Manchin says he doesn't support D.C. statehood bill

[demmiblue]

Source: WaPo

Sen. Joe Manchin III told reporters in his home state of West Virginia on Friday morning that he does not support the bill to make D.C. the nation’s 51st state, according to audio provided by the Democrat’s office and a report from WVNews.

Manchin, a key swing vote in the closely divided Senate, said he believed a constitutional amendment, rather than legislation, would be required to admit D.C. as a state. His stance deals a major blow to statehood advocates who were hoping for his support after the bill passed the House last week.

Manchin cited findings from the Justice Department under Presidents Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter and comments from then-Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy in reaching his decision.

“They all came to the same conclusion: If Congress wants to make D.C. a state, it should propose a constitutional amendment. It should propose a constitutional amendment and let the people of America vote,” Manchin said in a radio interview with Hoppy Kercheval of West Virginia’s MetroNews, the full audio of which was provided to The Washington Post by Manchin’s staff.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/manchin-dc-statehood-amendment/2021/04/30/39fab2ae-a9dd-11eb-8d25-7b30e74923ea_story.html

[elleng]

1. DAMN! We sure need a Rockefeller back in WV.

[choie]

2. Of course he doesn't.

[TDale313]

3. I'm shocked...

🙄

[Miguelito Loveless]

4. Well, there's a shock

[NYC Liberal]

5. They're not making the federal district a state.

They're reducing the district to the land around federal buildings. The rest of the land becomes a state.

What does the constitution have to do with anything?

[ColinC]

6. Excuses. That's all

[msongs]

7. well since WVA is a workers' paradise these days, he does not want more competition nt

[Lulu Latech]

19. Exactly...

He's not giving up a lick of his nonsense.

[Mr. Evil]

8. He knows what's really brewing.

If DC becomes a state he'll lose his "swing vote" power. He'll be relegated back to just another Democratic (DINO actually) Senator.

[Irish_Dem]

46. Exactly. He is fighting to keep his power.

[Demnation]

9. With potentially two more Dem senators, he'd lose his relevance. Can't have that.

[groundloop]

49. He'll REALLY lose relevance if Democrats don't hold onto the Senate.

If he had half a fucking brain he'd understand that holding the House and Senate should be priority number 1.

[AZLD4Candidate]

10. Statehood IS in the Constitution, Joe. Maybe you should read it

The requirements for statehood are already there. Article IV, Section 3, Clause 1

[Evolve Dammit]

38. Good info. Thanks and welcome

[AZLD4Candidate]

44. It's what I teach. I should know it. :) You're welcome.

[Evolve Dammit]

57. We need this so badly in our educational system, starting in middle school. Thanks again

[AZLD4Candidate]

62. I teach MS social studies.

[packman]

59. Had to look it up

Article IV, Section 3, Clause 1: New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.


That last part I noted - wasn't West Virginia brought into existence through that process?

[Polybius]

60. I think the Constitution was saying that no two (or more) states can merge

States can still break into two or more new states.

[AZLD4Candidate]

61. No. No state can be made from existing states, or else the GOP would be petitioning to split Texas

rather than whining about DC statehood, because it will still balance the senate.

The only reason WV exists is because VA seceded and couldn't legally stop WV secession from VA.

[Polybius]

63. Thanks for the info

I didn't know about that. I always thought states could break up.

[packman]

68. Ahh- Thanks for the explain

[moose65]

67. Interesting

West Virginia stayed in the Union after Virginia seceded, and they petitioned Congress and became a state, if I recall correctly. I don’t know if the Virginia legislature voted to let them go, though.

[Marie Marie]

11. Biting my tongue until it bleeds.

[Irish_Dem]

47. I know.

Love your sig line.

[WHITT]

12. He's Full Of Shit

How the hell does he explain Hawaii and Alaska being admitted to the union with simple majority votes?

Bring it to the floor and call his bluff. If he's the only holdout it wouldn't be good optics for him, obviously.

[Polybius]

34. The White House wasn't in those states

He’s saying the nation’s capital must be on federal ground and not in any state, which is what he’s quoting the others as saying.

[WHITT]

43. The Federal Buildings

including the White House and Congress, would remain on federal property.

He's full of shit.

[CaptainTruth]

13. I'm really tired of this guy...

[2naSalit]

15. That makes two of us...

I'm sure there's more.

[Irish_Dem]

48. Put me on the list.

[Corgigal]

14. How can he just ignore

all those people who love there, and probably pay higher taxes then most in WV. Not helping our brand.

[jimfields33]

20. Some have mentioned giving half to Virginia and half to Maryland

If that’s the way to give them representation then let’s do it. A constitutional amendment will never happen and Manchin not voting for it keeps residence in limbo.

