Democrats show unity at convention but some delegates miffed Medicare for All not in platform

Democratic Party leaders are portraying a picture of unity at their presidential nominating convention this week, but nearly one-third of convention delegates have voted against their own 2020 platform because Medicare for All was not included. 

According to the Democrats Abroad official webpage, "The majority of Democrats Abroad (DA) delegates to the Democratic National Convention have joined over 750 others from around the United States in a move to put so-called Medicare for All squarely on the party’s agenda."

"Fifteen members of the Dems Abroad Delegation of 23 have signed a pledge to vote NO on the 2020 DNC Platform unless it includes a commitment to a universal, single-payer healthcare plan," the group's official statement also reads.

Party presidential nominee Joe Biden has since defeating primary rival Sen. Bernie Sanders adopted elements of Sander's progressive platform – in an effort to unite the party's liberal and more-moderate wings.

However, the Biden platform does not include Medicare for All, which is essentially free, taxpayer-funded, government-run health insurance for those living in the country.

Minnesota Rep. Rashida Tlaib, part of the Democratic Party's far left wing, this past weekend joined the ranks of those voting against the platform because Medicare for All was not included.

"I constantly hear from constituents demanding we push for a single-payer system and away from this for-profit system that is leaving people to suffer and die just because they cannot afford health care,” she tweeted Sunday.

After Sanders dropped out of the race this spring, he and Biden formed a unity task force and created a unity white paper on issues that they hoped would unite the Democratic party and become part of its 2020 platform.

However, neither Medicare for All nor the New Green Deal – a multi-trillion dollar, climate-change proposal – are included in the platform.

"I commend Joe Biden for working together with my campaign to assemble a group of leading thinkers and activists who can and will unify our party in a transformational and progressive direction," Sanders said about Biden's efforts after they worked together. 

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, co-author of the Green New Deal and who endorsed Sanders, was a co-chairperson of the task force's climate change group along with former Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, a longtime Biden supporter and friend. 

Ocasio-Cortez office decline comment Monday on whether the congresswoman supports the platform that is being presented at the convention. However, Ocasio-Cortez last month praised the task force's efforts, calling them "meaningful," while acknowledging they were born of compromise. 

Ocasio-Cortez is scheduled to speak on Tuesday night at the convention by remote broadcast.