Is Amy Klobuchar a moderate?

[TexasTowelie]

Here is the most recent statement I can find online about Klobuchar’s views on health care. Not very long ago it would have been viewed as almost unimaginably liberal. Almost everything in it is about increasing access to more and better health care at better prices to consumers, especially the families of the working poor who make a little too much to qualify for Medicaid.

She favors allowing Medicare to be authorized to more aggressively negotiate with drug companies to drive down prices (the “Empowering Medicare Seniors to Negotiate Drug Prices Act”). She favors a “public option” that would allow people who are not old enough for Medicare or poor enough for Medicaid to buy into those programs.

I mentioned in a recent post that there are two versions of what could be called “Medicare for All.” One version, which the leftmost Democratic candidates are supporting, is really a name for single-payer, which could virtually do away with private insurance. Kamala Harris and Bernie Sanders favor that.

The more moderate version would allow anyone who wants to to buy into Medicare. It would be universal “access,” but not universal coverage, because some would not use that option and would remain uninsured. Pending her announcement, that appears to be what Klobuchar favors. It’s a perfect example of my overall point: Not long ago, a sitting senator advocating a universal option to buy into Medicare would have represented the leftmost wing of the Democratic Party. Now it makes you a moderate.

Read more: https://www.minnpost.com/eric-black-ink/2019/02/is-amy-klobuchar-a-moderate/

[IluvPitties]

1. She's a great Democratic candidate for president

abd that's good enough for me.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I would call her a pretty reliable liberal on most issues, if you can figure out

what her exact positions are. The problem I've always had with her (she's one of my senators) is not so much that she's a "moderate" but that she tends to avoid taking a clear position on controversial issues. If you write to her office asking what she thinks of certain legislation you'll probably get a canned and very vague response that doesn't leave you any more enlightened. She seems to be content with letting her vagueness be interpreted as moderation.

[dflprincess]

3. She is moderate

Last edited Sat Feb 9, 2019, 09:25 PM - Edit history (1)

and has spent her career doing her best to avoid taking a clear position on anything remotly controversial. She is no Paul Wellstone or even Hubert Humphrey. I'd vote for if she was the nominee (I've already done that in her 3 Senate races) but can't see myself supporting her during the primaries.

It will be interesting to hear her announcement tomorrow and see how it compares to Warren's.

[ZapataViva]

6. I didn't realize that

I guess I've always considered the Minnesota delegation to be among the most liberal and progressive in the country.

[kstewart33]

4. Her medicare position is top notch.

The reason: it is a sheer fantasy to think that we will get rid of the private insurance industry, given the way that Congress currently operates.

Pie-in-the-sky wish lists won't get a Democrat elected. But someone who significantly improves the health care situation with a realistic plan will.

[empedocles]

7. Good post

[Awsi Dooger]

8. Great post

Health care is a terrific opportunity not only to get elected but also make meaningful changes that have a chance to get through congress. Pie-in-the-sky is a good summary of ideas that others are pushing. Unfortunately the fantasy island stuff will play well in the primaries.

We need someone whose proposals will look familiar in the fall compared to stated during the winter months. Otherwise it is attack city from the other side, and we're on the defensive no matter what Trump's approval rating is.

[ZapataViva]

5. I have always liked Amy

Klobuchar . . . I am a bit troubled by some of the news about her mistreatment of aides. As far as I'm concerned, the jury's still out.

[George II]

9. I think she's a winner. Watching her announcement speech:

Now I'm all mixed up. I have a great choice among a number of possibilities now. In no particular order:

Klobuchar
Booker
Harris
Castro
Biden
Warren