Biden Adopts Parts of the Sanders Agenda

[applegrove]

Biden Adopts Parts of the Sanders Agenda

April 9, 2020 at 4:26 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 230 Comments

https://politicalwire.com/2020/04/09/biden-adopts-parts-of-the-sanders-agenda/

"SNIP....

A day after Bernie Sanders dropped out of the Democratic primary race, Joe Biden has already adopted two elements of the Democratic socialist’s agenda and credited Sanders’ energetic movement with the change, CBS News reports.

“First, Biden said he now favors dropping the Medicare eligibility age by five years, to age 60, a step toward the Vermont senator’s marquee single-payer plan…”

“Second, Biden wants to forgive student loan debt for those earning up to $125,000, who attended public colleges, Historically Black Colleges or Universities, or private minority-serving institutions.”

......SNIP"

[The Magistrate]

1. A Better Headline Would Be, Sir

Ideas long proffered by Democrats, with which Sanders agrees, feature in Mr. Biden's campaign materials.






"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[ismnotwasm]

7. Yeah I am really angry at this framing

I’ll get over it but damn.

[Skid Rogue]

8. In complete truth you're 100% right...

but this is politics. I know, as a Democrat, it's sometimes hard to swallow people who think that Bernie Sanders created the idea of a "living wage" or "health care for all," but if it helps Bernie's supporters feel as if they're part of this campaign it's a small price to pay. I'm forced to bite my tongue every day just to keep the peace. After we've removed the dictator from office, we can give folks a history lesson. That'll be fun.

[The Magistrate]

10. I Understand The Value Of Dissimulation, Ma'am

But here en familia we can afford accuracy. Some who support 'Bernie' in his crusade against the 'Democratic Establishment', and accept his view that is the greatest obstacle to progressive policies today, could benefit from some education in what policies actually are, and have been, endorsed by leading figures of our Party.





"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[Skid Rogue]

11. Yes, of course

Education is always better. I'm totally with you on that. The "Democratic Establishment" is comprised of my political heroes. However, you can see by Sanders supporter's reactions to folks like John Lewis, FDR or even Hillary, that their historical information level is low. We can't fix that before November.

This lady just really, really wants Trump to go away.

[The Magistrate]

12. Had They Been Alive At The Time, Ma'am

Many here doubtless would have viewed even Mr. Roosevelt as a trimmer who did not go far enough.

The remarks of Mr. Norman Thomas, the Socialist Party leader of Roosevelt's day, can be readily found on line, and are a vigorous attack on what he sees as the halting and insufficient measures of the New Deal.

[Skid Rogue]

13. This is interesting

I've read a few FDR/Eleanor biographies, but that was years ago. I know more than most, but not enough. So, of course, I googled Norman Thomas.

Did his life end in scandal? He's a good looking fellow with great quotes. "Don't burn the flag, wash it." That's powerful. Why won't the Socialist Party champion their own heroes? Politically I know the answer.

This is 2020 and the great Democratic Party defines liberalism in America. If you want to win the liberal vote you have to climb on the shoulders of Democrats. If you disparage the shoulders you stand on, you are going to fall.

(Edited to add, so I won't get off the OP.) Our shoulders are strong enough for Bernie's supporters. NP

[DarthDem]

2. Misleading Headline

What good does it do to post these, I wonder? They don't help Democrats.

[applegrove]

3. I disagree. It heartens Bernie's supporters. They need connection right

now.

[onetexan]

9. +1 K&R

[LongtimeAZDem]

4. Biden proposed lowering the Medicare buy-in age to 55 in 2007

Biden's proposal also would allow people between the ages of 55 and 64 to buy into the Medicare program, with the federal government providing a subsidy to low-income individuals.

https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/newsletter-article/biden-unveils-health-care-plan

Amazing that Bernie gets credit for something Biden was talking about 13 years ago.

[kurtcagle]

5. Ah, but Biden's too centrist for that (*cough*)

I think it's actually brilliant of Biden to give credit to Sanders for these, even if he had proposed them himself. First, it gives Biden the ability to say that he's working to let Sanders influence the platform, which will appeal to those who followed Sanders on the basis of his ideas, while at the same time cutting out the argument that those who are Sander bros will likely make that Biden wasn't responsive to their message. It is also a shoutout to Warren's followers who shared some of the same goals.

The key point going into the election is that if Biden wins, there will be a window of opportunity to fine-tune what Obamacare 2.0 will look like, especially as I suspect that the Covid-19 will provide context for people about healthcare that wasn't in place in 2010. As I'm pushing 57, the idea of Medicare at 60 looks real attractive right now

[betsuni]

6. And Medicare at 55 was in the 2016 platform.

Sort of confused why anyone thinks this is some sort of amazing new thing. Biden playing mind games, I guess. Like when you want someone to do what you want, the best way is to make them think it was their idea.