In the primary, I was considering Biden, Warren and Harris. The reason I was considering Biden is he polls better against Trump. I’m not a fan of yesterday’s politics and the associated baggage such as the infamous 2005 bankruptcy bill that hurt millions of struggling people, the 1994 crime bill that led to mass incarceration, the Hyde Amendment, or the Iraq war. But our number one focus has to be beating Donald Trump. If Biden has a lot better chance than anyone else, then he’s the one.
However, his recent gaffes were both revealing and too much for me. First, the calculated Hyde Amendment reversal. Symone Sanders had to confront him and explain how the Hyde Amendment impacts poor women. I wondered do we want to nominate a candidate who needs this explained to them?
Then came two more gaffes. The use of segregationist Senator James Eastland as an analogy of how Senators used to work together and get things done. I know what Biden meant. Ted Kennedy and Walter Mondale also found it necessary to sometimes work with James Eastland. However, Biden showed very poor political judgment in using a staunch segregationist as an example.
He also assured a room of wealthy donors he wouldn't "demonize" them or do anything that would impact their lifestyle. This left me wondering what the hell happened to the “Kid from Scranton?”
I also read that Biden opposed the ACA contraception mandate — link. Good thing that President Obama listened to Valerie Jarrett and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius instead.
I recognize that people and political candidates do evolve. But Biden isn’t acting like someone who has evolved. A new Democratic Party is emerging that rejects the perceived constraints of the Reagan era. The other candidates reflect that new party much better. In the past people argued candidates that reflect this new and emerging party couldn’t win. I’m not as convinced that’s true anymore.
In the meantime, Elizabeth Warren keeps coming out with great idea after great idea. In my opinion, Warren’s ideas would solve a lot and her ideas really get at where the system is broken. In the linked article, you’ll find her Accountable Capitalism Act, her wealth tax, housing plan, a decades overdue plan for family farms, breaking up Big Tech, universal child care, corporate taxes, public lands, and on and on.
I’ve also read polls show the wealth tax and her plan to break up big tech giants have crossover appeal.
On health care, Warren is open to multiple paths to achieving universal affordable health care. I believe this is the right approach. I’ve seen Kaiser polls showing that support for Medicare For All drops about 18% when people learn they would lose private employer provided insurance. That may understate the degree to which support would drop. There's a lot of confusion about what exactly "Medicare For All" means. Does it mean a public Medicare option where Medicare is open to all or does it mean single payer? I think the House Democrats Medicare For America bill is more salable.
She also announced a plan to forgive student debts.
In terms of electability, the polls I’ve seen show she beats Trump by maybe 2-3 points less than Biden or Sanders. But she beats Trump.
Warren’s ideas are becoming more acceptable to mainstream Democrats. Times are changing, and Warren’s ideas will become more not less mainstream. I think we are maybe one recession away from a breaking point. The post 1980 era of free markets is over because people recognize it as a fail. The only question is what is will replaced with????? Note that 55% of women prefer socialism to capitalism as do the majority of younger people.
I also agree with Kos that Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez have all played a role in that.
My only hesitation on Warren is I’m not sure what electoral impact the native american heritage claims will have. The DNA test was a mistake as it made the issue current.
I’m also considering Kamala Harris.
I like Kamala Harris’s LIFT Tax plan which would put up to $3,000 a year cash in the pockets of single households earning $50,000 a year or less and up to $6,000 a year in the pockets of married couples earning up to $100,000. It’s estimated this will put cash in the pockets of 80 million Americans.
Kamala Harris is committed to universal affordable health care, and is open to multiple paths to get there. I don’t consider that an inconsistent position because, as her communications director Lily Adams noted “"we kind of like people having health care." That’s my position. I want everyone to have affordable health care period. If all we have votes for is an enhanced ACA 2.0, I will support it because I also want people to have health care.
Kamala Harris also supports A Green New Deal. I think it’s critical that we pass a bold program that will solve economic inequality and the climate crisis with the same dollars. Climate experts correctly tell us we need to act boldly and soon.
Kamala Harris was also one of two candidates (the other being Elizabeth Warren) who shined at the recent "She The People" forum that focused on issues affecting women of color. At the forum, Harris talked about the war on drugs, mass incarceration, and promised to pardon low level drug offenders which I also support.
Unfortunately, sexism played a role in the 2016 election. It’s not the only reason Hillary Clinton lost, but it played a role. Anyone who doesn’t believe it played a role should listen to the 29:30 to 32:30 part of this podcast by Obama adviser Jon Favreau. Yes, both Warren and Harris would have to deal with sexism too. Note: Obama had to deal with racism and we won twice. Yes, there were some people who didn’t vote for him because of race but he also energized other voters who did.
For those interested, there is a Daily Kos Kamala 2020 group. The group publishes a diary every morning around 7:00 AM CST? I don’t know if there is a similar group for Elizabeth Warren supporters? I’m a member of the Kamala 2020 group, but I was also honest with them that I hadn’t decided yet.