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Is Joe Biden a ‘Moderate’ Democratic Candidate?
As the Republican and Democratic parties drift further apart along the political spectrum, it’s impossible to ignore the divides within the parties as well. Republicans are facing a severe pro-Trump and anti-Trump divide, while Democrats are separating into Moderates and Progressives. Bernie Sanders and AOC are leading the Progressive charge, which begs the question, is Joe Biden a moderate Democratic candidate?
For many Republicans and Independents, there is nothing moderate about Joe Biden. He is in favor of open borders, higher taxes, and raising the federal minimum wage to $15/hour. He also believes in increased gun control measures across the board.
And yet at the Democratic National Convention, AOC officially endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders for President, as Joe Biden is just not Socialist enough for her. Is Joe Biden a moderate candidate by his party’s current standards? A comparison of Joe and Bernie says yes.
Joe vs. Bernie
Healthcare
CNBC: "The truth is that Joe Biden — even though he's portrayed as a moderate — is offering the most expensive Democratic tax plan that we've seen from any Democratic candidate in recent history." pic.twitter.com/rKTH2pYt5f
— John Kartch (@johnkartch) July 14, 2020
Biden considers the current system to be adequate and in need of tweaks, not reform. He would like to add a public option, expand Medicaid, and invest more in subsidies so people can buy ACA plans. His approach would not provide healthcare to everyone.
Sanders continually promotes a Medicare-for-All plan that guarantees healthcare as a human right by insuring people through the federal government rather than private insurers. Sanders’ plan would use taxpayer dollars to cover all copays, premiums, and deductibles.
Foreign Policy
Biden is not concerned with China, and supports the USMCA and joining the CPTPP. He is against using tariffs to pressure countries. He also supported the war in Iraq and is in favor of increasing our defense budget.
Sanders generally votes against involvement in any wars, and wants to cut the defense budget.
Climate Change
Biden would like to dedicate $1.7 trillion dollars towards climate and environmental justice efforts, leading to net-zero emissions by 2050. He would like the US. to rejoin the Paris Agreement.
Meanwhile, Sanders supports AOC’s Green New Deal, which would reach 100% renewable energy for electricity and transportation by 2030, at an estimated cost of $51-93 trillion dollars over 10 years. He would also like for the US. to rejoin the Paris Agreement.
Student Loan Debt
Biden has proposed making two-year community college programs tuition-free (i.e. taxpayer-funded) and increasing Pell grants, while capping student loan bills at 5% of borrowers’ discretionary income over $25,000.
On the other hand, Sanders proposed making all public colleges and universities tuition-free (taxpayer funded). He also introduced a bill to cancel all outstanding $1.4 trillion of student loan debt.
Housing
Again, Biden isn’t reinventing the wheel here. He would like to expand the Community Reinvestment Act, enforce regulations and laws against discriminatory lending, and fully fund Section 8. Biden also wants to create something called the Public Credit Reporting Agency within the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which he says would make credit reports fairer.
Sanders proposed a national rent control law, capping annual rent increases at 3%, and introducing new taxes on “house-flipping.” He also proposed spending $2.5 trillion to create up to 10 million new “permanently” affordable housing units. Sanders also proposes investing $8 billion into helping first-time homebuyers.
Interest in Socialism on the Rise
Joe Biden’s selection of Kamala Harris as a running mate has left no room for doubt He is the abortion candidate leaving behind any semblance of being a moderate Sadly this Democratic ticket is perhaps the most pro-abortion in history”#abortionismurderhttps://t.co/66FA9PLGru
— Sonja Harris (@SonjaHHarris) August 17, 2020
With an increasing interest in socialism and wealth redistribution on the rise, Joe Biden does sound awfully “moderate” when faced with such radical reforms. He is towing the more traditional party line rather than proposing drastic changes. But make no mistake, his stance on many issues will not sit well with Independents and Conservatives:
- Abolish the death penalty
- End cash bail
- Eliminate mandatory minimum sentences
- Raise federal minimum wage to $15/hour
- Study reparations
- Eliminate for-profit charter schools
- End oil and gas leases on federal land and end offshore drilling
- Tax carbon emissions
- Pay farmers to adopt “climate-friendly” practices
- Ban assault weapons
- In favor of universal firearm background checks
- In favor of a national firearm registry
- Grant citizenship to all illegal immigrants and their families
- Increase taxes on corporations
- Increase taxes on all Americans making over $400,000
- Raise capital gains taxes
Joe Biden may look like a “moderate” candidate to the radical left, but there’s no denying that he would continue Obama’s legacy and cost the American people trillions of dollars. Also, after 40+ years in Washington and little to show for his efforts, Joe Biden is just a pawn to lead us one step closer to a Socialist America.
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