Michael Bennet: We can’t get dragged over ‘cliff’ by Bernie Sanders and ‘Medicare for All’

In a new interview, Sen. Michael Bennet warned against getting dragged over a “cliff” by 2020 Democratic presidential rival Sen. Bernard Sanders and Mr. Sanders’ calls for a universal “Medicare for All” health care plan.

Mr. Bennet, who has carved out a position in the more moderate lane of the 2020 contenders, acknowledged that he needs to be doing better than “being in the land of the 1 percenters” to keep qualifying for debates and prosecuting his case.

“But I think that the race is heading in a direction where I’m gladder than I’ve been since I started that I’m in the race, because I think that we can’t allow ourselves to be dragged over the edge of this cliff by Bernie Sanders and Medicare for All,” the Colorado Democrat said on the “Hacks on Tap” podcast in an episode released on Tuesday. “That’s not where the base of the Democratic party is.”

Mr. Bennet and several other candidates have said that people should be allowed to select a public health insurance option if they choose to, but that a plan to quickly do away with all private health insurance in the U.S. in favor of a government-run system would be too disruptive.

“Most of this field has gotten so distracted by the virtual base of the Democratic party that exists on the internet and on Twitter that they’re ignoring the actual base of the Democratic Party,” he said.

Mr. Sanders, meanwhile, has defended his proposal, saying the public is ready for a Medicare for All system and that costs and premiums will go down in the end.