White House lights up Manchin after he crushes Biden's megabill

[Polybius]

Source: Politico

Biden left negotiations with Manchin this week thinking the two men could cut a deal next year on his sweeping agenda. Then the West Virginia Democrat bluntly said he is a “no” on the $1.7 trillion in an interview on “Fox News Sunday.”

Those comments prompted an immediate war with the White House, who took personal aim at Manchin for what officials saw as a breach of trust. White House press secretary Jen Psaki released an unusually blunt statement saying that Manchin's comments "are at odds with his discussions this week with the President, with White House staff, and with his own public utterances."

Manchin’s rollout on Fox News infuriated Democrats Sunday morning. Psaki said that the senator had brought Biden an outline of a bill similar in size and scope that "could lead to a compromise acceptable to all."

"If his comments on FOX and written statement indicate an end to that effort, they represent a sudden and inexplicable reversal in his position, and a breach of his commitments to the president and the senator’s colleagues in the House and Senate," Psaki said. "Just as Senator Manchin reversed his position on Build Back Better this morning, we will continue to press him to see if he will reverse his position yet again, to honor his prior commitments and be true to his word."

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/12/19/manchin-says-he-wont-support-bidens-social-spending-bill-525458

[Vinca]

1. I'm thinking Manchin is going to go full traitor and switch to the GOP by year's end.

And we're stuck with him until 2024 either way.

[heckles65]

8. As said a number of times

Manchin isn't going to switch parties. If he does so, he's just one more name in Mitch McConnell's hip pocket. There's no fun in that.

West Virginia is an anomaly. Most of its physical space is occupied by tiny, dying towns, but ones that are completely convinced that if they hold tight, the days of Pit No. 2 needing three hundred men on Monday morning will come back. They don't need no stinkin' Build Back Better bill.

[Orrex]

15. That's a terrific summation of Red rural America in general

If only they keep worshiping billionaire energy barons, their towns will return to the glory days of prosperity.

[Escurumbele]

17. He is in the hip pocket of donors, so why would he mind being in another hip pocket, plus the ones

he is already in may be very happy if he switches parties. The question is if his constituents will be happy with that move, they did vote for a Democrat after all.

I have always felt he is a republican disguised as a Democrat. He should be a poster boy for political science students on how not to be, plus of course all the horrible examples from the republican party.

[Trust_Reality]

34. I have to wonder if Manchin was a plant right from the start.

Trump focused a lot on coal mining jobs, as in WV, which might have been intended to help turn out the vote for Manchin. Manchin has clearly been sabotaging Dem legislation, changing his mind as needed to make sure most of Dem legislation gets stuck. Who calls Manchin to tell him what position to take tomorrow? The guy is not a straight shooter. He is too inconsistent, dishonest, not trustworthy. He has got to be owned. So, was he a plant right from the start?

[raccoon]

53. You and me both! Let me hug you! Nt

[quakerboy]

39. I think you overestimate him.

I think if we were smart, we would shove through as many appointments as possible, focus on that since legislation is not actually possible.

And the shove manchin out the door. Dont let him wait till during/after the election to profit by switching sides.

Make him and his fellow republican's obstruction the focus of the election. Its not the ideal message to run on, but its better than letting the focus be on how democrats with a majority failed to accomplish what the nation needed done.

[olegramps]

52. The basic problem is that Manchin is not an honorable man.

He assured President Biden that he would back the bill that Democrats had compromised with him to get his support. Then he goes on FOX News, the Republican propaganda machine, and stabs the president in the back with his announcement that he will not vote for the bill. He could not have given the Republicans a better Christmas gift. He is a man without honor. A person that I would never trust in combat with my life.

[DBoon]

2. There must be dirt on Manchin known to the Democratic Party leaders

Now is the time to release it.

[TexasTowelie]

19. What?

Since when have Democratic tactics evolved such that we support blackmail? Those type of underhanded tactics drags us down to the same level in the gutter as Republicans.

[quakerboy]

40. Releasing information on ethical or legal failings

Is not blackmail. thats letting sunshine in on wrong doing. And we should want any wrongdoing by any elected officials, the ones we like and the ones we find loathsome, exposed.

That said, if we had it and were leveraging it for his compliance, that would be blackmail. And if that were the case, apparently poorly done blackmail, as at every step of the way he has harmed us by making Democrats appear weaker, less effective, and more divided than we are.

