Manchin just said the divide started when Dems passed ACA w/ "ONLY" 60 votes

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14. The problem with someone like Manchin only comes into play

When we have 59 to 61 Senate seats. Then the party becomes his and his alone because he ends up having de facto veto power and essential control of progressive Democratic legislation.

When Dems are in the minority he is inconsequential, and when we have more than 61 seats he's inconsequential. Let him vote how he wants and let him yap all he wants to appeal to his constituents.

But the problem is that when he's a key vote then the entire party is held hostage to the whims and wants of "his constituents", and rather than playing hardball with someone in that position, our Democratic leadership always chooses to bend over backward giving that person what they want.