The problem is, if we're having a debate, we need people to CHAMPION the ACA.

[pnwmom]

I have trouble viewing Bernie as a champion of the ACA. My fear is that he will be unable to resist acknowledging all the reservations that he has already expressed about the ACA. His grudging support gave us a critical Senate vote in 2010. But grudging support isn't what we need now.

We need a fighter who is willing to put his personal views and aspirations aside and focus on the issue at hand: the imminent repeal of the ACA and why it can't be allowed to happen. If he can't do that, he shouldn't be in the debate. If he debates and he lets them bait him into saying derogatory things about the ACA -- which is no doubt what they're planning to do -- then if we lose this war it will be on him.

I wish Barney Frank was going to be doing this instead of Bernie, or former prosecutor Kamala Harris, or Adam Schiff. Someone I could trust to do a full-throated defense of the ACA and an attack on the repeal.

[dogman]

1. I know it's above and beyond you, but try a visit to a Bernie site.

He's doing it there.

[Demsrule86]

60. Is he attacking the Gop murdercare bill only? We need an ACA champion too...

[kentuck]

2. Bernie is a socialist.

A Democratic Socialist, but a socialist nonetheless.

He cannot refrain from speaking of socialist solutions.

[CherokeeFiddle]

49. Democratic socialists are NOT socialists.

These are 2 very different ideologies. Canada is not the former USSR.

[leftstreet]

3. Meh, the GOPer politicians already know how they'll vote

The only people the GOPers need to worry about are their own constituents. The very same people who CLOBBERED them in town halls and phone calls and emails over their first attempt at at the 'skinny' repeal.

How can it hurt to have those same GOPer voters firing up the phone lines demanding Medicare For All?

[pnwmom]

5. GOP voters are terrified of taxes, and Cassidy and Graham will terrify them even more.

They won't be firing up the phone lines demanding Medicare for all.

[leftstreet]

10. They'll let their kids die to avoid taxes? I doubt it

GOPer voters took the lead on protesting the skinny repeal bill because it was something that finally impacted them personally

[pnwmom]

11. They always think it's other people's kids. And they won't care what happens to the blue states,

which this bill will hit much harder.

[Demsrule86]

61. don't doubt it.

[Hortensis]

17. PNW, the GOP "reps" have months to bring voters around. But those who fail their donors

now are being threatened with being primaried, and blackballed from influence dealing out of office. These people like their jobs way too much, so much so that almost all already sold out to a system that required it to be elected in the first place.

As for somebody speaking up, PNW, virtually ever medical group in the nation is doing just that. And of course all the political comedians. All the people manning phone lines, etc.

Way too many around here project their feelings of frustrated helplessness onto the world, with no idea what's going on "out there."

[sprinkleeninow]

14. The Goppers, The Republucres know/have an idea how they'll

vote. MB 1-3,4 that might get pulled to change to a Nay vote. I said maybe!

We think we have it down pat that they'll all go for it, but given the screwiness of our political environment today, who the Hades knows.

[NurseJackie]

4. He isn't. He won't. He probably can't. And that's a tactical error...

... and it's a shame. Look, all I'm saying is that everyone has strengths and weaknesses ... it should be evident to any honest and fair-minded person that THIS is not a task that can be trusted to just anyone. We need to look at the entire picture and one's history and previous rhetoric. Is it someone who's fully on-board? Is it someone who's committed? Is the excitement there?

I think we can all agree that at this late date and at this crucial hour, we need more than just perfunctory and lackluster advocates.

I wish Barney Frank was going to be doing this instead of Bernie, or former prosecutor Kamala Harris, or Adam Schiff. Someone I could trust to do a full-throated defense of the ACA and an attack on the repeal.

I completely agree with you on that. ANY ONE of those people would do a better job. ANYONE!

[sprinkleeninow]

16. Help! I need a Nurse! 🤒 Hahah. 😘

Y'all are

~sprink

💓?💪🗽

[Joe941]

6. No one wants to Champion the ACA because...

quite frankly it has problems. I can not even begin to afford the premiums in my area. It doesn't work for me and many other fellow Americans. No one wants to be associated with it because so many people can't afford it. Bernie's plan is so much better and I think we should champion that plan.

[pnwmom]

8. MANY would want to champion the ACA. Bernie was one who was invited.

The flaw in your reasoning is that Cassidy/Graham simply repeals the ACA. It doesn't move us a single step closer to Medicare for all, while it deprives millions of the coverage they do have, AND ALSO slashes existing Medicaid and Medicare.

Using that stage to champion Bernie's own plan will simply send a message to uninformed viewers that the ACA isn't worthy of support -- by Bernie or the Republicans. That's not the message we should be sending.

