Bernie Sanders: My running mate will back Medicare for All

[brooklynite]

San Francisco Chronicle

Sen. Bernie Sanders isn’t going to soften his views just because some moderates are lining up behind former Vice President Joe Biden after his landslide win in the South Carolina Democratic presidential primary and Pete Buttigieg’s supporters are suddenly up for grabs.

Sanders told The Chronicle on Sunday that he won’t choose a running mate who doesn’t support his signature issue, Medicare for All, a government-run single-payer health system that would require Americans to give up their private health insurance.

Polls indicate that many Democrats prefer to build on the Affordable Care Act rather than replace their private insurance with a single-payer plan. That doesn’t faze Sanders.

“We will pick somebody who knows the experience of working families in this country, who has a history of fighting for those families, and somebody whose politics are similar to mine,” Sanders told The Chronicle in an interview before taking the stage at a rally in a San Jose convention center, during which the news broke that Buttigieg was ending his campaign.

[jimfields33]

1. This candidate needs mad respect

I think he is the one with the most principles. He doesn’t change his principles for political reasons like all the others do. Sure it may hurt him, but he deserves big time respect.

[MrsCoffee]

3. He deserves a nice retirement.

He should relax and spend more time with family. His health is not good.

[NurseJackie]

4. Because never compromising and walking away with NOTHING is better than making...

He doesn’t change his principles for political reasons like all the others do.

Because never compromising and walking away with NOTHING is better than making some progress toward the ultimate goal, right? He may be getting no closer to what he wants... he may be making zero PROGRESS... but at least he has his principles, eh?

The vanity of choosing "principles" and "never compromise" INSTEAD OF finding common ground, mutual beneficial interests, and making SOME progress (even if it's just a little) makes absolute no sense to me. Why would someone choose "nothing" over "something"? Why deny those among us who are the most vulnerable for the sake of one politician's vanity and pride? What good purpose does it serve for a politician to boast about their unwavering and uncompromising "principles" when people are suffering?

Very strange priorities.

The candidate that I support will be one who respects all and who seeks to find compromise where everyone participates and benefits. Even if we don't get EVERYTHING we hope for, making a little progress now and a little progress later gets us closer to where we hope to be. That's what "progressive" is to me.

Those who choose to remain motionless until "perfect" comes along are actually preserving the status-quo. That's not progress. That's vanity and ego.

[jimfields33]

9. We negotiated ACA and some still to this day are upset that single payer was left off of it

[NurseJackie]

10. Yep... that's how it works.

We negotiated ACA and some still to this day are upset that single payer was left off of it

Yep... that's how it works. You don't always get everything you want. Would you prefer to have NOTHING at all?

[jimfields33]

11. We have never given a person like Bernie a chance.

He might be able to get things done. He has a lot of republicans who like his policies on his side. So with democratic and republicans he can get it done.

[NurseJackie]

13. Why bother? He hates our party. He won't compromise. He'll end up with nothing as a result.

Why bother? He hates our party. He won't compromise. He'll end up with nothing as a result. He would not be king. He would not be dictator. He has shown (and boasted) that he's won't be willing to reach out and find common ground. His all-or-nothing approach will (WILL!) result in nothing... and we're supposed to admire that? GMAFB!

He might be able to get things done.

That's a cotton candy fantasy of empty promises that will remain unfunded forever. I live in the real world.

He has a lot of republicans who like his policies on his side.

Which ones? Which ones in Congress would suddenly flip to supporting a Socialist?

So with democratic and republicans he can get it done.

Democratic? Do you mean "Democrats" instead? Again, this is a fantasy... there will be no "revolution".

[bucolic_frolic]

5. Talking of a running mate really does highlight health issues

Not sure this was a very wise place for the candidate to go in light of his own recent health event

[jimfields33]

12. Just yesterday there was chatter of Biden quickly announcing kamala as VP

To save him in California. I guess it’s cool as long as it’s not bernie doing it.

[DanTex]

14. Agreed. He's been standing strong for progressive values in the face of a decades-long slide to the

right, and in the face of constant smears by the media.

Before Bernie, almost nobody in America had even heard of single payer or M4A. Now the majority of Americans support it. The $15 minimum wage was a "pipe dream" four years ago, now all the Dem candidates support it. He's inspired an entire generation with his clear vision and his consistency.

[Hortensis]

15. Imo, both of Russia's tools deserve something very different.

You and I have a very different idea of what it means to be principled, or maybe we just haven't thought this case through to the same point so far.