[TexasTowelie]

41. The member that I responded to did not say anything about releasing information on

ethical or legal failings, that member used the word "dirt" instead. That covers a far broader range of material than releasing information on ethical or moral failings. Will they bring forth some sexual escapades from decades ago and the statute of limitations has expired? Some will attempt to spin it as letting in the sunshine, but others can look at the same post and come to the conclusion that the comment was meant to be vindictive.

I believe the diviisiveness in the Democratic Party predates Manchin. He is the latest iteration of the whipping boy from the progressive wing of the party as evidenced the near daily bashing that he has take since at least the beginning of the summer.

[quakerboy]

42. Wow

Just.. wow.

[TexasTowelie]

43. I'm just pointing out what the other member wrote.

I don't know why you are shocked by it since the pixels are there for you to read yourself. That poster said bring out the dirt with no concern about limits, constraints, or verification of what is being released. Just...wow.

[summer_in_TX]

50. Gotta agree.

Manchin's been accused and smeared repeatedly on Twitter and even here. When the worst is feared every moment, I think it often becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I've worried that those rowing out to his yacht and similar demonstrations would likely just make him much less likely to see things our way. Maybe it's because I have a stubborn streak myself, and I could feel that streak coming to the forefront when I thought of myself in his place.

He has a record that has admirable characteristics mixed in with disappointing stuff. Biden reminded us that he believed he would get farther by treating everyone as a reasonable human being (Golden rule stuff). He made progress in some areas, but the behavior of some of our own did not reflect a shared approach. They took it too far.

Same with Justice Breyer. Too much pressure. Some of the pressure on Sinema has been too much too, the folks in the elevator for example. There's persuasion and then there's browbeating. A fine line, and sometimes strong emotion takes us over that line.

[True Blue American]

20. The Corporate machine owns him.

I just found out Manchin only won by 2 points. He has made his money, will not run again but that is no help now. We need to elect more Democrats this next year. That will defang him.

[pacheen]

54. He's not going to run again?

Why would he act this way if he’s not going to run again?

[JudyM]

28. Someone on the other side might have dirt on him.

[Captain Zero]

30. That IS how THEY operate.

And why he is in their pocket.
Seems like they are telling him how to delay, delay, obstruct, obstruct, which is their game.

[TexasTowelie]

44. Speculation.

I think we should leave the conspiracy theories to the GOP rather than create our own.

[yaesu]

3. I am not from WV, WV voters hired Manchin for that job, he was hired as a Democrat

I have no say whether Manchin should hold that job but as a Democrat I can voice my disgust at the way he does that job, question why he doesn't vote for bills that are supported by an overwhelming majority of Democrats. I have my doubts about his ability to separate personal wealth and power from decisions that effect the lives of millions of Americans. But Manchin is not the only one in the party that I have doubts about. I'm also not ready to throw anyone under the bus who doesn't support a particular bill for whatever dubious reason, that will be up to WV voters. Like it or not we need Manchin, we need the majority & we need to keep fighting to keep him in the fold & not get too carried away with bashing no matter how disgusting his tactics are.

[CrispyQ]

4. Announcing it on Fox was a real "Fuck you" to the entire party.

What a prick.

[Joinfortmill]

7. Yup. Sucks, bigly.

[onenote]

18. Or simply a way to reach his constituents

[ShazzieB]

48. Or both.

Reaching his base and giving Biden the finger are not mutually exclusive activities.

[onenote]

49. True.

But a lot of posters think that if only West Virginians knew what Manchin was doing they'd pressure him to change his position. But his going on Fox suggests that he's not concerned about his constituents knowing what he's doing -- his constituents overwhelming vote Republican in most elections and aren't likely to be receptive to messaging from Democrats, no matter what the message is.

It's a knee-jerk reaction, but it's also the reality of today's politics.

[chowder66]

27. +1

[calimary]

45. No kidding.

ANY of the other major on-camera outlets would have jumped at an interview. And he picked Pox Noise. That should tell us all something. I think he went there knowing they’d be favorably disposed toward the way he voted, rather than have to deal with some hard questions from anybody else.

[agingdem]

5. In other words...

Manchin, you're a damn liar...

[DownriverDem]

6. If he ran to Fox to announce it

what secret deal did Manchin make and with whom?

[monkeyman1]

10. ran hell ,fox probably hired a damn limo to his boat ?????

[maddiemom]

29. Was his Maserati in the shop?

[monkeyman1]

38. nah , it was repo 'd !!! his check from the Kremlin bounced!!