[bettyellen]

12. This is not true. Dems ARE championing it and the ACA has become very popular with the public!!!

Why are you lying and saying Dems are not championing the ACA. That's an actual thing that's been happening.

[sprinkleeninow]

13. Are ALL our Democratic representatives in

the Senate and House supporting M4A presently?

I can't predict what will transpire Monday nite, but hopefully Sen. Sanders will strongly stay on point regarding the disastrous and damaging outcome if ACA is repealed come the vote and not veer off into a spiel on M4A.

No, ACA is not perfect and needs help. But, choosing the 'lesser of two evils' if you will, ACA is whole lot better'n what Graham Cassidy will wreck. Big time.

Implementing/redoing healthcare (for all) is not an easy breezy trip to the beach.

I don't wish to contend w/ y'all. Just giving my 25¢.

[bettyellen]

15. The ACA, having saved millions of lives and made many healthier is not "an evil" and we need to stop

that bullshit right now. Not perfect does not equal evil, it is the GOP who have been and continue to try to wreck the ACA. It's not nearly as good in GOP states for that reason. It would be better if not for GOP control of congress during the majority of Obama's term. It would be much better now if we had HRC and a majority.
Evil? No fucking way.

[sprinkleeninow]

19. All right, so that's the phraseology I used.

Now this devolved into the realm of 'NOT IRIE'.

I saidddd I did not wish to contend.

I used 'lesser of two evils' (as 'applied' to ACA) not to be taken at face value, tongue in cheek, but hardly a laughing matter.

I've never had words w/anyone on DU till now.

I'm done with this exchange.

Have a nice productive one...

[bettyellen]

20. Words matter. This "lesser of two evil" crap gave us Trump because too many "progressives" used that

Framing and it was turned against us.

Didn't mean to offend. Just tired of thoughtless bashing. You should hear me when anyone says "I hate X person" . Instead of talking policy. No offense intended. Just tend to be plain spoken.

[sprinkleeninow]

23. You have pushed my button.

Thoughtless bashing?

I have been a card carrying registered full fledged Democratically voting Democrat since 1965.

HRC should be our rightful Commander in Chief.

I do my level best busting my chops being involved in getting ALL Dems elected up and down tickets. I scrutinize local judges on the ballot.

I'm not a frikken 'progressive'.

"Didn't mean to offend."

[bettyellen]

24. I'm very grateful for all you do. But the words we use are important. Can you tell me why you'd

Describe the ACA as an evil? I had a similar conversation with a friend who said "she hated Obama" and then admitted, when we went down the list, that she believed he was the best president since Carter. So we talked a bit about how she could be misrepresenting her feelings- and she hates the gridlock and partisanship more than anything.

But she had going around yelling I hate Obama. When she hated the GOP much much more. I think that's pretty thoughtless and when obviously intelligent and caring people (including you here) use over simplistic rhetoric like hate and evil when it's not what they mean... it just contributes to disengagement, both- siderism, and that ilk. Our minor differences have been deviously exploited (and still are) and using hateful words toward decent policy is a mistake we shouldn't make.

I sincerely apologize but I think using the word evil there is walking into their trap. I'm sure you didn't mean it.

[sprinkleeninow]

31. Ai, Chihuahua!

I used the descriptive 'lesser of two evils' with SARCASM. Omitted the emojicon.

Now, I am pooped out from this.

Do you want an apology from me? Please forgive me for using that descriptive term on the Affordable Care Act. And that I offer sans sarcasm.

You do not realize the grief that I bear not having True and Real Barack Obama leading us anymore.

[bettyellen]

40. Oh man, now I am twice as sorry. I used to be able to detect sarcasm, but no more. Up has been down

For a little too long. So chihuahua I am triply sorry and apologize. I wish my friend was being sarcastic about Obama, shit is WEIRD. LOL.

[sprinkleeninow]

45. Peace be unto you, my sister/brother in humanity. eom

[bettyellen]

48. And to you as well. This "new normal" too, shall pass. With our help, these dark days will leave and

I will again know when it is time to laugh! Thanks for your patience, you're a good egg!

[sprinkleeninow]

22. Look, betty, I inadvertantly responded to your post and not one above.

I recant that I curtailed my exchange with you.

I'm FOR keeping the ACA and tweaking it NOW, and not muddying the waters with Medicare for All AT THIS STAGE.

(muttering under my breath...)

[bettyellen]

26. No worries. I explained a little better above. We need to be together on this and am glad to hear we

Are. I'm (a little) less worried about our exchanges here than I am with the conversations we have w friends and family. Although god know people will probably exploit the differences of opinions they see here too. Ugh.
Don't want to be part of that problem. Let's hug it out.

