Sen. Murphy: Dems more focused on defeating Graham-Cassidy than passing single-payer

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill




BY JOHN BOWDEN - 09/22/17 10:58 AM EDT

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) on Friday downplayed suggestions that the Democratic Party was pivoting to single-payer health care, arguing that the party is more focused now on defending the Affordable Care Act.

Murphy told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" that he expected Monday's CNN debate between Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) to be focused on ObamaCare and whether or not to repeal it.

“I actually don’t think that Bernie Sanders is going to be talking about single-payer health care Monday night,” Murphy said Friday. “I think he’s going to be talking about why Graham-Cassidy is such an immediate threat to the country.” The four senators will meet for a debate on CNN Monday evening, moderated by anchor Jake Tapper and chief political correspondent Dana Bash.

"With a critical deadline looming, Graham and Cassidy, architects of the Republicans latest healthcare proposal, will debate Sanders and Klobuchar on the merits of the plan that would repeal and replace Obamacare," CNN said in its announcement.

Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/351888-sen-murphy-dems-more-focused-on-defeating-graham-cassidy-than-passing

[markpkessinger]

1. Murphy's got it wrong . . .

. . . Bernie will talk about BOTH the threat Trumpcare represents, AND why we need single payer! Because Bernie understands that in order to be an effective counter to Trump, it isn't enough just to be anti-Trump; you have to offer a compelling vision of your own.

[George II]

5. That's not the topic of the debate, and I hope Sanders doesn't derail the urgent need...

...to defeat trumpcare.

[dogman]

6. Then what is the answer for the ACA shortcomings?

Just ignore them? Then wonder why people poll that the Dems have no answers? Attacking T-Rump has not worked yet. Take out T-Rump and the heartless GOP is still there.

[groundloop]

13. We can't fix ACA if it ceases to exist.... FIRST we have to defeat the repeal vote

After the repeal vote is defeated we can (and should) work on improving/fixing ACA, including single payer. If this repeal vote succeeds there won't be anything left to fix and we'll be back where we were when our healthcare was dictated solely by insurance companies.

[dogman]

15. But the public needs to know what is our answer for ACA faults.

We can't deny them. we can't be like T-Rump and say "You'll see".

[DK504]

2. We need to work fixing the ACA.

Freezing insurance companies rise in premiums, regulating drug prices, and expand Medicaid.

[dogman]

7. Best fix?

https://hotair.com/archives/2017/09/10/time-come-obamacare-architect-max-baucus-endorses-single-payer/

[keen observer]

3. We need to stay on the offense against Graham-Cassidy

and not be put in the position of defending single-payer.

[dogman]

8. We are presently defending the failures of the ACA.

How about an alternative? We must have a message that people can feel helps them.

[George II]

9. We need more than a "message", we need legislation that will actually be acted upon and be passed.

[dogman]

11. It came close to passing before.

We had opposition from centrist Dems however.

[George II]

12. How close was it? I doubt it was close at all.

And while you're putting down "centrist Dems" (i.e., Democrats), you do understand that more than two thirds of the country can be categorized as "centrist", don't you?

[Gore1FL]

14. Their quantity doesn't disqualify the observation that they didn't offer adequate support.

It was like pulling teeth get get Joe Lieberman's vote on the ACA, itself. Democrats need to be something a little better than watered-down republicans.

[dogman]

16. Sorry, was referring to GOP sham vote on Medicare for all.

While the majority of Democrats voted "present", 4 Democrats voted an actual "NO" with the GOP and 1 Independent(King). Tester, Heitkamp, Donnelly, and Manchin. Clearly they were taking a stand against the majority of their Party. I definitely realize a huge number identify as centrist. After the beating the word liberal has taken, not many are likely to identify with the perceived negative, and T-Rump is in office.

[forgotmylogin]

4. Graham-Cassidy is a ticking clock

It's good to stop yourself falling down the hill before you start finding your way out of the woods.

[dogman]

10. The woods cover the hill.

Why do we have to be simple minded? The polls indicate people want answers
https://hotair.com/archives/2017/09/10/time-come-obamacare-architect-max-baucus-endorses-single-payer/

[murielm99]

17. We have all been encouraged to call our Senators

about this repeal. We should call Sanders, too, and tell him NOT to talk about single payer.

I don't know if it will do any good. He is out gallivanting instead of paying attention to his office or his job in Washington. And, he is singleminded about his single payer. Still, he needs a reminder that his timing is off.

Sanders represents a very small segment of our electorate. He needs to be overwhelmed with calls!