AOC on likelihood of M4A not passing 'We compromise deeply and we end up getting a public option.'

[Scurrilous]

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[ehrnst]

1. Ted Kennedy told Nixon in 1971, "Single Payer or nothing" and we got nothing.

And Nixon was proposing a plan that was to the left of the ACA.

He said this was one of the biggest regrets of his political career, because we might be much, much closer to UHC than we are now.

Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

[betsuni]

2. +1

[True Blue American]

3. For those who think at all

Know we can not get Medicare for all when so many have gold plated policies.

We need to concentrate on getting health care for those who can not afford the high costs.

The ACA started the process, Republicans are killing it. That needs to be fixed,along with breaking the Drug Company monopoly.

[PatSeg]

4. I didn't realize that

but it is understandable. Real substantive change comes with compromise, not revolution. Maybe Ocasio-Cortez sees the possibility of future compromise, but Sanders doesn't seem to operate that way. It was hell getting the ACA passed and cost quite a few Democrats politically. I remember that for awhile Obama was absolute poison and Democrats didn't even want him to campaign for them in the first mid-term election.

The country is ready for an affordable public option and more price controls on services and drugs, but not Medicare for All. Positive change comes incrementally.

[Scurrilous]

6. Yep.

[Cha]

10. Precisely.. thank you, ehrnst.

[MoonlitKnight]

5. You negotiate from a position of strength

If you start out asking for minor fixes and a public option you won’t get it. Even if we have the House and Senate. You push for more and we get a public option as the worst case.

This is why I don’t back the candidates who are already settling. And if they are making that crucial mistake on this issue they would do the same on others, indicating that they are not prepared to be President.

[Hoyt]

7. Run in General Election on Mandated-MFA (so-called position of strength) and one won't get elected.

That's the problem.

Voters just aren't ready to go for something they aren't sure will be better than what they have now, without at least trying it out.

[MoonlitKnight]

8. I strongly disagree

And Warren would be able to pivot in the general. Bernie won’t but has other factors that match up well vs. Trump.

Pete is probably in the best spot with MFA who want it.

The others just leave themselves to Trump lying to say he will do the same as them, which he has already been doing. That takes away our biggest winning issue from 2018 and depresses our turnout.

[ehrnst]

13. +1000

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

11. Having the House and Senate would not be enough to get M4A.

Probably would need 60 senators.

Plus, the insurance companies will buy a few Dem representatives, with lavish campaign contributions and promises of jobs for representatives, their staff members, and family. They'll increase the goodies until enough Dems vote "no". Pharma money bought them the current version of Medicare Part D, a legislative disgrace.

I wonder if Bernie would sign a bill for a "modest" improvement of ACA, like a public option?

If he's "all or nothing", we (again) get nothing.

[MoonlitKnight]

16. Of course he would sign a bill that had less

And Warren definitely will. Buttigieg will sign a bill that has more.

Klobuchar would be one of the Democrats voting against anything better than an incremental improvement per her record and statements.

[Bettie]

14. I've been saying exactly this forever

the problem with incrementalism as a strategy is that the incrementalists tend to ask for the very least they will accept and then take far less.

Ask for everything and then, accept something less, but don't lose ground.

[Blue_true]

18. Exactly, HOW do you negotiate from a position of strength when you are

on the outside looking in? That is where nominating Bernie will leave us.

[Scurrilous]

9. ROFL

Link to tweet

[SKKY]

12. AOC is proving to be a quick study...

...Her position is certain more realistic, from a political standpoint, than Sanders’ and Warren.

[DanTex]

15. They are both right.

You go for M4A. If you don't get it, and instead get a public option, that's not a nightmare.

People are pretending to be confused by this, I don't know why.

[Cha]

17. K