[Kablooie]

12. Lots of billionaires who would pay a lot to destroy Biden and boost Trump.

[Bengus81]

9. Think parents in WV need the Child Tax credit Manchin?

It's going to expire on 12/31 and Congress is gone until sometime in January.

[otchmoson]

11. West Virginians obviously don't need no stinkin' help to afford their medicines

Why would Joe Manchin be concerned that the people of his state have access to more affordable medicines? It was HIS daughter (Heather Bresch) who permitted/promoted/led the EpiPen debacle that saw prices for EpiPens skyrocket, and intense advertising “scare” campaigns that resulted in exploding profitability for Mylan (and, of course, its executives/shareholders). The acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree; it seems self-aggrandizement (greed) must be in the Manchin gene pool. I recently saw a picture of Manchin aboard his yacht and wondered who else was aboard, and how many bags of cash they brought with them?

[SergeStorms]

24. As long as West Virginians can get Oxycontin...

they're happy. The don't call it "Hillbilly Heroin" for nothing.

Manchin is alright with that, as long as those lobbyist dollars keep padding his bank accounts, and he doesn't have to see or hear the families crying for dead loves ones. I imagine he has high fences and security systems around the Manchin mansion.

[PatSeg]

13. Merry Christmas Senator Manchin

You truly are the gift that keeps on giving.

How do you live with yourself?

[Blue Owl]

14. Lumps of coal in Manchin's stocking

Problem is, they were put there by his sugar daddies...

[bucolic_frolic]

16. President Biden understands the power of the presidency

and he's showing America who's president. You can bet this is well thought out ahead of time. And quite a lengthy statement from his press secetary. Rare move in my memory.

[erronis]

26. Agree. This was a well thought out response. Joe doesn't shoot from the hip.

unlike the former guy who's orifice emitted a constant stream of incomprehensible diarrhea.

[Jon King]

21. Biden had no choice.

There was no choice, pin the blame where it belongs on Manchin. If Manchin wants to switch parties and make Mitch leader, not much can be done anyway.

[Jon King]

22. A guy whose state has 1.8 million people crushed the climate and sent kids back into poverty.

What a wacked out system of government the US has.

[calimary]

46. Yep. That's a good way to word it.

Backstabbing is a useful word to add in, also. And “Joe Manchin doesn’t want to help people.” My favorite slur against republi-CONS fits him, too.

And in my Indivisible group’s next round of Call to Action emails, you bet I’m gonna use it!

[BlueIdaho]

23. Dear White House

Please stop taking ManChin’s phone calls and take him off your Christmas card list.

Merry Christmas
Millions of loyal Democrats.

[AlexSFCA]

25. Manchin won WV dem primary with 70% of the vote

It is ludicrous to assume he represents interests of any other state but WV. If you want BBB bill to pass then elect more dem senators. His purpose is to ensure we have dem majority in the senate, all these bills are nothing without judiciary that we get to nominate and confirm. Unlike dems, GOP is always laser focused on judiciary while we are tunnel visioned on legislation. Any and All legislative achievements can be easily overturned by courts.

[UCmeNdc]

33. Excuses Excuses Excuses for a selfish politician. Joe Manchin only cares for his own well being.

[fierywoman]

31. Isn't there ONE Democrat in W Virginia who could primary him and win?

[Polybius]

36. Sure, but that Democrat will be to Manchin's right

There is no Democrat to his left that can win in a General Election.

[AlexSFCA]

37. 100% fact. Few on this forum realize this fact.

What else is 100% fact? Manchin is better than ANY republican because he votes to confirm judges and justices. We ALL should be grateful to him for giving us senate majority not hate him. Name one “true” dem who can win a senate seat in WV?

[bluestarone]

32. Hard for me to say this, BUT

Maybe it's time to pick out a few senate RETHUGS and make a deal with them? Can't do any worse that dealing with Joe after he ran to fox news. This SMELLS to high heaven.

[rurallib]

35. Wonder how many zeroes were in the check that Repug donors

gave to their Joe this morning?

[OnlinePoker]

47. They better have a strong candidate ready to primary his ass in 2024.

I know it was close in 2018, but the next one needs to be on the ground fast and hard.

[Mike Niendorff]

51. Simple solution here:

* delete 100% of the aid for WV from the bill.

* offer exactly 100% of that total to the state of *any* R Senator who switches their vote to support the bill.

* If it changes nothing, at least it spotlights the 50 R's who are voting the exact same way as Manchin (D-NameOnly).

* If it changes 1 vote, do the exact same thing to Sinema.

* Give it about a month.

* Then, let's vote.


MDN