The Progressive Push: Harris vs. Biden on Health Care
Well, well, well, folks. It seems our esteemed Vice President Kamala Harris has been playing a game of healthcare hopscotch, jumping from one stance to another faster than you can say “socialized medicine.” As patriotic conservatives, we’ve always known that the left’s push for government-controlled healthcare would be a bitter pill to swallow. But hold onto your wallets, because Harris’s prescription for America’s health care system might just give you financial whiplash. Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of Harris’s health care flip-flops and how they stack up against Biden’s more moderate approach.
Harris’s Medicare for All Flip-Flop
Kamala Harris initially positioned herself as a staunch supporter of Medicare for All, even co-sponsoring Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for All Act of 2017. In 2019, she boldly declared, “Here, I’ll break some news. I intend to co-sponsor the Medicare-for-all bill, because it’s just the right thing to do.”
“My son is gone. That’s my fire. I don’t have anything left of him but this fight for him.”
No one should get cut from insurance because they're $20 short. The cost of health care is drowning far too many Americans – it's time we passed Medicare for All. pic.twitter.com/PuOmTsxx0A
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) June 20, 2019
However, as the political winds shifted, so did Harris’s stance. She proposed a detailed health care plan that included a 10-year transition to Medicare for All and allowed private insurers to offer Medicare Advantage-style coverage. This plan was estimated to cost over $30 trillion over ten years, a price tag that would make even the most ardent big-government enthusiasts blush.
Biden’s More Moderate Approach
While Harris was busy rewriting her health care manifesto, Joe Biden maintained a more moderate stance. The Biden-Harris administration has focused on expanding the Affordable Care Act, lowering prescription drug costs, and negotiating drug prices for Medicare. Biden’s approach aims to build upon existing systems rather than completely overhauling them.
“To replace the entire private system where companies provide health care for their employees would bankrupt us for a very long time.” – Michael Bloomberg
This stark contrast between Harris’s initial Medicare for All fervor and Biden’s incremental approach highlights the ideological divide within the Democratic Party. While Harris has since aligned herself with the administration’s policies, her past statements and positions continue to raise questions about her true stance on healthcare reform.
The Abortion Debate
Another area where Harris and Biden diverge is on the issue of abortion rights. Harris has been a vocal advocate for reproductive rights, criticizing the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. She stated, “To truly protect reproductive freedoms, we must restore the protections of Roe.”
Biden, with his Catholic background, has historically been more moderate on the issue. However, he has become increasingly vocal about protecting abortion rights since the Dobbs decision.
“Biden, having a strong Catholic background, had been much more moderate on the issue of reproductive rights, but [he] has become much more vocal after the overturning of Roe versus Wade” – Dan Mallinson
As the 2024 election approaches, these differences in health care policy and reproductive rights stances between Harris and Biden may become more pronounced. Conservative voters should remain vigilant and informed about the potential implications of a Harris-led health care agenda, should she ascend to the presidency.
Sources
If You Like Your Health Care Plan, Will Kamala Harris Let You Keep It?
Here’s where Kamala Harris stands on various health care issues as she campaigns for presidency
What a Kamala Harris presidency would mean for health care in America
Harris backs ‘Medicare-for-all’ and eliminating private insurance as we know it
More from Around the Web
Kamala Harris Says She Wants To Eliminate Private Insurance Even If You Like Your Plan:
Kamala Harris Says Health Care ‘Should Be A Right’ | NBC News
Vice President Kamala Harris on Protecting Reproductive Rights, Trump’s Guilty Verdict & Health Care
“I believe the solution—and I actually feel very strongly about this—is that we need to have Medicare for all.”;
@KamalaHarris in 2019 town hall when asked whether her health care solution involved eliminating private insurance companies: “I believe the solution—and I actually feel very strongly about this—is that we need to have Medicare for all.” https://t.co/GmrIKXyPlZ
— Gregg Girvan 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@GreggGirvan) July 27, 2024
Calling for Medicare for All, Kamala Harris says of private insurance: ”Let’s eliminate all of that. Let’s move on.”;
Calling for Medicare for All, Kamala Harris says of private insurance: ”Let’s eliminate all of that. Let’s move on.” pic.twitter.com/xT2I5IZDfT
— Shane Goldmacher (@ShaneGoldmacher) January 29, 2019
