Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is warning that thousands of Americans will die unless Republicans agree to healthcare demands at the center of the ongoing government shutdown.
Democrats have refused to fund the government without an agreement to extend enhanced Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year.
While speaking on MSNBC, Sanders blamed the shutdown on Republicans and accused them of abandoning Senate norms -- even though Republicans have put forward a routine bill to fund the government that Democrats refuse to even consider.
“Republicans need 60 votes -- that’s been the case for decades. The point of that rule is bipartisanship, negotiation. You need eight Democratic votes. OK. How do we work together to keep the government open? Republicans, for the first time in modern history, have chosen not to negotiate. They are saying it’s their way or the highway. That is not acceptable,” Sanders said.
Sanders then dropped a dramatic prediction, warning that thousands of Americans will die without the Obamacare subsidies Democrats are demanding.
"And I want everybody to understand that if we do not make changes and fight back effectively, you’re going to see 15 million Americans lose their health insurance through cuts to Medicaid and the ACA. According to studies, 50,000 Americans die each year. That’s what’s at stake,” Sanders said.
We don't like saying this, but Bernie does have one small point beneath all of his hysterical rhetoric: the fact is that these tax credits are necessary for millions of Americans to afford Obamacare, thanks to the insanely high premiums on the exchanges.
According to one analysis, premiums will more than double next year unless the tax credits are renewed.
You would think there's a lesson there about the failures of government healthcare, but Democrats want to double down on federal spending.
Nevertheless, Republicans, such as Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), are willing to discuss extending healthcare subsidies in the future.
Republicans understand that these subsidies are popular, which is why Democrats are making such an issue out of them.
GOP lawmakers say that negotiations over Obamacare should happen later, once the government is back open. Democrats are doubling down on emotional manipulation, as usual.
We always knew that Bernie was a hysterical demagogue, but this rhetoric about Republicans wanting to usher in mass death is on another level.
Either he's just being cynical, or the old man is really starting to lose his marbles.
