Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper says that the Democratic Party needs to rebuke socialism.
In an interview with NPR, the 67-year-old moderate Democrat said that he is a capitalist and doesn’t believe in certain left-wing proposals like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal.
“If we don’t stand up and say that we Democrats don’t stand for socialism, we’re going to end up reelecting the worst president this country’s ever had,” Hickenlooper said.
“I don’t think we’re going to address climate change by guaranteeing every American a federal job, which is what part of the Green New Deal was,” Hickenlooper said. “I don’t think we’re going to address the spiraling inflation in healthcare by forcibly telling 150 million people that we’re going to take away their private insurance. These are what a lot of Americans look at as facets or aspects of socialism.”
When asked about his thoughts on being a white man running in an election where diversity has been a highlight, Hickenlooper said that he sees the Democratic Party as “a big-tent party” and that his life experience could help decrease division in the country.
Hickenlooper is one of 23 candidates vying for the Democratic nomination. He announced his candidacy in March but has failed to gain much traction, with polling by Morning Consult showing him at 1% support nationally.