[Corgigal]

21. Agreed.

I meant to write live, but it got changed to love. That works too.

I feel for the people living there. They have just been asking forever. Something should have been done years ago.

[jimfields33]

22. It has to be miserable for them. I'd hate it I know that.

It would give virginia and Maryland more electoral college and house seats which would help Democratic Party.

[Polybius]

66. They're not in his state so he doesn't care at all

It's horrible.

[TiberiusB]

16. Countdown to Manchin defense force in 3...2...1...

"But there hasn't been a vote yet, so he hasn't actually done any harm."

"You want a Republican that votes with us 0% of the time to take his place?"

"We have to learn to work with the Republicans on this."

"He's always there when it's important."

Feel free to copy these lines from my upcoming collection, "The Big Book of Bullshit Defenses for Joe Manchin."

[LenaBaby61]

45. THIS 👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻

Last edited Fri Apr 30, 2021, 08:51 PM - Edit history (1)

I know that when Pres. Biden gets his first chance to place a black woman on the Supreme Court, this turd will probably say he's not voting for her because she's "too liberal." Same thing goes for that dipstick in Arizona, Sinema who we have to be wary of.

IF Manchin does that, Biden's gonna have a rough time with African-Americans come 2022, and it won't be the President's fault. The fault will lie at Manchin's feet and his feet ONLY, and same for Sinema if she votes against a black woman Pres. Biden places on the High Court.

People keep saying I'd rather have Manchin in there as a Dem.

Hell he's cutting the throats of Dems as a Dem.

[oldsoftie]

50. He didnt vote against any of Pres Obama's picks. I dont see why color would matter to him

Manchin doesnt come off as a racist.

[LenaBaby61]

71. Manchin doesn't come off as a racist.

I didn't say anything about racism with the reason as to why he'd vote against a woman of color who'd progressive that President Biden would want to put on the High Court. I'd have called him a racist if I felt that. He's drunk with power right now more than ever, and he'd just vote against a particular type of justice just to be the damn difficult DINO he is. That's how he rolls. He sat there and voted against Nera Tanden saying that her tone was too negative and decisive on twitter.

I mean really, the GQP party's tone stays nasty, racist, ignorant, and we know how viscous tRump was/is, and I guess that's fine with that fool Manchin. Hawley in Missouri called for an insurrection. So did Canadian Cruz, and Tanden's tone is too negative and decisive? Most in the GQP are ru$$ian agents like Ron Johnson and he stays talking stupid and racist, and it's TANDEN whose being divisive?

[Crowman2009]

56. +1

[Lulu Latech]

17. More Democratic Senators removes his soap box and visability.

He gets relegated to the back of the room. It is not to his advantage so screw the party and screw the people of the District. He is a selfish prig of a man.

[JohnnyRingo]

35. Yep...

He'll lose his status as Queen For A Day and go back to being a senator from West Virginia.

[Galraedia]

18. Put it up for a vote.

Let Moron Manchin be on the record for voting against it and face the backlash.

[The Mouth]

37. What backlash?

The people *FOR* D.C. Statehood already hate his ass.

[GemDigger]

23. I wish I knew exactly what he does support.

He doesn't seem to support much when it comes to being the right thing to do.

[Rebl2]

24. BIG SURPRISE!

If it’s something we want to get done he doesn’t 🤬

[turbinetree]

25. I need a drink, does he know how his state came into being.....JFC...

let me fucking remind him..........

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/west-virginia-enters-the-union

[mysteryowl]

26. He is just horrible!

I know the rules are that we should not slam a democrat, but Manchin is not functioning as a democrat.
We got rid of Moscow Mitch and now we have Manchin obstructing.

[turbinetree]

27. This is just beyond comprehension and I am biting my tongue

on what he said....all the emojis on this platform cannot speak to what he said .......... we are not stupid.......and I need a drink....... .

[mysteryowl]

29. I am reaching for the legal THC

Delta-9 THC.

[turbinetree]

30. Good one.....I still need a drink

...........

[mysteryowl]

31. Cheers

[turbinetree]

32. Thank you................

[Trueblue1968]

58. i agree with you. HE IS HORRIBLE.

[Evolve Dammit]

39. well said.

[Fiendish Thingy]

28. Fuck.That.Guy. Nt

[machoneman]

33. I agree: Fuck that guy and the horse he rode in on!

[Escurumbele]

36. Manchin, republicans' favourite senator

The gift that keeps on giving to the republican party...

Doesn't this guy understand the reason he was elected was to help pass Democratic bills? They could have elected a republican if they wanted to.

