is actually an argument against the current system, exhibit A being Autumn's post #7.

[LanternWaste]

73. "This is troubling for Bernie."

[Uncle Joe]

74. That's your pat answer to any criticism of Biden.

[BlueMississippi]

81. You nailed it!!

[Gothmog]

75. Joe was great tonight

Link to tweet

[LonePirate]

76. Biden's policy positions are irrelevant. His supporters like him because he was Obama;s VP.

Biden could adopt every policy position in the Republican playbook and he would lose very little support. Obama could have named a tree stump as his VP and that tree stump would be leading the field today.

[BlueMississippi]

82. Are you comparing Biden to a tree stump?

Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeebus ... show some respect for his life of public service

[LonePirate]

94. No disrepect here at all. Obama's VP, no matter who it was or could have been, would be leading now.

The identity and policies of that person, be it Biden or hypothetically anybody/anything else, do not matter.

[Demsrule86]

92. You know what that is insulting and untrue...I like Biden.

[Demsrule86]

80. Salon sucks...did HA Goodman write this? Shitty article and it won't help your candidate.

[ismnotwasm]

87. Universal Healthcare is a the goal

M4A is a unworkable way to go about unless Medicare itself gets a facelift at the least. This is a mean spirited article.

[Demsrule86]

93. I agree. We have no way to obtain MFA...first of all...why run on it?

[ismnotwasm]

95. I think it's a basic misunderstanding of how Medicare actually works from most people

There are some who know, but push the trope anyway.