Biden to Dems: Focus on health care, not Supreme Court expansion

[RandySF]

WILMINGTON, Del. — Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden wants voters to see Republicans’ push for a speedy Supreme Court confirmation as an end-run of Congress and the 2010 health care law.

In remarks on Sunday, the former vice president sidestepped any talk of expanding the court to counter conservative gains should he defeat President Donald Trump in November and Democrats regain a Senate majority. Biden called that scenario a distraction from the practical effects that Trump’s nominee, conservative federal Judge Amy Coney Barrett, could have if she succeeds the late liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

“They see an opportunity to overturn the Affordable Care Act on their way out the door,” Biden said, speaking near his Delaware home. “The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court right now, as I speak, to eliminate the entire Affordable Care Act.”

Biden repeated his calls that the Senate delay confirmation proceedings until after the Nov. 3 election, moving ahead then if Trump wins another term or awaiting a nomination from Biden if the Democrat prevails.



https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/biden-calls-scotus-nomination-amy-coney-barrett-threat-to-health-care-obamacare-20200927.html

[dlk]

1. Excellent advice

Healthcare is the #1 issue for most Americans. How sadistic and cruel is it to litigate to end the ACA during a pandemic? Make no mistake, if the pre-existing conditions coverage is lost, it won’t just be the ACA policies without this protection. The other for-profit insurance companies will quickly follow suit to rescuing their coverage. Every American requires some level of health care and this is the issue that transcends.

[Stargleamer]

2. At least some of us think that expanding the SC. . .

would help save the ACA

[Drunken Irishman]

5. A strong majority of Americans oppose expanding the court. It's stupid to make it a campaign issue.

Especially in tight races that the Democrats will actually need to win back the senate. Their focus absolutely should be on how they're working to repeal the ACA. Focusing on an unpopular issue like expanding the court could backfire and hurt those candidates in very close races.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/joewalsh/2020/09/25/americans-support-delaying-ginsburg-replacement-but-oppose-court-packing-poll-finds/

[Stargleamer]

18. I would never have Biden or Harris to come out in favor. . .

of expanding the SC before the election; only to demur by saying they are leaving all options on the table when asked. After the election they could expand the SC to save the ACA and Roe v. Wade—otherwise Barrett will, with help from Thomas, Alito, et al, end them all, and other commit other damage as well

[Amishman]

26. Yup, packing the court would be highly controversial

And not a good move long term. The public backlash could cost us dearly, and we need time to rebuild - especially at the state level.

Also it's questionable if we will have the votes to do it in the Senate. Manchin, Tester, and Cunningham all would face severe backlash - and know it.

The answer is to pass truly popular bills. Healthcare reform, universal background checks. Things even a conservative court would be hesitant to block.

We can accomplish more long term change in ten years of popular incremental progress than ten years of continued political warfare and left/right swings.

[SoonerPride]

3. And when Justice Handmaid throws out the ACA

And every possible other health care legislation because it is a stacked court will Biden back expanding the court?

Because with her on the bench it won’t matter WHAT the democrats pass under Biden as it will all be thrown out.

All of it.

We must expand the court to protect every tiny gain we have ever had.

Everything is at stake.

[Drunken Irishman]

6. How do you expect to expand the court without a majority in the senate?

Because if you spend the next month or so focusing on how you'll expand the court if you take back the senate, you just may find that the Democrats lose enough of those close races that they fail to get the senate. A strong majority oppose expanding the court.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/joewalsh/2020/09/25/americans-support-delaying-ginsburg-replacement-but-oppose-court-packing-poll-finds/

[SoonerPride]

7. Then we let Trump destroy America through this appointment

And AMERICA is finished.

Forever.

[Drunken Irishman]

12. Wait. You think the Democrats can expand the courts today?

[SoonerPride]

16. No. Obviously we have to win the senate and presidency

And then once 2021 starts we must expand the court.

Or forfeit everything from Roe to the ACA to marriage equality.

She will take us back to the 1880s.

[Demsrule86]

19. Well announcing you will expand the courts could hurt us with Senate races.

[Drunken Irishman]

22. You're not going to win the senate if you're advocating expanding the courts.

It's not going to win one new voter for the Democrats but could lose them voters in a lot of these close races. There's no point in making it a campaign issue. Only focus on it if they win the senate but no one should be talking about it right now. Everyone should be talking about the ACA, which a strong percentage of the American people support. That's how you win back the senate.

[Demsrule86]

11. You don't run on it...doesn't mean he won't do geez...it is an election.

[Wanderlust988]

15. Biden is keeping his powder dry. Why talk about right now?

The SC will probably overstep its bound somewhere down the line and then we can pass the judicial reform.

[SoonerPride]

17. Just run on we will save healthcare

And that means expanding the court in 2021
Because the ACA will be gone by June 2021 when the rulings are released

[Demsrule86]

20. I am not convinced of that.

[exboyfil]

4. I agree

You can always take up expansion if you win Senate, House, and the Presidency. Until you have all three, it is pointless and even counterproductive to talk about it.

I don't see a political cost to gumming up the works however you can in the Senate given McConnell sitting on a nomination for 10+ months. I don't see how you can hold the line all the way until the new Senate is seated, but you do need to make the attempt.

The important thing is to do the best job you can at the Senate Confirmation hearings. Somehow you need to picture for the country what having Barrett as a SC Justice will mean for the country. You can start by explaining the thing the GOP wants to do is eliminate tax withholdings for higher earners. That money will either have to be replaced or accept that a significant part of the country will no longer have medical coverage.

Also of course the elimination of the preexisting conditions provision.

[StClone]

10. It is an option, weighed and supported as needed

If the last, or only resort, to counter the onslaught of a generation of seated Judaical incompetent lackeys or extremism--tighten your chin strap. By the way, it is totally within the powers (read Constitutional) for an increased seating. As a last resort we have to be prepared and informed that there maybe a (dire) need for the move.

[jorgevlorgan]

8. I don't think they are mutually exclusivr

[Fiendish Thingy]

9. Dems don't need to campaign on expanding SCOTUS, they just need to do it once in power

Why fight for power, and then not use it?

Biden’s entire agenda could be blocked if SCOTUS isn’t expanded. It must be done.

Constituents will have to hold their legislators’ feet to the fire.

[Demsrule86]

14. Joe is open to this...but you don't campaign on it.

[soothsayer]

23. Exactly.

[Renew Deal]

13. Control what you can control

[Vivienne235729]

21. He's absolutely right.

[subterranean]

24. He is correct. People dislike losing things that they have.

Overturning the ACA would cause millions of Americans to lose their health coverage in the middle of a pandemic, myself included. It would have a direct and immediate impact, and is almost guaranteed to happen if the R's retain either the Presidency or the Senate (or, God forbid, both). It's much easier to explain that to people than the potential benefits of a Supreme Court expansion.

[ooky]

25. Joe is right.

Healthcare is the hot button voter issue right now . Save SC expansion for after we sweep the election, when we may need it to restore health care.