Bill Clinton, Oprah and his fellow centrists: Dems go all-out to sway Manchin

[demmiblue]

Source: Politico

The strongest voices lobbying Joe Manchin to change Senate rules and advance elections reform aren’t liberal activists or die-hard filibuster opponents. Instead, they're a small group of his friends who once shared his reluctance.

It’s no accident that the same trio of centrist Democrats has nudged Manchin throughout the past month’s flurry of talks about the future of the filibuster. Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Angus King (I-Maine) were all resistant to loosening chamber rules that empower the minority party. Now, they’re leading the campaign to sway the West Virginia Democrat.

Tester, Kaine and King have met at least a dozen times with Manchin to talk about Senate rules, sometimes joined by other Democrats, according to participants. They're the vanguard of a delicate effort to chip away at Manchin’s steadfast opposition to changing the filibuster.

Manchin has told colleagues that his phone line has been lighting up with prominent names outside the Senate in recent days. He’s heard from former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama and talk-show legend Oprah Winfrey, plus former staffers to both Manchin and former Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), according to a person familiar with the talks. Manchin's office declined comment on those calls.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/01/07/clinton-oprah-democrats-manchin-filibuster-526691

---

Link to tweet

[CurtEastPoint]

1. it's a shame this ignorant pissant richie rich has such power.

[Irish_Dem]

2. I know, it is disgusting.

[ShepKat]

3. would it be easier

to sway a republican or 2 ?

[LeftInTX]

4. Probably!!

[JT45242]

5. Probably get banned -- but isn't that what they are doing

[thesquanderer]

13. Yeah, maybe ones who are not intending to run for re-election... Do they exist? n/t

[Polybius]

19. Good idea

Maybe Collins.

[karin_sj]

6. It's infuriating

... that everyone as to kiss his ring and try to convince this guy to do the right thing. It's not democracy when one man has that kind of power, especially when he represents just a tiny fraction of our country. Ugh.

[jaxexpat]

8. ..........and he's no Democrat if he must be kissed up to do the right thing!

He's so far off track that he's still trying to convince folks he's not a "Company" man. Although everybody knows he damn well is.

[PatSeg]

10. Yes, it really is

I agree, one man in congress should not have so much power over millions of people.

[azureblue]

7. MAnchin needs

a visit from Sonny and Vito.. Just a little chat, you know. No rough stuff..
Or
Simply have the IRS go over his daughter's business's taxes with a fine toothed comb. He'll get the message

[TheRickles]

15. Yes, I suggested that the DOJ go full Soprano on her. Turns out there's already a federal anti-trust

suit agains her EpiPen company for colluding with Pfizer: https://theintercept.com/2021/09/07/joe-manchin-epipen-price-heather-bresch/

Joe hasn't gotten the message yet.

[CousinIT]

9. It's INSANE that this is even necessary.

SHOULD IT TAKE ALL THAT to get what is evidently not a very bright man to RECOGNIZE the existential importance of this moment for our Republic -- so that he will decide to prioritize the survival of Democracy over an arcane, abused, and undemocratic senate rule?

Manchin's LEGACY - and Sinema's could easily be that they PRESIDED over the death of the US Republic, in favor of a filibuster. Who on the Republican side is bribing Manchin? He speaks with McConnell regularly. Who else on the R? This is INSANE and we don't have TIME for it.

[papa3times]

11. I believe

Manchin is going to kill this, tragically. He is so corrupted by money. He is killing Biden's Presidency.

[turbinetree]

12. Why do I feel that someone is in need of diaper change......literally....

*&^%$#@)(&!@$*^^ Joe Manchin....

While I am at it, did this baby get up in the well of the senate to speak on 1/6/2022.......anyone got video of him doing it or how about Sinema.......just asking for friend....

[MontanaMama]

14. Friggin' narcissist.

Power drunk, Manchin is. He probably didn't even take Oprah's call.

[Lasher]

16. I don't think this will work.

Just a feeling.

[bahboo]

17. maybe Oprah can gift him a new Maserati....

seems to be what works with this fuck...

[2naSalit]

18. Doesn't seem to be able to...

Get it. He certainly can't take a hint, I hope the megaphone works.

[stollen]

20. Get this POS and his Eva Braun accessory to move their asses

I'm sick of both of them