This debate had a strange premise: Two Senators arguing over a health care law that neither one of them believes in.
Bernie Sanders is supportive of Obamacare in the same way someone who wants to climb to the roof is supportive of a step ladder. It won’t get you there but it’s moving the direction you want to go. Frequently during this debate when Obamacare was thrown under the bus by Cruz or by an audience member asking a question, Sanders simply sidestepped it and refused to defend the law.
For instance, should all plans, including those for older women beyond child-bearing age, mandate maternity care? Sanders agreed that was something to look at and consider changing. Is it fair to charge people a fee for not buying insurance? Sanders refused to defend the mandate directly. Are plans with a $13,000 deductible really offering anything to the people who are forced to buy them? Sanders says it’s ridiculous (I’m paraphrasing but the gist was to throw up his hands and agree it was terrible).