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Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) celebrated the collapse of the Republican health care bill and called it a great victory for the American people.

In a statement provided to PoltiicusUSA, Sanders said, “I am delighted to see that the disastrous Republican health care plan will not succeed. The American people want to proceed to health care for all, not see 22 million Americans thrown off of the health care they currently have. This is a great victory for the millions of Americans who stood up and fought back against this dangerous legislation.”

Republicans have never been able to overcome the ideological divide in their caucus. The moderates have not wanted to take health care away from anyone, and far right conservatives want to take healthcare away from everyone. There is no middle ground between the two positions within the GOP caucus.

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McConnell may revive the health care bill at some point, but the Senate Majority Leader was never strongly invested in repealing Obamacare. McConnell’s main focus has been passing a massive tax cut package for the wealthy, but make no mistake about it, McConnell tried every trick in the book to pass this bill. He drafted the bill in private, refused to hold committee hearings, and planned to strictly limit floor debate.

Mitch McConnell tried to ram this bill through the Senate, and he failed because the American people said no.

Sen. Sanders is correct. This victory was because people would not allow Republicans to pass their bill. The American people were relentless in their opposition, and wouldn’t quit until Republicans had no choice but to back down.