| | | | The danger for Democrats in 'Medicare for All' |  | | Of the four candidates who currently compose the top tier of the 2020 Democratic field, three have expressed support for "Medicare for All" -- a proposal that would eliminate the private health insurance industry in its entirety and replace it with a government-run system.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is the author of the Medicare for All legislation in the Senate. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren said in the first Democratic debate that she supports the full elimination of the private health insurance industry. California Sen. Kamala Harris has been a bit all over the map on the issue; she raised her hand in the first debate to say she supported abolishing private health insurance totally, but then adjusted that position (I think) the following day.
Only former Vice President Joe Biden is clearly on the record as opposing the sweeping change that Medicare for All would institute. "I think one of the most significant things we've done in our administration is pass the Affordable Care Act," Biden said recently in New Hampshire. "I don't know why we'd get rid of what in fact was working and move to something totally new."
Which brings me to this question in an NPR-PBS-Marist national poll released on Monday: "Do you think Medicare for All, that is a national health insurance program for all Americans that replaces private health insurance, is a good idea or a bad idea?"
Just 4 in 10 (41%) say that Medicare for All is a good idea, while 54% said it is a bad idea. Which, well, uh oh.
Predictably, Republicans oppose such a proposal en masse, with 83% saying it's a bad idea. But the potential political trouble for Sanders, Warren and (maybe) Harris is that just 39% of independents think getting rid of private health insurance is a good idea. And even 3 in 10 self-identified Democrats are skeptical and call it a bad idea.
Now, this is one poll. Snapshot in time and all that. And supporters of Medicare for All can -- and will -- argue that the public's reaction to the idea is largely informed by misinformation put out by opponents.
Maybe! But the point remains: A proposal favored by three of the four leaders in the 2020 Democratic primary has the support of barely 40% of the public.
The Point: Health care has decided -- or had a major impact on deciding -- the last five national elections. If 2020 is the sixth, Democrats need to be careful about where their nominee is positioned on Medicare for All.
-- Chris | | "A little bit."
-- How much of Robert Mueller's Wednesday testimony President Donald Trump said he "probably" plans to watch. | | | #RickyRenuncia
This hashtag is being used by protesters in Puerto Rico, who are calling on Gov. Ricardo Rosselló to resign after the media published profanity-laced, homophobic and misogynistic messages between Rosselló and other members of his inner circle.
Even though Rosselló announced he would not seek reelection, protests have steadily increased in intensity. On Monday, thousands of protesters blocked a major highway and launched an island-wide strike to call for Rosselló's departure.
President Donald Trump called Rosselló a "terrible governor" and said the island's "leadership is corrupt and incompetent," though he did not explicitly say the governor should resign. Trump argued that he is "the best thing to ever happen to Puerto Rico."
Roselló apologized for the messages in an interview with Fox News. | | | Chris loves the new -- and first! -- Purple Mountains album. (And there's a DC connection!) | | President Donald Trump has ordered the nation's flags flown at half staff from sunup to sundown on Tuesday in honor of former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, who died July 16.
Stevens' body is lying in repose at the Supreme Court on Monday, and will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday. | |
LAUREN'S CAMPAIGN TRAIL LATEST | | Elizabeth Warren: Warns that there is another financial crisis coming -- but says she has a plan to head it off.
Marianne Williamson: Will appear on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" tonight.
Pete Buttigieg: Sat down for an interview on country radio that was subsequently spiked by the station, citing equal time rules. Critics say it was a case of censorship.
Kamala Harris: Is getting blowback from Taylor Swift fans after attending a campaign fundraiser at the home of one of Swift's nemeses, music producer Scooter Braun.
Bernie Sanders: Is defending his unionized staffers' salaries amid a clash with the campaign over a guarantee of $15 an hour.
Bill Weld: Says he will be the lone Republican presidential candidate to attend the NAACP convention in Detroit this week. | | | | | | |
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