[sprinkleeninow]

30. Hay, this rejoinder exchange troubled my spirit also.

I try hard to stay even keel, but go off into the ditch now and then.

Back atcha! 🤗

~sprink
💓?💪🗽

[George II]

56. For the purposes of the debate on Monday, the legislation under discussion is the ACA and...

....the draconian republican bill introduced by the two republicans who will be at the debate.

For all we know, the "M4A" hasn't even been formally introduced, and even if it hasn't even been scheduled for discussion by committee, much less a vote by the full Senate.

What does "all our Democratic representatives in the Senate and House" have to do with the Monday debate?

[sprinkleeninow]

68. Was replying to Joe above.

He/she stated no one wants to champion the Affordable Care Act due to its problems, and that Bernie's plan is way better.

Sooo, I asked if our Dem congress people 'in totality' are supporting the Medicare for All proposal presently (noting that Bernie's plan makes better sense 'according to Joe's statement'). Sixteen supporters are nice, but where's the rest of them and why not right now.

Lookit, I don't hate or despise Bernie or have strong negativity for him. Facts are facts like others have posted.
He coulda shoulda hold back until their stupid repeal falls to earth in flames.

Now the debate/exchange has come and gone. We watched most of it. The two Grassidy proponents made me ill. To be expected.

I don't think tonite the gauge moved so radically in our direction, but I may be wrong.

The viewing r's prolly clapped and cheered for their republucre reps who lied thru snotty grimaces.

What is this, almost October. How much longer....

[WinkyDink]

28. 1. The ACA didn't and doesn't set premiums. 2. The GOP has NO INTENTION of lowering them! What,

and cut into profits?!

Believe that, and they'll sell you a bridge, too.

[burnbaby]

29. I can't afford it either

I'm so afraid of something happening to me where I need to go to the hospital. There are two other people living in my house on Medicaid and they are well taken care of. I don't want Medicaid to go away I just want affordable health insurance.

I just wish this was a bipartisan issue and they would all sit down and come up with something so we all can have some form of health care.

[Arazi]

35. Yup, this. The ACA has some real problems

It needs repair while MFA gains acceptance.

"Championing" the ACA as is, without the caveat that the person recognizes it's flaws, is a bit too much to ask imo. And as soon as you put in that caveat folks' eyes glaze over.

If the premiums go up even more next year, I'm priced out and will be forced to take my chances

[burnbaby]

53. The good news is

at the end of this month they will need 60 votes not 51 which means dems and repubs will have to work together, so will get the compassion from the dems with price control for us.. I hope

[Demsrule86]

62. Wrong wrong and wrong...did you see the crowds calling for the ACA to fixed and saved?

We run on it , we win...if we run on MFA...we face demonetization and electoral losses.

[haveahart]

69. Problems can be fixed. And if you think "single-payer" will have no problems, think again.

[LexVegas]

7. I am worried because of Bernie's limited debate skills. My hopes rest with Klobuchar. nt

[pnwmom]

9. Me, too. She's a stronger debater and less likely to be baited. n/t

[karynnj]

21. Limited debate skills?

This is not so much a debate, but speaking directly to the audience and connecting on the damage the bill will do.

Not to mention, if he has such limited debate skills and we know HRC is an extremely accomplished debater, how did he far exceed the expectations. If he were that bad, the debates would simply have allowed HRC to shine. People comparing 2016 to 2008, are ignoring that the dynamics were expected to be more like 2000 - where Gore won every state over Bradley, who was considered more promising than Sanders. Even in the open contest in 2004, Kerry quickly gained traction - winning all but OK and SC and losing to favorite sons in VT and NC after they had left the race. I AGREE HRC had a golden resume and overwhelming party support, that Sanders got more support behind him than anyone got against Gore, Kerry or Bill Clinton (1992) means he could reach some people with his words.

[pnwmom]

33. The better debater did shine. She won the primary by 4 million votes.

But we also know that the Russians were helping to smear Hillary all the way back to 2015. They were priming the public for an alternative.

[karynnj]

37. I know she won and I praised her debate skills and her resume

However, she did NOT dominate the primaries to the degree that Al Gore did, John Kerry did or her even her husband (1992) did. All three of these men had worthy opponents - all more mainstream than Sanders. My point is that Sanders was able to gain far more support than anyone thought possible - suggesting he is has more than "limited debating skills"

[lunamagica]

57. Sorry. but Hillary did shine. She won each and every debate

[karynnj]

58. I SAID she did, but that does not mean Sanders did poorly

My point was that he exceeded all expectations. As I pointed out, he did better than any opponent of Gore, Kerry, and Bill Clinton did - even though their opponents were far more mainstream.

