‘No Malarkey!’: finger nibbling Joe Biden accuses Democrat rival Pete Buttigieg of stealing his health care plans
- Joe Biden is working to breathe new life into his campaign in Iowa, where he trails Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg
- But young people are scratching their heads at Biden’s old-fashioned ‘No Malarkey’ rallying cry
US Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden said on Monday that his fast-rising rival Pete Buttigieg “stole” the former vice-president’s health care policy proposals, as the two battle for support in the early nominating state of Iowa.
Biden, among the leaders in the 16-member Democratic field for the right to take on Republican President Donald Trump in next year’s election, is proposing expanding the Affordable Care Act.
Popularly known as Obamacare, the health care law was the signature domestic policy achievement of former Democratic president Barack Obama, whom Biden served as No. 2.
Biden would add a “public option”, which would allow individuals to opt into a government plan but would preserve the existing role for private insurers.
Like Biden, Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, favours the public option and coined the phrase “Medicare for all who want it” to describe the concept.
