Pete Buttigieg Tells Democrats To Stop Letting Trump’s Phony Attacks Drive The Policy Debate

Last updated on July 18th, 2023 at 11:31 am

South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg told his Democratic debate opponents on Tuesday to stop being so afraid of Donald Trump’s petty attacks and just do the right thing.

“It is time to stop worrying about what the Republicans will say,” Buttigieg said. “It’s true that if we embrace a far-left agenda, they’re going to say we’re a bunch of crazy socialists. If we embrace a conservative agenda … they’re going to say we’re a bunch of crazy socialists.”

“So let’s just stand up for the right policy, go out there and defend it,” the mayor said.

Video:

Buttigieg said:

It is time to stop worrying about what the Republicans will say. It’s true we embrace a far-left agenda, they’re going to say we’re a bunch of crazy socialists. If we embrace a conservative agenda, you know what they’re going to do, they’re going to say we’re a bunch of crazy socialist. So let’s just stand up for the right policy, go out there and defend it. That’s the policy I’m putting forward, not because I think it’s the right triangulation between Republicans here and Democrats there, because I think it’s the right answer for people like my mother-in-law who is here, whose life was saved by the ACA but is still far too vulnerable to the fact that the insurance industry does not care about her life.

No matter who the nominee is, Trump and the GOP will call them a socialist

There are valid arguments to be made in favor of a Medicare for All approach to health insurance coverage and a more moderate public option policy that some of the Democratic candidates, like former vice president Joe Biden.

Either policy approach will be better than the health care agenda being pursued by Trump and his Republican allies in Congress to rip coverage from millions of Americans, including those with pre-existing conditions.

Yes, there should be a healthy debate among Democratic candidates about which health care approach is best for the country, but it shouldn’t be dictated by fears of what the Republicans will label it.

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Sean Colarossi

Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.

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