What Does Joe Manchin's Staff Say?
Does he have a staff any more?
I assume Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) has a staff to keep him on track to do what his voters elected him for. But when he’s all over the map with his opinions and Senate votes, what can advisors say? Maybe confusion works with his voters.
I credit Manchin that his well-known principle of bipartisanship is not just an idea. In fact, his political record shows the extreme he goes to, avoiding to look like a Democrat. So he does live what he preaches.
But does bipartisanship fit this American moment?
Right now Manchin must admire how he holds out against Biden’s For the People Act. His reason is that “the right to vote is fundamental to our American democracy and protecting that right should not be about party or politics.”
But in this particular American moment the Democrats are tasked with protecting our democracy, not the Republicans. Can Joe Manchin tell the difference?
Maybe a staffer should slip him a memo: “Following a misguided principle doesn’t make you a leader.”
Manchin has called himself "fiscally responsible and socially compassionate" in terms of helping his West Virginians. Yes, the right to vote SHOULD not be about politics; however, it HAS BECOME that and needs to be defended. No more magical thinking about "shoulds"....time to deal with reality. Thanks, Deda, for your thoughts.