Democrats blew a chance to finally go on offense on the issue of healthcare when Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., introduced his Medicare for All plan, presidential candidate Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Wednesday.
The Colorado senator said Democrats had been playing defense for almost a decade after Obamacare was signed into law in 2010 and Republicans repeatedly tried to repeal it.
"And then they failed to do it," Bennet said. "And for one blessed week, Democrats were on offense on healthcare and then Bernie introduced Medicare for All, six candidates got on, including Elizabeth [Warren] on that bill, and we've been playing defense ever since."
Bennet emphasized, "Donald Trump is the first president in American history to actually take insurance away from millions of Americans – we should make it very clear that Democrats are actually for universal coverage. He's taking their health insurance away, and I think Medicare for All, unfortunately, muddies that message, because it does make illegal insurance for 180 million Americans."
Bennet stressed, "That's not a Republican talking point, that's Bernie's talking point."
The Colorado senator added Sanders has been clear it is also going to cost new taxes of more than $30 trillion.
Bennet said he is deeply concerned, if a Democratic candidate has that as his or her plan in the general election, the American people would not accept it. He added, Democrats should instead back his proposal, which gives the public a choice of keeping their private insurance or joining a public option.
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