Sanders, Warren battle centrists in testy debate
Sens. Sens. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (D-Mass.) and Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.) beat back against an onslaught of attacks from the moderate candidates at a testy debate on Tuesday night that exposed deep divisions between the centrists and the liberals seeking to challenge President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE.
The centrist Democrats wasted no time going after two of the party’s leading liberals, warning that proposals from Sanders and Warren would lead to electoral ruin if Democrats embrace them against Trump in the general election next year.
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Former Colorado Gov. John HickenlooperJohn HickenlooperGun control group rolls out first round of Senate endorsements The Hill’s Campaign Report: Republicans go on attack over calls to ‘defund the police’ Hickenlooper ethics questions open him up to attack MORE argued that Democrats flipped 40 GOP seats in the House in 2018 and “not one of those candidates supported the policies of our front-runners at center stage.”
Montana Gov. Steve BullockSteve BullockKoch-backed group launches ad campaign to support four vulnerable GOP senators Overnight Energy: US Park Police say ‘tear gas’ statements were ‘mistake’ | Trump to reopen area off New England coast for fishing | Vulnerable Republicans embrace green issues Vulnerable Republicans embrace green issues in battle to save seats MORE, making his first appearance at the Democratic debate, said that the liberal candidates are “trying to outdo each other with wish-list economics” that wouldn’t fly in his red state.
And former Rep. John DelaneyJohn DelaneyThe Hill’s Coronavirus Report: Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says country needs to rethink what ‘policing’ means; US cases surpass 2 million with no end to pandemic in sight Minnesota AG Keith Ellison says racism is a bigger problem than police behavior; 21 states see uptick in cases amid efforts to reopen The Hill’s Coronavirus Report: Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan says there will be consequences from fraying US-China relations; WHO walks back claims on asymptomatic spread of virus MORE (D-Md.) said that if Sanders or Warren are nominated, Democrats will lose in a landslide similar to those suffered by George McGovern or Michael Dukakis.
“If we go down the road Sens. Sanders and Warren want to take with bad policies like ‘Medicare for All’ and other impossible promises, it will turn off independent voters and get Trump reelected,” Delaney said.
The warnings from the moderates provoked a fierce debate about Medicare for All, with Sanders and Warren fighting back and accusing the centrists of mischaracterizing their plans.
“Let’s be clear about this,” Warren said. “We are the Democrats and we are not about trying to take health care away from anyone…and we should stop using Republican talking points.”
Sanders even fired back at moderator Jake TapperJacob (Jake) Paul TapperCarson says issues over systemic racism are ‘very uncommon now’ Congressional Black Caucus chair says ‘a lot of’ House GOP interest in police reform bill National security adviser blames ‘a few bad apples,’ says there’s not systemic racism in law enforcement MORE, who had gone down the line of candidates asking if they support raising taxes on middle class workers to pay for Medicare for All.
“What I’m talking about it and others up here are talking about is no deductibles and no copayments, and Jake, your question is a Republican talking point,” Sanders said. “At the end of the day, and by the way, the health care industry will be advertising tonight on this program.”
The battle over Medicare for All dominated the entire first half hour of the debate.
No issue has split the Democratic Party more in the 2020 primary than health care, with centrists warning that Medicare for All is intrusive government intervention and a general election loser.
Some Democrats have warned that embracing Medicare for all will lead Republicans to characterize them as socialists.
“It’s time to stop worrying about what the Republicans say,” South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete ButtigiegPete ButtigiegScaled-back Pride Month poses challenges for fundraising, outreach Biden hopes to pick VP by Aug. 1 It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process MORE said. “If we embrace a far left agenda, they’ll say we’re crazy socialists. If we embrace a conservative agenda, they’ll say the same thing.”
But on Tuesday night, the moderates came out swinging at Medicare for all with grave warnings about the electoral consequences. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock was perplexed that Democrats would consider Medicare for All, rather than building on ObamaCare.
“This is an example of wish list economics,” Bullock said. “It used to be Republicans who wanted to repeal and replace ObamaCare, now it’s Democrats.”
“We have all our union friends here tonight…this plan offered by Sanders and Warren will tell those union workers…they’ll lose their health care because Washington tells them they have a better plan,” added Rep. Tim RyanTimothy (Tim) RyanMinnesota AG Keith Ellison says racism is a bigger problem than police behavior; 21 states see uptick in cases amid efforts to reopen Congress must fill the leadership void Pelosi pushes to unite party on coronavirus bill despite grumbling from left MORE (Ohio).
Sanders fired back when Ryan told him he couldn’t be certain that Medicare for All will lower costs for elderly people.
“You don’t know that,” Ryan said.
“I do know that,” Sanders responded. “I wrote the damn bill.”
The centrist versus progressive debate also spilled into immigration, with Warren receiving fire for advocating for decriminalizing illegal border crossings and providing health care to those in the country illegally.
“We need to fix the crisis at the border and a big part of how we do that is we do not play into Donald Trump’s hands,” Warren said.
Bullock fired back: “But you are playing into Donald Trump’s hands…a sane immigration system needs a sane leader and we can do that without decriminalizing or providing health care for everyone. It’s not just me saying that, it’s Obama’s homeland security secretary.”
And Sanders was grilled for proposing health care for those in the country illegally.
“I happen to believe that when I talk about health care it’s a human right that applies to all people in this country,” he said.
— Updated at 9:24 p.m.
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