Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
Joe BidenCongratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
 

Macima

(13 posts)
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 10:12 PM Mar 2020

Bernie supporters don't understand why Democrats won't choose Bernie if M4A is popular

The explanation is simple.
Obamacare is also popular, perhaps even more so, among Democrats.
Same goes for the public option.

Obamacare is like 55 favorable and 37% unfavorable in the last Kaiser poll I saw And that's with Republicans and Independents included.

One could argue that it would be incomprehensible for Democrats not to vote for Biden.in light of such numbers.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
19 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
 

NCProgressive

(1,315 posts)
1. It is very simple
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 10:15 PM
Mar 2020

If your dinner for 20 people is ready and an extra five guests show up, you don't throw what has been cooked in trash and start over. You just make a couple of extra dishes to have enough food to go around.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

msongs

(70,178 posts)
2. its not the message, it's the messenger nt
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 10:17 PM
Mar 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

PatSeg

(49,725 posts)
6. Agreed
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 10:46 PM
Mar 2020

Voters don't elect ideas to be president, they elect a person. All our Democratic candidates had good progressive ideas and any of them would have worked to bring us universal healthcare. In the end, it will be the person that voters trust the most who will be the nominee.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

relayerbob

(7,020 posts)
3. Even if we like the policies, doesn't mean we like the person pushing them
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 10:17 PM
Mar 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

napi21

(45,806 posts)
4. It's for sure what you said, but there's more. M4A would take years to implement. I think THAT
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 10:26 PM
Mar 2020

is the reason most turned against it. Might be different if there were no Obamcare and both ideas had to begin at zero, but will be much quicker to add to Obamcare and get it implemented. We already went through the battles with the Pubs, and the struggles getting a program that large to work.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Aquaria

(1,076 posts)
5. Because we need more than shiny words
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 10:45 PM
Mar 2020

We need a workable plan, clearly spelled out, that explains what it will be and what it will cost.

Because if it's such a great idea that will do so much, where's your legislation, and what have you done to pass it?

Because M4A isn't the only important issue. Other things matter, too, and BS leaves a lot to be desired on several of those.

BS and his more rabid supporters don't seem to get any of that. Maybe if they did, BS would be doing better in the only polls that matter in the end: The voting booth.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

pnwmom

(109,562 posts)
7. And many of us think his version of M4A is pie in the sky.
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 10:47 PM
Mar 2020

There is no chance he would get it through Congress. We might get there eventually, but only if we take an incremental approach. That's how we got Medicare in the first place. And the Medicare we have today isn't nearly as expansive or expense free as the M4A he's been promising us.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

frazzled

(18,402 posts)
8. Most people don't really understand it
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:07 PM
Mar 2020

It sounds good, but they have never delved into the details to assess it. Partially because so many of the details, including cost and effects on health care in general, have never been fully disclosed and/or discussed. Partly because people don’t pay attention to these things anyway. It’s just a name, and they know grandma has “Medicare.”

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

GulfCoast66

(11,949 posts)
9. M4A is popular. Until you tell people they will lose their employee based healthcare.
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:07 PM
Mar 2020

Which the ACA strengthened. No one will go for that. Well, some would. But few.

There are many was to getting to universal healthcare, which we all support. M4A will never win the voters. For good reason.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

radius777

(3,814 posts)
10. People don't truly understand what M4A is
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:18 PM
Mar 2020

and many think it is the same thing as the public option.

When voters are clearly told what M4A is (the nationalization of healthcare) it is very unpopular.

Americans generally like choices and don't like gov't control (to the extent that it limits choices) - why what works in Europe doesn't in America.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

showblue22

(1,026 posts)
11. Not many people believe Bernie can bring it to fruition.
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:28 PM
Mar 2020

It's just that simple. Bernie has not proven to voters that he has the skills to get complicated legislation passed.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

SergeStorms

(19,312 posts)
12. If we thought M4A was too expensive before COVID-19....
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:47 PM
Mar 2020

there's not a chance in hell we can afford it after COVID-19. The budget is going to be so out of balance by the time this is over we might even have to cut the Pentagon's budget!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

thesquanderer

(12,347 posts)
13. Simple. People vote on more than a single criteria. (nt)
Fri Mar 20, 2020, 05:54 AM
Mar 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Just_Vote_Dem

(3,135 posts)
14. Obamacare saved my life
Fri Mar 20, 2020, 06:39 AM
Mar 2020

I'm reticent to go for a brand new system when the present one just needs some fine tuning.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

MineralMan

(147,606 posts)
15. It is popular with Sanders supporters.
Fri Mar 20, 2020, 08:49 AM
Mar 2020

It is less popular with others, actually. That is the nature of support for political candidates. Everyone thinks what they like is liked by everyone. That is almost never the case.

Sanders hit his ceiling of support from Democrats at somewhere around 30%. That is not, and never has been, a majority of Democrats. Once the field of candidates was thinned down, that became crystal clear. The majority wanted a nominee who was more moderate. Now, with only two candidates still in the race, Sanders is still holding at about 30%. Joe Biden has consolidated support from the rest of Democrats.

Majority rules in the Democratic Party.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

The Magistrate

(96,043 posts)
16. The Policy And The Man Are Different Things, Sir
Fri Mar 20, 2020, 09:37 AM
Mar 2020

People know, or strongly suspect, Sanders cannot deliver the policy. Approval of it, therefore, does not translate to, or equate with, backing Sanders' election to high office.


"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."

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

gollygee

(22,336 posts)
17. I want something practical and possible
Fri Mar 20, 2020, 09:56 AM
Mar 2020

and I want people in charge who are flexible and will study and find the best solution instead of starting out with an solid inflexible demand.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

DrToast

(6,414 posts)
18. Because they know Bernie could never deliver M4A?
Fri Mar 20, 2020, 02:54 PM
Mar 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Hav

(5,969 posts)
19. Exactly
Fri Mar 20, 2020, 05:44 PM
Mar 2020

The Bernouts on Twitter love to attack Biden that not everybody will be covered under his plan while ignoring that it will still be an immense help for many millions who will finally receive coverage and that BS' plan wouldn't kick in on day 1. Even if he'd get it through Congress, which he can't, it'd still be years away. It's easy to let pragmatic plans look lackluster against pie in the sky promises.

Biden expressed it perfectly in the debate when he said that the people don't need a revolution, they need help now. Those who depend on Biden saving and expanding Obamacare understand that. The so-called progressives who are happy to let Trump win don't get it.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»Democratic Primaries»Bernie supporters don't u...