Sanders says he will not choose a running mate who doesn't support Medicare for All

[RandySF]

Sen. Bernie Sanders isn’t going to soften his views just because some moderates are lining up behind former Vice President Joe Biden after his landslide win in the South Carolina Democratic presidential primary and Pete Buttigieg’s supporters are suddenly up for grabs.

Sanders told The Chronicle on Sunday that he won’t choose a running mate who doesn’t support his signature issue, Medicare for All, a government-run single-payer health system that would require Americans to give up their private health insurance.

Polls indicate that many Democrats prefer to build on the Affordable Care Act rather than replace their private insurance with a single-payer plan. That doesn’t faze Sanders.

“We will pick somebody who knows the experience of working families in this country, who has a history of fighting for those families, and somebody whose politics are similar to mine,” Sanders told The Chronicle in an interview before taking the stage at a rally in a San Jose convention center, during which the news broke that Buttigieg was ending his campaign.

Sanders came to California a day after his first clear-cut loss of the 2020 election season, as Biden easily won South Carolina’s Democratic primary. Polls still show Sanders far ahead in California’s primary, the biggest single prize among 14 states voting on Super Tuesday.



https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Thousands-line-up-in-San-Jose-for-Bernie-Sanders-15097033.php

[dware]

1. There's that my way or the highway, no compromise attitude.

This is why if Bernie did somehow win the election, he wouldn't get a single thing passed, whether it be an R controlled Congress or a D controlled Congress.

His inflexibility will doom him.

[Historic NY]

15. +1

His record shows that....

[link:https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/browse?sponsor=400357#enacted_ex=on|]

[NurseJackie]

21. A prideful all-or-nothing approach that ends up with NOTHING, and his fans cheer at getting nothing.

I can hear it now: "Woo-hoo! We didn't compromise! All or nothing! We win! We got just what we wanted: nothing! (Wait, huh? What? We win?)"

[musicman65]

28. He will be standing alone

no one really wants a m4all that will never pass,most people are content with what they have.,I know we are,,

[LakeArenal]

31. Nina Turner... Argh!!!

[kwenu]

37. Nina Turner is sheer entertainment...

Did you see her channelling Che' or a Sandinista this past weekend? She was doing interviews for the Sanders campaign dressed in a wonderful camo inspired-suit.

[gollygee]

30. This is one of the reasons he's my last choice

His complete lack of ability to compromise or work with people. He couldn't possibly govern effectively.

[dumptrump1]

2. Not choosing warren would be a huge mistake for him

And she is the only real viable option that fits that category.

[sheshe2]

16. No way!

Warren has things to do and promises to keep before she sleeps.

That woman will be staying in the Senate. She is my Senator and has done more before she became Senator than BS has done in over 30 years.(See CFPB)

No way will she ever be a second seat.

[George II]

35. Especially second seat to him.

[thesquanderer]

23. re: "she is the only real viable option that fits that category"

He doesn't need to pick someone who was also running for the nomination. Though if he were the nominee, I certainly wouldn't mind if he picked Warren!

[Progressive2020]

3. Hypothetical

If Biden and Bernie both split the delegates and it goes to a brokered convention, do you think that Joe would agree to put Medicare For All in the Democratic Platform to get Bernie's support? Do you think that Biden and Bernie might come to some sort of détente, or will it just be bad blood and a fight? Or could they compromise at some point?

[dware]

4. Hard to say,

but judging by Bernie's actions in 2016, I would say it would just be bad blood and a fight.

[Progressive2020]

6. It Is Too Bad

Imagine if Joe Biden was our candidate, but he was pushing Medicare For All, Green New Deal, $15 Dollar Minimum Wage. I think he would crush Trump. Biden would bring in most of the Bernie people, and join them with the traditional Democratic base. It would be a powerhouse.

[dware]

7. It would definitely be an epic win.

It would rival the 1984 landslide win by Ronald Reagan against Walter Mondale.

It's off to my sleeper for me, got an early morning pick up.
Have a great night.

[Progressive2020]

8. Yes

Thanks for your comment. Have a good night.

[sweetloukillbot]

11. Even if Joe out it on the platform there would be bad blood and a fight

[LiberalFighter]

27. Why would Biden need to do that?

Hasn't Biden stated that he wants to expand ObamaCare?

[LakeArenal]

32. Yes, that's what I was thinking...

[Scurrilous]

5. His litmus test is DOA.

Running on it is doom.

[Indykatie]

9. Even Warren Walked Back Support for M4All. Who Could Bernie Pick for Running Mate

that meets his purity test? Nina Turner?

[Scurrilous]

10. That's exactly who I was thinking of.

[msongs]

12. jane sanders? nt

[Scurrilous]

14. Nope. Killed a college. Disqualifying.

[blm]

22. She still wants Med4All, she added a reasonable timeline to transition and

She was falsely accused in headlines of walking back her support for M4A.

[sweetloukillbot]

13. Tulsi?

[tirebiter]

17. Either it's on the platform

Or it isn’t.

[B Stieg]

18. Kamala Harris was FOR MfA

Hmmm. So she's still eligible to run with Bernie, I'd guess...

https://kamalaharris.org/issue/health-care/

[MrsCoffee]

24. Pretty sure she's holding out for Joe.

I can't see her wanting anything to do with a Sanders ticket.

[jcmaine72]

19. Mazie Hirono

She's probably the most brilliant Senator that no one has ever heard of. I doubt if she would give up her Senate seat for VP, but she checks just about every box for Bernie. She's a smart, strong, progressive woman of color who isn't afraid to take the fight to Dotard and other reich wingers.

Selecting Hirono would be a great way to ensure the future base of our party (the young and POC) remains energized.

[tritsofme]

20. I like Mazie a lot, but pairing Sanders with someone battling stage 4 cancer

Given his own health problems, wouldn’t make much sense.

Hirono has also described her citizenship status as “naturalized” putting her eligibility in question, even though her story seems similar to Ted Cruz.

[MrsCoffee]

26. Yeah, no. She may check every box for Bernie, but I doubt that's a two way street.

Gabbard was a big Sanders surrogate and she and Hirono don't mix at all. I cannot see Mazie wanting anything to do with a Sanders ticket.

[dalton99a]

25. Inflexible and dogmatic.

A true revolutionary

[Jirel]

29. Good.

He doesn’t need a VP candidate who won’t be working on this absolutely key program with everything they’ve got. Same goes for Liz.

[George II]

33. Will he ever be in a position to choose a running mate?

[RandySF]

34. Sure

But mainly outside of politics.

[MrsCoffee]

36. No. Never.