Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden defended his healthcare plan in an interview Tuesday, saying that it's a straightforward proposal that will go far enough for a party that overwhelming backs a Medicare for all system.
"I don't think it's conservative at all," the former vice president told MSNBC "Morning Joe" co-host Mika Brzezinski. "It will pick up the vast majority of almost 100 percent of the American people."
He added that his plan would cost $750 billion, not $3 trillion like Medicare for all, and will allow people to say on their own healthcare plans or to switch.
Many people don't want to give up their own private, employer-based insurance, he continued, and that's the difference between what he is offering as compared to plans from his competitors.
Biden also spoke about immigration, commenting that there is no reason to separate families, but called for surging significant resources to the border.
He also proposed a meeting with El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala, and offer money to help promote safety in their countries and keep people from leaving them. Also, he said the money should be invested wisely by dealing with checkpoints, where drugs and criminals cross.
"I'm saying you shouldn't be able to just cross the border," said Biden. "You have to get in line. Now, if you're crossing the border and seeking asylum even at a port of entry, you should have an asylum hearing."
In addition, "dreamers" should get a direct path to citizenship, said Biden.
"Can you imagine, when you're 4 years old, I'm not going anywhere, mom," said Biden. "It flies in the face of everything we believe we are. Send me your poor, your rich, what are we? What have we become? This is not the United States of America the vast majority of the world looks to."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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