Just for a thought, though, some people (and I am NOT thinking of you who ascribes behavior to principles) aren't capable of understanding and feeling the principles most people do to varying degrees. They aren't at all uncommon. The wires aren't connected. Doesn't mean they can't care passionately about something. In fact, since complexities introduced by frequent conflicts of principles that need to be resolved don't exist, mightn't things seem a lot simpler to them, and might some tend to interpret the inability of most to share their limited view as stupidity?

Similarly, and this is fascinating , some people completely lack self doubt, the ability to wonder if they can be wrong about something and thus ability to examine their own thinking and actions to find out. Never happens because it can't. Again, the wires aren't connected and the brain functions differently. (This has also been proven, btw, such as by giving workers tasks for counting sorting, etc., and when shown errors some are found to be literally incapable of examining their own actions to find out why -- someone else must have done something wrong.)

That a person like this cannot be wrong means that all who disagree with them must be. Hardly surprising if this ego-serving and very simple, black-and-white outlook creates great conviction about their own rightness. And just imagine what an asset that might be for politicians talking to people who need a leader to believe in.

As for never being wrong, could it be, for instance, that among the Republican senators are a couple who simply cannot feel guilty about being used by Russia to destroy the U.S. because they are incapable of realizing they could make a mistake? Obviously, it must be the Democrats?

[Happy Hoosier]

17. Respect for what again?

Being entirely inflexible? Sticking with a plan he knows is fantasy?

Yeah..... NO.

[MrsCoffee]

2. Get back in line dude.

You aren’t gonna be the nominee. And no fucking way in hell are Pete’s supporters going over to the ugly side. Not the way Bernie’s surrogates have treated him.

[njhoneybadger]

6. In all respect maybe it should be a Cardiologist

[NurseJackie]

7. Bazinga!

[denem]

8. Gabbard. We all know it's gonna be Gabbard.

She hates HRC and the Democratic Party too. Slam dunk.

[Nanjeanne]

18. Well the Senate Co Sponsors are

Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA]
Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]

And in the House

Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-12]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Barragan, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Bass, Karen [D-CA-37]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Beyer, Donald S., Jr. [D-VA-8]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Brown, Anthony G. [D-MD-4]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Carson, Andre [D-IN-7]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-8]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-27]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Clark, Katherine M. [D-MA-5]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Clay, Wm. Lacy [D-MO-1]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]* 02/27/2019
Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4]* 02/27/2019
Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]* 02/27/2019
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-11]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Doyle, Michael F. [D-PA-18]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-21]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Fudge, Marcia L. [D-OH-11]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Gabbard, Tulsi [D-HI-2]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ-7]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Garcia, Jesus G. [D-IL-4]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX-15]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Grijalva, Raul M. [D-AZ-3]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Haaland, Debra A. [D-NM-1]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-10]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Higgins, Brian [D-NY-26]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Hill, Katie [D-CA-25]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [D-GA-4]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Kennedy, Joseph P., III [D-MA-4]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Kirkpatrick, Ann [D-AZ-2]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Langevin, James R. [D-RI-2]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Lawrence, Brenda L. [D-MI-14]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-13]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Levin, Andy [D-MI-9]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Lewis, John [D-GA-5]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-33]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Lowey, Nita M. [D-NY-17]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12]* 02/27/2019
Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]* 02/27/2019
Rep. McNerney, Jerry [D-CA-9]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-10]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA-32]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-20]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Perlmutter, Ed [D-CO-7]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Porter, Katie [D-CA-45]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Sablan, Gregorio Kilili Camacho [D-MP-At Large]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Sanchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Sarbanes, John P. [D-MD-3]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA-28]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Serrano, Jose E. [D-NY-15]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-15]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-5]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-13]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Velazquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Visclosky, Peter J. [D-IN-1]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Welch, Peter [D-VT-At Large]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Wild, Susan [D-PA-7]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]* 02/27/2019
Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3] 03/27/2019
Rep. Cummings, Elijah E. [D-MD-7] 04/10/2019
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-35] 05/24/2019
Rep. Price, David E. [D-NC-4] 05/24/2019
Rep. Yarmuth, John A. [D-KY-3] 06/04/2019
Rep. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM-3] 06/04/2019
Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-30] 06/21/2019
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24] 06/28/2019
Rep. Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI-5] 07/10/2019
Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-51] 07/10/2019
Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-19] 07/12/2019
Rep. Jeffries, Hakeem S. [D-NY-8] 09/06/2019

So just in cosponsors and currently in Congress - lots to choose from.