Des Moines Register: Clinton puts Sanders on defensive

[Gothmog]

Last edited Mon Jan 18, 2016, 05:55 PM - Edit history (1)

Since Iowa is the first contest where voters will get to vote, I found this editorial interesting http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/columnists/kathie-obradovich/caucus/2016/01/18/obradovich-democrat-debate-clinton-puts-sanders-defensive/78910602/

“Now, there are things we can do to improve it, but to tear it up and start over again, pushing our country back into that kind of a contentious debate, I think is the wrong direction,” Clinton said.

Sanders objected to Clinton’s characterization, emphasizing his past support for the existing health care law. “We're not going to tear up the Affordable Care Act. I helped write it. But we are going to move on top of that to a Medicaid-for-all system,” Sanders said.

Clinton, however, emphasized the political difficulty of approving a single-payer system. She noted that a Democrat-controlled Congress was unable to even approve a public option allowing Americans to buy into Medicare. And Sanders had no good answer when asked why the state of Vermont couldn’t pass an expensive single-payer plan, saying that was for the governor of Vermont to answer.....

Whichever Democrat wins the nomination will have to overcome the opposition that independent voters in Iowa and elsewhere have for Obamacare. Cozying up to Obama also could have consequences after the primary season.

Clinton mostly succeeded Sunday in keeping Sanders off balance, pressing her attacks and distracting him from areas where she is weakest. That’s enough to give her the win for this debate – if Iowa Democrats don’t choke at the negative attacks.

I am glad that Sec. Clinton is supporting President Obama and the fact that Sanders did not answer the question about Vermont's inability to adopt a single payer plan was telling

[mcar]

1. The Register is correct

[MADem]

2. The truth hurts--but it IS the truth. This pie in the sky shit needs to cease.

...a Democrat-controlled Congress was unable to even approve a public option allowing Americans to buy into Medicare.

How in hell is he going to slide those dreams past McConnell and Eddie Munster Ryan?

[Tarheel_Dem]

5. And Vermont. Let's not forget V-E-R-M-O-N-T!

Why single payer died in Vermont
By Sarah Wheaton | 12/20/14 09:30 AM EST


Vermont was supposed to be the beacon for a single-payer health care system in America. But now its plans are in ruins, and its onetime champion Gov. Peter Shumlin may have set back the cause.

Advocates of a “Medicare for all” approach were largely sidelined during the national Obamacare debate. The health law left a private insurance system in place and didn’t even include a weaker “public option” government plan to run alongside more traditional commercial ones.

Vermont under Shumlin became the most visible trailblazer. Until Wednesday, when the governor admitted what critics had said all along: He couldn’t pay for it.

“It is not the right time for Vermont” to pass a single-payer system, Shumlin acknowledged in a public statement ending his signature initiative. He concluded the 11.5 percent payroll assessments on businesses and sliding premiums up to 9.5 percent of individuals’ income “might hurt our economy.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/12/single-payer-vermont-113711#ixzz3xciq2Nj5

This will be the GOP's slam dunk attack on BS, should he miraculously win the nomination.

[Tommy2Tone]

16. It would be a disaster the Democrats

No way this country accepts Single payer. 60% of those insured get theirs through their jobs. They won't accept it. Then there are those who choose to live without health care.

Plus Sanders himself admits he is just estimating the costs.

[Tiggeroshii]

8. Well it didn't work the first time so ets give up.

Great mindset

[MADem]

11. VT was a massive FAILURE for Sanders--he was counting on it like Mitt hoped Romneycare was his

path.

You do realize you are in a protected group, here?

[Tiggeroshii]

14. See you after the primaries and good luck :)

[Tarheel_Dem]

17. You guys still can't answer the question, cuz the Congress hasn't been born that's going to revisit

healthcare, especially single payer, for another 4 decades. If BS couldn't get it in his own home state, nobody else is in the mood.

[Tiggeroshii]

18. Just a random piece of information that has nothing to do with this conversation

A US senator has no impact on the laws that his state passes

[Cha]

22. That's beside the point. They wanted single payer in Vermont but they couldn't get it

financed.. in Vermont. No way the makeup of the US Congress is going to magically pass it..

Hillary knows the best way for Health Care is to keep Obamacare and build on it. It's a solid foundation.

The repubs have been trying to tear it down for years.. Hillary's not going to let anyone else come along and destroy what the President has accomplished. She has the best plan. Bernie's is just talk.

[Tiggeroshii]

26. How does anything that you have just said have anything to do with Bernie Sanders?

[Cha]

27. Only that Bernie is just talk.. Hillary has the best plans for Healthcare

and every other issue that it takes to be POTUS and to continue President Obama's legacy.

Just that.. nothing more.

[Tarheel_Dem]

28. That's good to know. I further predict that same US Senator will have "no impact" on what laws the..

country passes either.

[NastyRiffraff]

19. You do know you are in the HRC group?

As in, a protected group. Nothing (except of course courtesy and ethics) prevents you from posting, but really, why do you?

[Still In Wisconsin]

9. OK, got it. Let's just give up. Hillary is right... stop whining and accept your fate, peons.

Better to be punched in the face by Hillary than punched in the face twice by a Republican I guess.

[MADem]

10. You are in the HRC group. Please leave. nt

[Cha]

23. You have no idea what you're talking about.. but, I see that doesn't stop from

going on about absolutely nothing.

[Cha]

3. It's great Gothmog.. thank you. More and more journalists are giving Hillary the win

for the #DemDebate last night. Only Chris Cillizza-rw tool @WaPo gives it to BS. lol

[MADem]

12. We've got a few HRC critics in our protected group.

Perhaps they need help finding the door...?

[Cha]

24. Sorry, I just got online..

He's gone and the other one better not come back or he's gone too.

[riversedge]

21. Chris Cillizza is a smarty pants with a big ego.

[Cha]

25. Except I don't think he's too smart... he's a tool with no conscience.

[George II]

4. The Des Moines Register editorial staff are the "go to guys" for objective political analysis.

[stonecutter357]

6. K&R!

[yallerdawg]

7. Most elections ultimately come down to...

simply 'status quo' or 'change.'

Hillary is betting we want more of the same!

We do!

[trueblue2007]

13. HILLARY DID NOT FAIL. She was awesome.

[Tommy2Tone]

15. National Media who hates the Clintons say Bernie won

It's easy to fool some of the people. Look at Trump. Hillary was spot on single payer was a non starter with Dems holding the white house, senate and the House. Now Bernie is going to make it happen with a Republican controlled congress?
'
Oh and he also promised everyone a pony.

Update: Turns out the media was talking of Internet polls. Tell me the next time Facebook or Twitter won an election?

[PinkTiger]

20. GOP is trying everything they can to keep HRC out of the race.

They know they can't beat her.
Sanders, they can beat. I like him! But he is too left wing for the current electorate.
The lessons learned by Dukakis, McGovern, and Gore (yes it was stolen, but it was a weak election for him, even so) should be heeded.

[Dawson Leery]

29. Berns cannot answer the difficult questions.

He is trying to relive his "glory days" of youthful rebellion in a time when we need concrete plans, tangible policies that work.

McCaskill is right about him.