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Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) has also responded to the idiocy of Rep. Raul Labrador (R-ID).
“Like this guy, this congressman, you might as well say, ‘People don’t starve because they don’t have food.’ What the f— is that? What are you saying? How can you say that?” Harris asked during an interview with Pod Save America, a podcast run by former Obama staffers.
Harris, a freshman Democrat, appeared to be referring to Rep. Raul Labrador’s (R-Idaho) statement that “nobody dies because they don’t have access to health care.”
[…]
Asked what Democrats could do to slow the bill down now that it’s reached the Senate, Harris said its critics should “just speak the truth.”
“The truth is that these folks are playing politics with public health,” she said during the interview. “If Republicans want people to lose their healthcare, then the Republicans need to lose their job.”
She added that “[Republicans are] engaged in all this happy talk that is bull — not truth.”
Loud cheers for Sen. Harris being unafraid to speak up and out. The Hill has the full story.
The Democrats need to offer an alternative -- one that is outside of their box, that would appeal to voters. Like single payer healthcare paid for with closing the offshoring loopholes in corporate taxes. It’s not incomprehensible. The dems are too used to the easy path of being an alternative but alternative doesn’t make you good. It just makes you not as bad. I’m afraid the dems are going to come out with a big push of “we’re not as bad” thereby missing the entire point of 2016.
^Yeah. What Marcus said x2. This is what has disappointed my in the Democrats over this issue most. Back in 2009 they were pushing for some kind of single payer or universal system, but ended up compromising by implementing the conservative ACA instead just to get it through Congress. It’s now the perfect time to move past that. I have to wonder how many Democrats are avoiding the topic simply because Sanders is pushing it. After all, can’t be too progressive now, can we? Not when you are a neo-liberal catering to the whims of corporate backers, like the insurance industry. And only open to “market-based” solutions for problems that markets have historically failed to produce decent results in.
Kengi @ # 2: …Democrats … Back in 2009 they were pushing for some kind of single payer or universal system…
Citation needed. As I recall, a few minor Dems expressed such a desire, but most of them followed the lead of an ex-Senator named Barack somebody, who occasionally mentioned in passing something called a “public option”, and that only as a bargaining chip he speedily surrendered.
I’ll look into a specific citation. As I recall there were multiple bills which included a public option based on Medicare for everyone, and at least one of them passed in the House. All were compromised away for the completely market-based solution developed by the Heritage Foundation and implemented by Romney in Massachusetts.
Here’s a NYT article from 2009 discussing the proposed bills, and a Washington Post article from 2013 asking why the Democrats have dropped the idea. The bill that passed in the House was H.R. 3962.
And yes, it was neo-liberals in the Democratic party that were instrumental in killing off any part of a non-market based solution. But now? Is there anyone in the Democratic Party pushing at all for any of this? I don’t see it. Sanders isn’t a Democratic; he just caucuses with them. Maybe there’s someone out there at the federal level, but they aren’t getting any press (which may be part of the problem).
Kengi@#5:
And yes, it was neo-liberals in the Democratic party that were instrumental in killing off any part of a non-market based solution
There’s no money in it.
We have to accept the fact that both “sides” are in the pocket of corporate interests. It’s probably not just “side” it’s everyone in the building. The country needs a jacobin revolt from the electorate. Down with the Ci-devant! Down with the oligarchs! Down with corporate interests! Down with the electoral college! Down with gerrymandering! Switch to public election financing!
I wish we could switch to a France-style runoff system but that won’t happen without another revolution.
Kengi @ # 5: … neo-liberals in the Democratic party …
Particularly one with the middle name Hussein.
Is there anyone in the Democratic Party pushing at all for any of this? I don’t see it.
California’s state government, factions in NY state, I suspect others. A suboptimal approach, but much better than none.
…they aren’t getting any press (which may be part of the problem).
You expect the networks to re-assign someone on the Kardashian beat?!?
*timidly raises hand*
I have heard of Republicans asserting that nobody* dies of a lack of food. I don’t think there is a “more absurd” example that would help anybody who hadn’t already grasped the outrageous wrongness in play.
*Nobody being nobody in the US, but the health care comment had the same qualification.