You can't both claim that HRC was perfect and that he had limited debate skills. If both were true, the primaries would have looked like those of 2000.

[Arazi]

32. This isn't going to be a debate. It's winning in the court of public

Graham and Cassidy will lose badly - their bill is indefensible on it's own.

And Bernie is a fantastic debater. Nobody's fooled by your concern

[pnwmom]

36. If he lets himself get baited into defending his single payer plan instead of the ACA

then we lose. Because that's not what the vote is going to be about.

[Arazi]

38. Nothing Bernie says on Monday will influence his colleagues' vote

Nothing.

It's about winning more people to our side. Personally I doubt he's going to make the debate about MFA but it's now demonstrably true that it's an extremely popular idea, gaining support with every passing day

[pnwmom]

39. He won't win more people to our side on the ACA if he's talking about single payer.

We need to have people calling to Congress to defend the ACA, which is under attack RIGHT NOW.

We don't need people distracted by fights over how terribly expensive or completely wonderful single-payer would be in the future.

[Arazi]

43. Bernie is doing both: working to save the ACA

And proposing an extremely popular MFA.

These disingenuous attempts to portray Senator Sanders as incompetent are tiresome. The debate will be fine for us

[pnwmom]

44. I hope you're right. We need them to succeed. n/t

[Demsrule86]

63. It could influence Republicans votes...thus leading to passage of murdercare. If that happens

there will be hell to pay.

[karynnj]

18. Bernie was on the HELP committee and wrote at least one important piece of ACA

- community health clinics. In many rural states, this has been an essential part of the ACA. Two of the three you mentioned were not involved in creating the ACA. Not to mention, Barney Frank is not that good an emissary to people not already with him.

He also has the respect of some of the people in the middle who are in red states. We need pressure on their Senators. Did you watch the town hall he had in West Virginia that Chris Hayes was involved with? He was very very good in translating the issues to the needs of the audience -- and that might be what is needed. (For instance, what if he can reach many people who put pressure on Capito -- WV is a very poor state that desperately needs health care. That is why she was a target in earlier battles on this.)

I think the Democrats CHOOSE Klobichar and Sanders for a good reason. Both are extremely knowledgeable, committed on this issue, and are more likely than the 3 people you listed to actually be able to reach people in the middle and even Republicans. (Not to mention, Frank might be more likely if the issue was financial reform (Dodd/Frank, the Consumer Protection Agency).

[WinkyDink]

25. Bernie and "single-payer" will, IMO, needlessly muddy the current water. (Don't bother with telling

me the good points; I'm familiar. I'm in favor. It's not the time.)

[kentuck]

27. I think most Democrats understand that Obamacare needs some tweaking...

It was never meant to be a permanent solution. The question is: Where do we go from Obamacare?

In hindsight, it was probably a mistake by Democrats to refer to the ACA as "Obamacare"? Of course, that was the name that Republicans gave it in order to undermine it.

They are undermining it as we speak, even if the Graham-Cassidy bill does not pass.

They need to begin from the premise that the American people deserve affordable healthcare.

Democrats will have to fix the mess that the Republicans have already made.

[sprinkleeninow]

34. I'm having difficulty trying VERY hard not to

toxify my whole being, falling prey to utter and sheer contempt for these 'people'.

They're not gonna have the upper hand in wrecking me, dammmmit.

Don't y'all shout me down now. I do petition and lean on the Higher Power of my choice. He's the Only keeping me afloat.

[pnwmom]

40. The IMMEDIATE question is: how do we SAVE Obamacare,

not where do we go from Obamacare.

If Obamacare is repealed, 22 million people will lose health insurance (more after 10 years) and a far-off dream of single payer won't help them.

[kentuck]

42. It cannot be repealed.

Democrats should not support repeal.

The ACA should be used as a transition to a public option, such as Medicare for All, in my opinion.

People should have a choice: Obamacare or Public Option?

[pnwmom]

46. I agree, except that wouldn't have to be the choice, if Obamacare

was amended to add a public option to the exchanges.

Then, once enough people were choosing the public option, there would be a natural transition to single payer.

[sprinkleeninow]

47. Obliterate the 'repeal', saving the Affordable Care Act,

then figure/refigure it all out.

One, two, three.

[Demsrule86]

64. Now is not the time to discuss it...certainly not at the debates...it can be and must be fixed

I would have preferred that Sen.Sanders and Democrats introduced a bill that improve the ACA and not medicare for all which can't pass for years.

