You're trying to push this narrative because you can't argue against his policy. In light of how many Democratic senators have signed on to co-sponsor his bill, you'll more than likely shift positions, again
Sanders has always been a supporter of universal coverage, going back decades. He's the reason we're talking about it now. His supporters are the reason it's gained so much momentum and why so many establishment Democrats have accepted it as inevitable, especially the ones planning on running in 2020. If any of them didn't, they know there's no way they would win the nomination. For some, it's a political move, which is still OK with me, so long as they vote the way 80% of their constituents want them to vote.
Sanders said Democrats can vote however they want, but he believes it's unlikely they'll win the election if they vote against universal coverage. You're trying to paint that as him being totally accepting to supporting candidates who don't support it, which is a blatant lie. There's only one reason you would try to smear him and lie, we all know why.
In 2015, he was talking as if ACA was some sort of anathema that blocked Universal Access to Healthcare. Now, it's "I'm OK if you don't want to support my bill". Democrats have been supportive of Single Payer Healthcare or some insurance-based Universal Healthcare Coverage for about 80 years. The people who have been blocking it is Republicans. A handful of Blue Dog Democrats too but they weren't the force that stopped it.
I heard what Sanders said and your summary was accurate. This is less than what you have been saying until now. I see you've been sheepdogged into the fold. Maybe you came there before now but not what you were saying just months ago. Actually, what Sanders and now you are saying is what I said months ago: "some districts are more conservative and representatives from these districts will reflect their choices, not what a California liberal would want." Welcome to my position on this issue. Here, have a cupcake. I'm glad that we can now agree on this issue.
It's still up to the electorate for each Senator to drive his choice. We'll see if the tide has turned. I'm still not convinced it has. We haven't seen the bill or the price tag yet. That's when the fat hits the fire. By the way, you do realize that not co-sponsoring a bill is not the same as not supporting the bill when it reaches a vote, don't you?
My guess is, this doesn't make it to a floor vote. Just like the Citizens United Amendment that failed in 2014. If there are any votes on it, I'm willing to bet that only Manchin stands against it from the Democratic Caucus.
This doesn't go anywhere because Republicans stop it. After it fails, you will rage on about how Democrats didn't support it, when in fact practically all will. I have no hope for you.
