How Anthony Weiner (Seriously) Drove Me To Support Bernie Sanders

I used to admire Anthony Weiner. In fact, part of me still does. Despite all his indiscretions as a man, his fierce and merciless advocacy of policies designed to bring about real change in the lives of working families was undoubtedly admirable. It’s hard not to reflect on the firecracker congressman from New York who blazed up the House floor when health care for 9–11 first responders was defeated. That was passion all too often missing from the political process.

In a similar vein, it was particularly Congressman Weiner’s defense of, and commitment to, a New York and an America where health care was a right for every man, woman, and child that was most laudable. Specifically, it was Congressman Weiner’s advocacy of a single-payer model that I found admirable.

I encourage anyone reading this to view the following video where Weiner describes and touts a single-payer healthcare system. A potential civic and economic boom that removes the “middle man” and effectively better provides the care and treatment citizens need to live healthy, productive, and affordable lives, while at the same time driving cost savings for the city.

And during the New York City Democratic mayoral primary, then candidate Anthony Weiner further opined on the economic incentive to a single-payer system.

“I understand health care…I’m going to fight for a single-payer system for the city that’s going to keep our $15 billion dollars worth of healthcare resources here at home, hiring local people, not giving 20 percent of it to insurance companies to take elsewhere. Healthcare is the key to jobs in New York City and with me, you’re gonna get that.” — Anthony Weiner

Humans live in gray areas, I get that. Despite the texting scandals, I always respected Carlos Danger’s commitment to this vision of healthcare in America. So imagine my dismay when my single-payer healthcare warrior Anthony Weiner actually chose politics over policy and his principles by criticizing the health care proposal put forth by presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.

In his comments featured in this MIC story, Weiner defines Senator Sanders’ “Medicare For All” program as politically counterproductive, going as far as to saying “We just invested a lot in improving the employer-based model,” as if that’s a valid justification for pressing pause on efforts to pursue better and more effective models of providing care to millions of America.

And it was at that moment I “felt the bern.” Reading comments by Anthony Weiner, a politician whom I supported largely for his dedication to single-payer system in New York and beyond, produced an almost euphoric feeling of “Oh, I finally get it…It’s all about politics.” You’re married to Huma Abedin, long-time aide of Secretary Clinton. Of course you would criticize Bernie for proposing the system you actively promoted your entire political career simply to score points for the Clinton machine.

The liberal lion Weiner, who just two years ago so vehemently advocated for a single-payer healthcare system as a candidate for Mayor of the City of New York, suddenly backtracked on a policy idea that would benefit all Americans simply because “it would be strange to nominate a Democratic candidate running on a platform of scrapping Obamacare.”

Now, we’re seeing similar rhetoric coming from the Clinton camp when it comes to health care and the Sanders proposal; a Clinton campaign which of course Weiner has close ties to. Secretary Clinton has vowed to build upon the Affordable Care Act, and is fearful the Sanders proposal effectively “tears it up.”

Certainly the Affordable Care Act has been a positive step in the right direction with millions of Americans now being able to afford to access the preventative and life-saving care and treatment they need. But are we supposed to stop there? Are we to forget the single-payer dream because of our progress on a flawed employer-based model, even though we know single-payer is the better means of delivering care to hundreds of millions of Americans?

Nope, sorry. I’m with the dreamer. I’m with Bernie.

When Anthony Weiner described investment made and the fearfulness of turning back on the Affordable Care Act, he presented quite clearly what so many people hate about politicians; they put their party and their electability before the people. I don’t need a candidate who wants to build on a program that isn’t as effective as it could be, or isn’t as effective as other models simply because it’s easier or makes more sense for the party. I want a candidate of principle.

So thank you, Congressman Weiner. You’ve steered me to the most principled candidate in this election. A candidate that, despite the challenges, isn’t afraid to dream big and advocate for policies that work for working families. A candidate who can acknowledge we’ve made progress but knows we can, and must, do better. When it comes to healthcare, that is undoubtedly Bernie Sanders.

Dream big, Carlos.