[Voltaire2]

50. Yes it must be really painful for some people here to have Sanders speaking for them.

I understand why this is so upsetting. It almost seems like a betrayal.

[applegrove]

51. Bernie is very populist and smart. He explains things clearly and with meaning.

If he sets his mind to defend the ACA he will do a great job of it. And he will connect to people watching.

[Demsrule86]

65. But will he do this?

[applegrove]

66. Of course he will.

[Demsrule86]

67. If...being the operative word...we shall see.

[Chemisse]

52. You are right. We need to rescue the ACA now. Single payer can come in later, gradually.

We lose if the debate is between the Republican plans and single-payer. It's a good goal, but needs to happen over time.

[Ken Burch]

54. That's actually been a long-standing problem in this party...NOBODY defended the ACA.

Even in 2010 and 2014, when our only chance to avoid disaster in the midterms was to make a positive case for the ACA, to point out the many ways it could and would help people if given a chance, the party for some reason totally refused to do that.

We needed to be running ads featuring people whose lives had been saved by the ACA's existence-people who survived only because they were able to get health insurance despite having pre-existing conditions.

The Right was allowed to vilify and demonize the ACA without any real challenge from our party's leaders.

When the party's strategists made that decision, what else could possibly happen but big losses?

[pnwmom]

59. Hillary has always championed the ACA, and how it can be built upon.

http://www.businessinsider.com/hillary-clinton-gop-twitter-obamacare-healthcare-bcra-2017-7

Clinton linked to a page from her 2016 campaign website with details on plans designed to expand insurance coverage, bring down drug prices, combat rising insurance premiums, and more.
"Right here. Includes radical provisions like how not to kick 23 mil ppl off their coverage. Feel free to run w/ it," Clinton tweeted along with the link.

http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-hillary-clinton-reveals-her-plan-obamacare-20160223-column.html

Clinton's idea is to establish the public option beginning at the state level using existing provisions of the ACA — to "work with interested governors, using current flexibility under the Affordable Care Act, to empower states to establish a public option choice."
She's referring implicitly to the ACA's section 1332 "innovation waivers." As Andrew Sprung of xpostfactoid observes, these aim to encourage states to develop alternative mechanisms for health coverage, as long as they hew to Obamacare's coverage and affordability standards. The beauty of the proposal, Sprung notes, is that it doesn't require additional legislation.
"It would, however, need funding," Sprung notes. That's where cooperation between governors and a President Clinton might come in. And that's where the waiver might come in. If the state could find other means of savings, those measures might be integrated in a waiver proposal with a public option. In time, state-level public options could be brought upstream to the federal level and — presto! — you've re-created the original ACA public option.
Clinton's other proposals reflect a determination to fix the known shortcomings of the Affordable Care Act without eroding its consumer protections. She would address the sticker shock of deductibles and co-pays of low-premium individual health plans by providing a tax credit of up to $5,000 per family to cover those out-of-pocket expenses.
Clinton also would increase tax subsidies for families by lowering the maximum percentage of income that makes families eligible for premium subsidies to 8.5%, from the current 9.5%. And she would eliminate the "family glitch," a notorious flaw in the ACA that makes whole families ineligible for premium subsidies if even one member of the family is eligible for employer-paid insurance, even if the workplace plan is too expensive to cover them all.

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-management-administration/8-hillary-clinton-quotes-on-healthcare-i-want-you-to-understand-why-i-am-fighting-so-hard-for-the-affordable-care-act.html

After a woman spoke about her daughter receiving cancer treatment due to the ACA during a speaking engagement at Grand View University, as reported by CBS News, Ms. Clinton said, "I want you to understand why I am fighting so hard for the Affordable Care Act…I don't want it repealed, I don't want us to be thrown back into a terrible, terrible national debate. I don't want us to end up in gridlock. People can't wait!"

SNIP

"What we have to do, I think, is defend the Affordable Care Act and fix it," Ms. Clinton said in a campaign video as reported by The Street, "And [Valeant Pharmaceuticals] is one of these companies that is absolutely gouging American consumers and patients…I'm going after them; we are going to stop this. This is predatory pricing."

From 2010:
“If you ever doubt the resolve of President Obama to stay with a job, look at what we got done for the United States last night when it came to passing quality affordable health care for everyone.” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ( March 2010)

[George II]

55. Why not Patty Murray who has been working tirelessly across the aisle....

....for a compromise to improve on the ACA.

This is legislating, this is negotiating, this isn't all or nothing.

[Arazi]

70. Bernie kicked ass tonight. Wish you'd consider deleting this eom