2018: Obama Moves Medicare for All into Political Mainstream

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Last edited Sun Nov 17, 2019, 10:12 AM - Edit history (1)

******Obama lists winning issues for Dems (2018)******



Obama Moves Medicare for All into Political Mainstream


https://www.latimes.com/business/lazarus/la-fi-lazarus-obama-medicare-for-all-20180911-story.html

Former President Obama was wrong. And he was right.

And what he said may have been a turning point for the U.S. healthcare system.

In a speech Friday that was noteworthy primarily for its unvarnished criticism of President Trump, Obama made a passing reference to issues that could be winners for Democratic candidates.

“Democrats aren’t just running on good old ideas like a higher minimum wage, they’re running on good new ideas like Medicare for all, giving workers seats on corporate boards, reversing the most egregious corporate tax cuts to make sure college students graduate debt-free,” he said.

OK, first, Medicare for all is not a “good new idea.” It’s been around for decades under many guises, including “single-payer health insurance” and “a public option.”

However, Obama was correct in saying this was a strong political issue for Democrats as Republicans persist in their efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and cruelly leave millions of Americans uninsured.............

[emmaverybo]

1. A passing mention in 2018. None since, but a warning that can only have been meant for

the progressive wing and its candidates. When Obama backs taking away private insurance millions have worked for, letting ACA go, failing to protect Medicaid and Medicare, which Republicans plan to savage, for a policy that likely will never pass, then you can link him to it. Until then, is this news?

[stopdiggin]

2. in Sept 2018. a real stretch.

Now this would have really meant something if he brought it up last week. But he didn't -- and wouldn't. He's far too smart, adept -- and honorable.

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3. The point was that he was appealing to all the new voters

Dems had been registering and wanted to show up in Nov 18. And they did. And, IMO, Dems should stay on that track. We didn’t show fear of the GOP narrative on any of those issues...we called bullshit on it. And won.

It worked in 2018 and will again in 2020.

[stopdiggin]

4. it's your OP. but I'm less about calling BS

on people, than I am on sussing out what voters want. And the idea that there's a groundswell of support for M4A -- just doesn't square with reality. Interjecting Obama (unwillingly) into the primaries at this juncture doesn't make that case any stronger.

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5. He said it was a good idea when campaigning before 2018 election.

Republicans and their policies are even less popular 1year after. I see this as the year after 2006 and the year before 2008.

We are winning 2020. Even Republicans know it and that is why there are already numerous resignations of congressional seats even in red states.