My advice to Joe

[BGBD]

Don't approach this weekend as a debate against Bernie Sanders. Approach it as a debate against Donald Trump. Prepare a quick rebuttal of the attacks you know Bernie is going to use and be ready to quickly pivot from that to turning the question against Trump and do that all night.

Don't attack Bernie. You are already the Democratic Nominee, so assume that role. You dont need to do anything to beat Bernie and he can't beat you. Don't let him control the topic, always go right back to attacking Trump.

[Siwsan]

1. Welcome to DU!

[emmaverybo]

2. Yes. Do not go on defense. Use this as an opportunity to show off your own progressive plans.

[BGBD]

4. exactly.

parry the attack and step past.

[Codeine]

3. Agreed. The primary is over and the general election

has begun. Biden should proceed accordingly.

[Tanuki]

5. Excellent advice! Welcome to DU!

[Under The Radar]

6. Tell Bernie that you will discuss his platform issues

And will consider them being implemented at the convention.
* single payer should be implemented over time all at once will cause culture shock to the system.
* yes the wealthy needs to pay more as do corporations but we need our corporations to perform well too.
* yes there must be a minimum wage increase but the cost of living is higher in urban areas and may need more and all of them may be incremental.
*sure strengthen social security and Medicare
* yes community college could be tax payer funded but not all at once.
* student loans shouldn’t be forgiven but the interest rates certainly should be capped at 3%.

We have to beware of culture shock and another right wing AstroTurf tea party BS uprising.

[BGBD]

7. I agree with that.

These are essentially Bidens policies already. He goes even further with student loan forgiveness by offering many service based ways to get loans forgiven.

[brush]

8. Yes. Yes. Yes.

[Cha]

9. I wondered what this was going to be.. and it's

excellent advice.. TY, BGBD.

[Clash City Rocker]

10. I agree completely

Bernie’s people will justify any attack he makes on Biden, but vilify any defense Joe gives. The best thing Biden can do is to rise above it and just go after Trump.

[MustLoveBeagles]

11. That's very good advice

Welcome to DU

[Blue_true]

12. Excellent advice. nt

[question everything]

13. No. Not exactly

You will have to talk about your plans. Obviously, healthcare will be discussed. Talk about how efficiently you will restore ACA to its original plan and how this will help sick people.

Talk about how you will work closely with our allied in Europe to coordinate our efforts to combat the epidemic. Talk about how you will help many who lost their jobs as a result of the epidemic.

And, of course, draw contrast between you and Trump, but also between you and Sanders. Otherwise, why should voters in the next states vote for you and not for Sanders?

[Mr.Bill]

14. My advice would be to turn everything

toward the many successes he has had in Congress. Don't let the conversation be dominated by a discussion of votes he took 20 or 30 years ago that don't look good in today's political climate. Focus on the successes. He has many of them. His opponent does not.

[dansolo]

23. No, he should focus on the future

Talking about past votes only opens the door for Bernie to attack him. People want to know how either of them plans to move the country forward and fix the mess that Trump will leave behind. What Bernie refuses to ackowledge is that M4A is not the #1 issue for most voters. Getting rid of Trump and fixing the government is.

[Joinfortmill]

15. 👍

[BigmanPigman]

16. I read that this is his plan.

[AdamGG]

17. Also, I think Joe might be stronger in the one on one style debates

Than in the multicandidate ones we've had. He did pretty well against Paul Ryan and Sarah Palin. It's stylistically different when there are numerous candidates involved.

[Demsrule86]

18. Wait so Sanders attacks Biden but he just takes it? No way. Honestly, this

needs to end . Concede Bernie. So tired of Sanders.

[BGBD]

21. No, not at all..

Just don't let him drag you into a fight over it.

Something like....


Sanders: Joe does not support the type of fundamental change we need to our healthcare system today.

Biden: When Barrack and I were elected, he turned to me and told me to get ACA done. We made it possible for every American to get health coverage. But now Donald Trump is working to tear that down and if he's given another term it will ensure that millions of Americans lose their health coverage, and at a time when it's clear that they need it most. That's why when I beat Donald Trump I will make rebuilding ACA my top priority. We're going to make it stronger than it ever was, simpler than it ever was, and more affordable that it ever was and we are going to make sure that every person in America has the coverage that they need!

That's just a quick thing, but something like that.

[Demsrule86]

22. I see ....that makes him look unreasonable...and no doubt he turns red and waves his hands...

Why he thinks anyone cares about his so called revolution or pie in the sky policies is beyond me...the revolution has been canceled by the voters.

[LaMouffette]

19. MY advice to Joe???

Joe, from now on, please, please, please, avoid contact with people like the plague. Wait, it is the plague, or at least, plague-like.

I am terrified right now that our last best hope for saving America from the Axis of Evil (Trump-GOP-Putin) could become infected by the corona virus. I know that this must be at the forefront of everyone's mind on Joe's campaign team as well as, of course, his family, friends, colleagues, and supporters.

But for Joe's sake and our country's sake, we need to protect him from this virus like a swarm of killer bees protects their queen bee. This is not a cow-crusading heckler that our hopefully future First Lady can run interference on. We must protect Joe from this threat.

And all y'all DU'ers, take the very best care of yourselves and your families, too!

[PatSeg]

20. Good advice!

Welcome to DU!

[honest.abe]

24. I have a feeling Joe is going to go very well in this debate.

He is relaxed, confident and riding high on his wave of victories. Bernie is angry and desperate and will come off as a villain if he attacks Biden.

Joe's got this!