by Andrew Trunsky
West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin fired back at the White House Monday after it put out a blistering statement criticizing him for opposing President Joe Biden’s domestic spending package.
In an interview with West Virginia’s Hoppy Kercheval, Manchin said that while he “figured they would come back strong,” they knew that Manchin could not support the bill they were backing.
“You know me, always willing to work and listen and try. I just got to the wit’s end and they know the real reason” things fell apart, Manchin said, referring to the White House.
“[The staff] put some things out that were absolutely inexcusable,” Manchin added. “They know what it is and that’s it.”
The White House had increasingly pressured Manchin to back the bill in recent days as Senate Democrats raced to pass it before the end of the year, but the West Virginia senator and Biden were unable to compromise on the multiple remaining disagreements over the legislation.
“They figured surely to God we can move one person,” Manchin said. “We surely can badger and beat one person up. Surely we can get enough protesters to make that person uncomfortable enough that they’ll just say, ‘OK I’ll vote for anything.’”
“Well, guess what? I’m from West Virginia,” Manchin added. “I’m not from where they’re from and they can just beat the living crap out of people and think they’ll be submissive, period.”
The White House put out a statement Thursday night that named Manchin three times and said that the key Democrat still backed a $1.7 trillion package, and that more negotiating time was needed.
Manchin, however, responded dryly. “I said that was the President’s statement. That wasn’t my statement,” he told Kercheval.
Manchin officially came out against the bill Sunday morning, saying that he could not explain supporting it to his constituents and that he had concerns over inflation, rising coronavirus cases and geopolitical uncertainty.
The White House responded later Sunday, calling Manchin’s position “at odds with his discussions this week with the President, with White House staff, and with his own public utterances.”
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Andrew Trunsky is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Joe Manchin” by Senator Joe Manchin III.
It’s actually high time to get rid of all the progressive idiots along with the soulless democrats trying to destroy this nation with their global warming, transgender pushing, pedophilia supporting monsters, and basically anything and everything that’s sick and twisted, and send them all to George Soro’s compound. After all, it seems he has become their puppet master. I would say that Manchin and Sinema are the only two that show somewhat of a backbone. Whether it lasts or not remains to be seen but at least it’s a ray of hope for now. This makes the liberal/progressive demons shrill in anger. Gotta love that!
If the Democrats had any backbone, they would punish Manchin and Sinema by stripping of their seniority like they did to Strom Thurmond in 1964. That is what finally forced an end to the filibuster against civil rights and forced Strom into the Republican Party where he really belonged in the first place. If taking such action against Manchin and Sinema deprives the Democrats of fifty votes, at least it will get rid of these two disloyal persons who will never support a true Democrat agenda no matter how far to the Right the Democratic leadership bends over for them. It’s high time the Democrat Party discipline these two turncoats even at the risk of their moving to the Republicans. Maybe then, Democrats can elect two new progressives in these two jerks’ place!
Yeah, but Manchin left the door wide open to a bill or series of bills that are basic socialism doctrines. He is going to cave as usual but just in smaller increments.
Thank you Senator. Be firm and do not buckle to the typical low-road name calling of the progressives and socialists. I truly doubt Joe Bien is questioning your comments, his memory to be kind is faulty at best. I doubt he recalls any discussion. Please Senator, be firm, you are correct your state, our state, this country cannot afford that what is seemingly being pushed by Sanders, AOC, Pelosi, Schummer or their lemmings.