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2020 Democrats spar over socialism ahead of first debate
The Hill ^ | 06/26/19 | Jonathan Easley

Posted on 06/26/2019 2:28:08 PM PDT by yesthatjallen

Democratic presidential candidates on Wednesday battled over socialism ahead of the first presidential debate, the latest sign that contenders are grappling over the future direction of the party and the message they believe is best suited to defeat President Trump in the general election.

Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) walked through the spin room at the Ziff Ballet Opera House, telling reporters that embracing socialism is a surefire general election loser for Democrats.

“That’s a tough hill to climb in Ohio, in Michigan, in North Carolina, in Pennsylvania, in Wisconsin,” Hickenlooper said. “These are states where they care about jobs and are very cautious about this thing called socialism. They get anxious about that.”

Hickenlooper was asked directly if socialism is a winning strategy for the party.

“No,” he responded. “The word socialism by itself has a lot of baggage in this country and especially in swing states ... it’s not a winning solution and I continue to say you don’t need massive government expansion to change this country.”

As Hickenlooper addressed reporters from the floor of the elegant opera house in downtown Miami, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a self-described democratic socialist, was in the adjacent room giving an interview to MSNBC’s Kasie Hunt.

Sanders gave an impassioned defense of democratic socialism, telling Hunt that he’ll explain to voters why it shouldn’t be viewed as outside the mainstream.

“I’ll take care of the label, first by telling the American people what I believe,” Sanders said.

“To me, what democratic socialism is about, is saying health care is a human right. If you work 40 hours a week you should earn a living wage. Education is a human right, and by the way, we’re going to have a tax system that is fair ... we are going to ask the wealthiest and large corporations to pay their fair share and start paying taxes.”

Sanders this week unveiled a plan to pay off $1.6 trillion in student loan debt.

Progressives have also embraced “Medicare for All” and the Green New Deal, which critics such as Hickenlooper have described as “massive government expansions.”

Hickenlooper and Sanders will share the debate stage on Thursday night, the second night of debates.

Hickenlooper and two other low-polling candidates, Sen. Michael Bennet (Colo.) and former Rep. John Delaney (Md.), have warned the party against embracing Medicare for All and other so-called socialist policies.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2020; bernie; democratdebate; socialism
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1 posted on 06/26/2019 2:28:08 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
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To: yesthatjallen

They will conduct a ‘Free-For-All’ debate where whoever promises the most ‘FREE STUFF!’ wins...............


2 posted on 06/26/2019 2:31:48 PM PDT by Red Badger (We are headed for a Civil War. It won't be nice like the last one....................)
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To: yesthatjallen
I continue to say you don’t need massive government expansion

Is there any room for such thinking in today's Rat party?

3 posted on 06/26/2019 2:33:49 PM PDT by NobleFree ("law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual")
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To: NobleFree

‘Rat Platform:

Grab all of the legal gunz.

Institute Venezuelan Utopia.


4 posted on 06/26/2019 2:36:35 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: Red Badger

Would not watch if they were the Last two debates on Earth. All are Enemies of our Nation.


5 posted on 06/26/2019 2:38:01 PM PDT by carmen2017
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To: yesthatjallen

If Trump is not reelected(BIG CHANCE HE WON’T because of the constant bashing 24/7 people are fatigue of fighting the RINOS the Democrats the globalists the socialist..people just want it to stop..being hearing this a lot) this country will never regain its freedom soul again! I see a mirror image of a past glorious Christian nation in Russia before it fell to socialism! America has lost its way!


6 posted on 06/26/2019 2:38:02 PM PDT by RoseofTexas
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To: Red Badger

Santa Claus is coming to town.


7 posted on 06/26/2019 2:38:34 PM PDT by Texas resident (Democrats=Enemy of People of The United States of America)
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To: yesthatjallen

have a tax system that is fair ... we are going to ask the wealthiest and large corporations to pay their fair share and start paying taxes.”


I take issue with this thinking as follows :

1. I don’t have numbers in front of me, but an overwhelming majority of income tax in this country is paid by a small minority of taxpayers.

2. How do we define what someone’s fair share is? Not only do these high income earners pay the overwhelming majority of taxes, they also pay at higher rates, because we have a graduated income tax in this country.

3. Assuming that someone is paying what is required by the tax laws, aren’t they paying their “fair share”; aren’t they paying what is owed by them?

4. He wants the wealthy and corporations to “start paying taxes”? This is an inane comment. They are paying taxes. They are paying what is required by law. To imply that they aren’t paying taxes is false rhetoric.


8 posted on 06/26/2019 2:39:16 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: Red Badger

I wonder if they see the irony in having a free for all while proposing a complete government takeover/ control of everything. They certainly enjoy the opportunity to say what they want but if they get their way, that will be the end of any freedoms.


9 posted on 06/26/2019 2:39:39 PM PDT by Track9
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To: yesthatjallen

Education is a human right,


And we have public schools, K-12 education in this country, fully paid by the taxpayers. Is that not a recognition that we value education as a human right?


10 posted on 06/26/2019 2:40:24 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: Texas resident

Santa Bernie is going to bring me a new, full sized SUV with a free gas card.


11 posted on 06/26/2019 2:41:44 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: Red Badger


12 posted on 06/26/2019 2:42:36 PM PDT by Vlad The Inhaler (Montesquieu 1689-1775 To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them.)
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To: Red Badger


13 posted on 06/26/2019 2:42:56 PM PDT by Vlad The Inhaler (Montesquieu 1689-1775 To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them.)
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To: Red Badger

Bingo!!!!!


14 posted on 06/26/2019 2:42:59 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear
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To: Paladin2

COOL! Send me pics.

I want a boat. And a truck to pull it. And a yeti 110 full of Coors light to go with it.


15 posted on 06/26/2019 2:43:37 PM PDT by Texas resident (Democrats=Enemy of People of The United States of America)
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To: RoseofTexas

I share your nightmare.


16 posted on 06/26/2019 2:44:59 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear
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To: yesthatjallen
“To me, what democratic socialism is about, is saying health care is a human right. If you work 40 hours a week you should earn a living wage. Education is a human right, and by the way, we’re going to have a tax system that is fair ... we are going to ask the wealthiest and large corporations to pay their fair share and start paying taxes.”

BS!!!! Sanders is a pathological liar, like all commie rat leftists!!!!

ALL socialism is about exerting control over the masses and coercing them to keep their mouths shut and do as they are told.

17 posted on 06/26/2019 2:50:23 PM PDT by RatRipper
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To: Red Badger

They will all try to out Santa Claus each other. They are about to get as ridiculous as the Nigerian Prince scam.


18 posted on 06/26/2019 2:54:08 PM PDT by Dutch Boy
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To: yesthatjallen

Winners and runners up of the debates should get free helicopter rides.. not including landing in the helicopter that is.


19 posted on 06/26/2019 2:54:23 PM PDT by AmericanCheeseFood (Fox Shadowbans People On Comments)
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To: carmen2017
Let's say an invading entity wanted to:

Kill our babies
Take our guns
Emasculate our military
Seize our property
Neutralize our energy resources
Expose our children to sexual perversion
Erase our culture and our history
Open our borders to anyone who wanted to enter, including criminals
Support countries that are sworn enemies of the United States and that have actively called for our destruction

How else could that entity be described but as mortal enemy of our country? Shouldn't such an entity be resisted with every resource at our disposal? Of course, that entity is the modern Democrat Party.

20 posted on 06/26/2019 2:55:42 PM PDT by fhayek
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