Reporters shouted questions about Joe Manchin at Joe Biden has he returned to the White House this morning from his stay in Delaware. Here’s what that looked like:
After not being seen all weekend, Joe Biden ignores questions from reporters upon returning from a long weekend in Delaware.
Biden has no public events today.pic.twitter.com/W2wDIqf3r7
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 20, 2021
Of course, Biden just completely ignored them all on his long walk from the helicopter. His ‘agenda’ has just been crushed and by Manchin and he’s got no hope, no matter what Democrats say.
So far the White House has done nothing but attack Manchin, claiming he’s a liar or something, as if that’s going to change his mind.
Unlike Biden, Manchin isn’t hiding from reporters. Here’s what Manchin is telling a West Virginia radio station this morning:
Joe Manchin to WV radio details his rationale to oppose Build Back Better. Said he told Schumer months ago there needed to be means testing, work requirements. Said months ago he noted the bill was "very far-reaching. "We have been way far apart philosophically."
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) December 20, 2021
Manchin says Dems are going too far given the split in the Senate. "We're in a 50-50 Senate, you all are approaching legislation that there is 55 or 60 Democrats."
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) December 20, 2021
"I just knew what the intent was from Day One," Manchin says on WV radio. "There are only two out of 50 Democrats. Forty-eight Democrats would have signed onto $3.5 trillion. .. I want social reforms to the point that has responsibility and accountability."
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) December 20, 2021
Wait, I thought Manchin’s main beef was that he didn’t trust poor people? LOL. Democrats are going to try and destroy Manchin now. Problem for them is that both he and Sinema aren’t up for reelection until 2024.
UPDATE: Here’s a couple more tweets from Manchin this morning:
Manchin takes a shot at WH staff. "This is not the president — this is staff.. They drove some things that are absolutely in excusable."
"I just got to the wit's end of what happened."
He won't say if he'll accept scaled-back bill. Says it needs to go through committees first
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) December 20, 2021
Asked if there's a place for him in the Democratic Party, Manchin says: 'I would like to hope there is still Democrats that I feel like I do." But then suggests that could change if that's not the case …
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) December 20, 2021