[Evolve Dammit]

42. Look at their governor.... WV has been under mining interest control for a long time. nt

[JohnSJ]

40. He also doesn't understand that to become a state doesn't require a constitutional amendment

Congress CAN grant 700,000 Americans a vote & fair representation.

[Humanist_Activist]

41. Of course he does, his problems have nothing to do with the Constitution, he's

being disingenuous.

[DallasNE]

51. Explain This Then (From The 23rd Amendment)

Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

That looks crystal clear to me. Congress can do it. I'm sure the drafter of this legislation are citing Section 2.

[GB_RN]

52. I Am Sick To Death

Of Joe “Roadblock” Manchin. He can go fornicate with himself, ingest excrement and expire.

[EndlessWire]

53. Very tired of this guy.

He's a closet Repub. He just took McConnell's spot.

None of what he says means diddly. No concern whatsoever about what the people want.

I think that we should not fall for what he says. We should try to operate without him. We are not ready to call for ANY amendment of the Constitution. Even if we could get there, and wanted to, we have to follow correct procedure.

So, who's this guy been talking to? Separate the Federal land out and make D.C. a state. IF that's what the people want!

This guy likes to play games. He likes to tease, and he's after some hidden goal. I hope he enjoys his fifteen seconds of fame, cause he's not going to have this power much longer.

What has happened to our country??

[Jose Garcia]

54. Even with Manchin's support, this had no chance of getting 60 votes

[PoliticAverse]

55. Yes, I wonder if this is an easy "no" for him since he gets to build his conservative credentials

without actually having to be the deciding vote.

[AZLD4Candidate]

64. Amazing how 50%+1 for a majority vote has turned into 60%

Pretty much government by stand still.

And this is what a lot of Americans seem to like. Democrats only won four seat, where at least eleven were electable and had extremely vulnerable Republicans.

It truly boggles the mind. At least Biden is pushing back on that Reagan "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you" and the libertarian "Government that governs least governs best" claptrap.

[riversedge]

65. "It is how West Virginia was admitted in 1863, how Hawaii was admitted in 1959, and how D.C. will b

Manchin's state was admitted through congressional action. geez!!!



"It is how West Virginia was admitted in 1863, how Hawaii was admitted in 1959, and how D.C. will be admitted in 2021."

@Stasha_Rhodes
in response to Manchin's belief that D.C. statehood shouldn't happen through unilateral action by Congress.

Link to tweet

?s=20










Manchin opposes D.C. statehood, dealing a blow to Democratic priority


President Biden has endorsed the measure, but with the Senate split 50-50 and no Republican support, Democrats can't afford any defections.


https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/manchin-opposes-d-c-statehood-dealing-blow-democratic-priority-n1266039

April 30, 2021, 6:34 PM CDT
By Sahil Kapur and Dartunorro Clark



..........................................

.................Stasha Rhodes, the campaign director for the pro-D.C.-statehood group 51 for 51, said in response that Manchin’s state came about by legislation. "It is how West Virginia was admitted in 1863, how Hawaii was admitted in 1959, and how D.C. will be admitted in 2021,” she said. “No member of the Senate should deny voting rights to 700,000 mostly Black and brown Washingtonians based on a flimsy understanding of the Constitution and American history.”

The Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed a bill last week, 216-208, along party lines, that would make the nation’s capital the 51st state. President Joe Biden has endorsed the measure, but Democrats have a 50-50 majority in the Senate and lack Republican support, meaning they cannot afford any defections in order to pass it in the current Congress.


In addition to unifying their caucus, passing the bill would also require the abolition of the filibuster. Manchin sided with legal scholars who say that D.C. statehood would require a change to the Constitution. However, other experts believe Congress can get around that by remaking a part of the District of Columbia, where the White House and Capitol are located, the "seat of the Government of the United States," as the Constitution says, and let the rest of the city of 700,000 become a state.

The legislation that passed the House proposes that by creating a 51st state with one representative and two senators, while a tiny sliver of land including the White House, the U.S. Capitol and the National Mall would remain as a federal district. Instead of the District of Columbia, the new state would be known as Washington, Douglass Commonwealth — named after famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass, who lived in Washington from 1877 until his death in 1895.

An identical statehood bill passed the House in 2020, but it died in the then-GOP-controlled Senate.

Manchin noted that even if Congress were to pass a statehood bill and have it signed into law, "you know it's going to go to the Supreme Court."

[Polybius]

69. "and how D.C. will be admitted in 2021."

Geet Jeswani has blatant overconfidence. In no way will DC be admitted in 2021.

[Mawspam2]

70. Would Manchin have a problem in recombining...

North Dakota with South Dakota to become Dakota? How 'bout ND with Wyoming to become North Wyoming