Health care takes center stage for Democratic presidential candidates

Jul. 31--Michigan issues made an appearance in the second round of Democratic debates held in Detroit, with 10 candidates on stage at the Fox Theatre addressing the revitalization of this American city, the ongoing water crisis in Flint, and a auto factory shuttered this week by General Motors.

"I was just in Flint and they are still drinking bottled water in that town, and it's outrageous," said Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, touting an infrastructure plan. "This is a bread-and-butter issue for people who are caught in traffic jams. I think the governor here in Michigan smartly ran on 'Fix the damn roads' and it is an issue for union jobs."

Author Marianne Williamson, a former Michigan resident, said Flint was "just the tip of the iceberg."

"We have an administration that has gutted the Clean Water Act. We have communities -- particularly communities of color and disadvantaged communities -- all over this country who are suffering from environmental injustice. I assure you, I lived in Grosse Pointe. What happened in Flint would not happen in Grosse Pointe."

Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan mentioned the United Auto Workers several times in his responses.

"I'm trying to explain that these union members are losing their jobs, wages have been stagnant, the world is crumbling around them. The only thing they have is possibly really good health care. And the Democratic message is going to be we're going to go ahead, and the only thing you have left we're going to take it, and we're going to do better. I don't think that is a recipe for success for us."

Meanwhile, liberal firebrands Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren slapped back against moderate rivals who ridiculed "Medicare for all" during the debate.

"I don't understand why anybody goes to all the trouble of running for president of the United States just to talk about what we really can't do and shouldn't fight for," Ms. Warren, a Massachusetts senator, said of her detractors.

One of the moderates, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, took a swipe at Mr. Sanders: Working people "can't wait for a revolution," he charged. "Their problems are here and now."

The debate quickly turned to a dispute about the future of the health-care system, with Mr. Sanders and Ms. Warren aligning to defend Medicare for All proposals that would have government take over the health insurance industry.

Some of their rivals argued the proposal pushed by the progressives would take private insurance away from people who prefer their coverage and force a tax increase on the middle class.

"Why do we have to be the party of taking something away from people?" said John Delaney, a former congressman who has been critical of Medicare for All.

He argued that Democrats should not back proposals that would eliminate private insurance.

"They are running on telling half the country that your health insurance is illegal," he said, pointing to Ms. Warren and Mr. Sanders.

Ms. Warren interjected. "We're not trying to take health care away from anyone. That's what Republicans are trying to do."

Earlier Tuesday, Detroiters came out in full force ahead of the second Democratic debate at Fox Theatre, supporting a wide scale of issues and a range of candidates from the party -- while a slew of protestors and Republican voters also showed up and voiced their opposition.

The biggest buzz before the debate was at Grand Circus Park in Downtown Detroit. Crowds of hundreds began to pour in around 6 p.m., all with differing messages and support behind multiple candidates. Crowds chanted into microphones, "impeach Trump," and "Green New Deal," before heading down Woodward Ave. in parade-like fashion.

Inside the park among the fired up crowd, stood Pinky Jones, a 39-year-old Bernie Sanders supporter and military veteran who says she's proud to host a debate in Detroit, a "city of working class people."

"I really want Bernie to go all the way," she said, "but either way, I feel like he's pushing the window of the party to the left."

Still, she's not confident in a Democratic victory in 2020.

"I think Trump is going to win again, I honestly do, unfortunately," Ms. Jones said.

Outside the theatre, there was a large contingent of people rallying for U.S Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former Vice President Joe Biden and Sanders, but voters on the other side of the aisle also made the trip to the Motor City.

Two strangers had a rare exchange of differing politics without argument, calling it "refreshing." Corbin Destfano, a 22-year-old Detroit resident originally from Mississippi and Kathy Lyons, a 49-year-old Detroit resident, originally from Florida met up and talked all things 2020.

Mr. Destefano describes himself as a right-leaning moderate, while Ms. Lyons says she's a Democrat with liberal viewpoints.

"I'm not used to being able to have these kind of talks from what I'm used to in Florida," Ms. Lyons said.

They both agreed that infrastructure is an issue that regardless of who's the next commander in chief, needs attention.

"Our infrastructure needs a lot of work," Mr. Destefano said.

Information from The Blade's news services was used in this report.

Contact Liz Skalka at: lskalka@theblade.com, 419-724-6199, or on Twitter @LizSkalka.

Contact Brooks Sutherland at: bsutherland@theblade.com or 419-724-6154.

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