Today, Bernie Sanders shared a photo of Hillary Clinton thanking him for his efforts on healthcare in 1993:
As we all know, Hillary spearheaded the effort for universal healthcare in 1993. Though not successful, Hillary was ultimately able to help create and pass the Children’s Health Insurance Program, giving 8 million children health insurance.
As Hillary is reminding us, those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it:
NANCY CORDES: “Secretary Clinton, back in 1994, you said that momentum for a single-payer system would sweep the country. That sounds Sandersesque. But you don't feel that way anymore. Why not...“
HILLARY CLINTON: “Well, the revolution never came. And I waited and I've got the scars to show for it.”
Given the Tea Party and GOP-controlled Congress, combined with the fact 37-state’s are GOP-controlled, I want a President who will defend Obamacare, something 11-million Americans benefit from.
What Bernie Sanders is proposing sounds nice. But…
1) How will Bernie achieve a majority in Congress? Obama barely passed the Affordable Care Act when he had majorities in both chambers. Does Bernie have a history of legislative achievement and accomplishment? What is his strategy for success?
2) Bernie hasn’t raised any money for down-ticket Democrats. 37-state’s are GOP-controlled, resulting in attacks being made on gay rights and the defunding of Planned Parenthood on a local-level. Even the possibility that some of these right-wing Governors could be administering healthcare should scare all Americans (particularly women and those in the LGBTQ community). Maybe Bernie just doesn’t understand? How will Bernie reverse the fact 37-state’s are GOP-controlled?
3) Bernie Sanders said he would release his *FULL* tax plan before Iowans cast their votes. How is he going to pay for his single-payer proposal?
These questions deserve answers. I hope Senator Sanders comes out in favor of proposals Hillary has been talking about for weeks: implementing the “Buffet rule” and ending the “Romney loophole.”
At the end of the day...what has changed since Hillary first advocated for single-payer healthcare? The Affordable Care Act. Given the new circumstances, I'm glad Hillary will defend Obama's legacy instead of going back to square one. In the current political landscape, the last thing we need to be doing is going backwards instead of forwards.
Currently, though, Bernie Sanders is saying Hillary Clinton is being “mean-spirited” on the issue of guns. Calling Hillary Clinton “mean-spirited” is an attack rooted in sexist views of women — views that women are somehow “vindictive.”
However, Hillary is not being vindictive for raising questions about why Senator Sanders voted against the Brady bill 5 times in the 1990s. Hillary is not being vindictive for pointing out Senator Sanders voted for what the NRA said was the ‘most significant’ piece of pro-gun legislation in 20 years. Hillary is not being vindictive when she points out Bernie’s fellow Vermont Senator, Senator Lehay, voted with Obama and Clinton against the NRA immunity bill.
If Bernie Sanders is serious about standing up to special interests, why won’t he stand up to the strongest special interest in the country? Bernie Sanders seems to be choosing “consistency” over changing ones mind in-light of new evidence. It’s not that hard — admit you are wrong on guns, Senator Sanders.
Ironically, you could say it was Senator Sanders being ‘mean-spirited’ and vindictive when he took a clever swipe at President Bill Clinton.
"Look, Hillary Clinton is not Bill Clinton," Sanders said.
He could have left it at that. But he didn’t. He continued:
“What Bill Clinton did was totally, totally, totally disgraceful and unacceptable. But I am running against Hillary Clinton, not Bill Clinton."
Notice the: “...totally, totally, totally….”
It was a clever tactic. Because he can deny it was a swipe. But we all know it was a swipe. And yet Hillary is the one being ‘mean-spirited’ for raising legitimate questions and policy points?
