Charlotte, NC — Speaking on Sunday, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) says that he will support more of the Democratic Party initiatives as the Biden agenda moves forward. This announcement came as many in his party were frustrated with Manchin after he delayed the COVID “relief” bill that was being negotiated. That bill passed along party lines without any Republican support.
He made the comments on NBC’s “Meet the Press” show, where he also declared his support for the filibuster. He said that he will not waver in his support of the filibuster as the Democrats move their agenda forward.
Manchin said that the Democrats must listen to the minority to make sure they get the legislation right, trying to echo a theme of bipartisanship that has been promised by the Biden administration. While it has been promised, it has yet to be seen as Democrats have forced their way on any action that they have taken so far.
After Manchin delayed action in the Senate, many Democrats came out in support of removing the filibuster. They do not want any discussion over their actions, they simply want to move forward and force their will through Congress.
I’ve made up my mind.
We need to move this country forward, and that’s why I’ve decided to come out in support of eliminating the filibuster.
— Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) March 5, 2021
While Manchin says he supports the filibuster, his comments that he supports party-line votes leaves little doubt that the Democrats will successfully force their agenda through. He said he supports using the reconciliation method to bypass votes that require 60 votes and that he supports making the filibuster painful for those who may attempt them.
While Manchin made the comments and tried to indicate that he supported Republicans having a voice, his actions tell a different story. Sure, Republicans may get to share their feelings, but their feelings will have no support or ears at all. Democrats will simply move forward without the Republicans anytime they wish.
And Manchin will not stand in the way of the agenda. He will support the move to allow Biden’s agenda to pass as much as possible. Manchin is trying to walk a line that will ultimately fail.
He is from a state that voted in support of President Donald Trump and could be viewed as a vulnerable Senator in the 2024 election depending on how he acts and how the next few years go. He is certainly in the spotlight as Democrats see him as the only obstacle in passing the party line votes. They do not appear likely to get much Republican support for their efforts.
Manchin’s comments should be no surprise to anyone. While many on the right have placed their trust in Manchin, it proves that he cannot be trusted to stand in the way of Joe Biden. He may delay a vote, but he certainly will not stop it.
Democrats will force Manchin to support their agenda or face the consequences. It’s hard to say what they have already threatened Manchin with to this point to guarantee his support. He had initially been against the COVID “relief” bill, but caved to their demands very quickly.
JD Washington is the Editor-in-Chief at The Liberty Loft and host of The JD Washington Show. Be sure to subscribe to The Liberty Loft’s daily newsletter. If you enjoy our content, please consider donating to support The Liberty Loft so we can continue to deliver great content.
