5 Times Bernie Sanders Mopped the Floor with Ted Cruz During Their CNN Debate

[fleur-de-lisa]

http://www.alternet.org/personal-health/5-bernie-sanders-best-moments-his-future-obamacare-debate-ted-cruz

For Never-Dumpsters and Berniecrats alike, CNN's Future of Obamacare summit between Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) was the presidential debate they'd been waiting for. As he did throughout the primaries, the Vermont senator made a compelling case not only to preserve the Affordable Care Act from repeal, but for the U.S. to ultimately transition to a single-payer healthcare system.

Here are five of Bernie's most sterling moments from Tuesday night's debate:

1. He began by striking a deal - "If you're willing to look at taking on pharma, which is the greediest of many, really corporate interests in Washington... I'll tell you what, I'm going to introduce legislation to have Medicaid negotiate prices with the pharmaceutical industry," Sanders told Cruz. "I am going to introduce again legislation to allow Americans to buy less expensive medicine... Let's take on the greed of pharma."

2. He pointed out that most Americans actually like Obamacare - An "overwhelming majority of the American people say, do not simply repeal the ACA. Make improvements," Sanders said.

3. He crushed Republicans' "pro-life" stance - "Having the baby is fairly expensive," Sanders reminded the audience. "Let's be clear again what Senator Cruz and his Republican friends want to do. They do not want to guarantee that women who become pregnant will be able to get the healthcare... the prenatal care that they need which is a terrible thing, by the way, because we have one of the highest infant mortality rates in the industrialized world."

4. He doubled down on his attack of big pharma - "What's going on is the pharmaceutical industry owns the United States Congress, and in all fairness I will admit it's not just Republicans; they have a huge influence over the Democratic Party as well," Sanders explained.

5. He destroyed the 'access' to healthcare talking point by revealing why it's meaningless - After failing to get Cruz to agree that healthcare is a right, Sanders turned to an audience member for help dismantling the Texas senator's stance. "You have access, but you don't have enough money," he told a small-business owner with whom the two had spoken earlier. "You have access right now, go out and get a really great health insurance program. Oh, you can't do it because you can't afford it. That's what [Cruz] is saying."

[onecaliberal]

1. I'm so glad he pointed out over and over as well that what Cruz was saying when he says get

government out of healthcare what he is really saying is get rid of the mandate, which means we go back to the terrible way it was before Obamacare. Is it perfect, hell no, but it's far better than what we had before. If republicans would stop protecting healthcare companies and big pharma it would go a long way to that end.

[msanthrope]

2. Really don't give a shit. Should have.happened before 9/8/2016. nt

[stuffmatters]

3. Bernie told the business owner that buying employees insurance was responsible, fair business compe

I'm so tired of "small business" claiming that they cannot afford to pay a living minimum wage or insurance for employees. Bernie last night was having none of that Repub BS & let the Fantastic Sams lady who wanted ("but couldn't afford') to increase her franchises and enter the plus 50 employees ACA insurance required tier. Bernie's answer to this was essentially that other competitors are at a disadvantage who do pay (fair wages and insurance,) that's it's actually unfair competition for her not to be a responsible employer to her employees and community.

In San Diego the repubs always throw on tv one owner of a tiny "Marine Bookstore" to dispute increasing minimum wage. Nobody mentions that this woman shouldn't hire employees, actually shouldn't be in business if she cannot afford to be responsible and fair. It's not up to her employees to take the hit or competitors to prop her up by needing to charge higher prices or taxpayers to subsidize her unpaid obligations to her employees.


But Repubs always put forth these small business "victims' instead of calling them for what they are...lousy business owners, grifters, exploiters of their employees and taxpayers.

It's the first time I've ever heard a politician tell that to one of these relentlessly aggrieved small business owners. Yay!

[Generic Other]

4. She was such an aggrieved victim

My heart just bled for her plight. NOT.