Bennet: Medicare for All supporters 'need to level with the American people'

[brooklynite]

Politico

Sen. Michael Bennet suggested Monday that the “Medicare for All” proposals touted by many of his Democratic primary opponents may not be as popular as they seem, telling CNN that candidates should "be honest" with voters about the realities of such health care policies.

“When you tell people the first thing about Medicare for All — either that it takes insurance away from 180 million Americans that have it through their employer or the taxes we would have to pay to afford that $30 trillion program — that 70 percent support falls to the mid-30s,” Bennet said on CNN's "New Day." “I think we need to level with the American people.”

Asked whether Democratic supporters of Medicare for All are being dishonest with voters, Bennet said, "It depends who they are." He allowed that Sen. Bernie Sanders, a 2020 front-runner and longtime champion of Medicare for All, is "leveling" with the public.

"I think Bernie Sanders believes it's exactly the right thing to do for the country," Bennet said. "He's believed it since 1973."

"I think he's wrong, but I think he's leveling with the American people from his point of view," Bennet replied.