Top Democrats Warn Against Bullying Joe Manchin

[babylonsister]

https://politicalwire.com/2021/06/16/top-democrats-warn-against-bullying-joe-manchin/

Top Democrats Warn Against Bullying Joe Manchin
June 16, 2021 at 6:34 am EDT By Taegan Goddard

Playbook: “Schumer needs Manchin to pass Biden’s agenda, and there’s a lot of eye-rolling from senior Democrats across Washington about the way the left has attacked the senator. We’re told he privately scoffs at the notion that progressive activists understand West Virginia politics better than he does.”

“At best the in-your-face tactics might simply strengthen Manchin’s position back home. At worst it could eventually push him to switch parties, something there’s increasing chatter about among top Dems. Manchin did not hit 50% in his last reelection, and Trump won the state by almost 40 points. Politics is nationalized now, and there are few remaining states that vote for different parties for the Senate and presidency, making Manchin an extreme outlier.”

“Democrats whose memory of politics stretches beyond the rise of Trump have been reminding us that in 2001, Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-VT), who was relentlessly attacked by conservatives, left the Republican Party and threw the 50-50 Republican-controlled Senate to the Democrats.”

[The Magistrate]

1. I Do Agree, Ma'am

The situation is unpleasant, but ought to be faced for what it is. No stick is available, there are only carrots to move the man. He, on the other hand, has a 'nuclear option' of his own --- he can with a word make McConnell majority leader once more.

[bigtree]

5. beat him with the carrots, then

...at least do as much in opposition to his nonsense as the WVa. Democratic party.

Just sayin.

There's a power struggle in WVa. which tracks along the values and initiatives at stake, against the state's white establishment, and the state party’s 'recently established Affirmative Action Committee, which includes Democrats who identify as Black, women, youth, seniors and members of the LGBTQ and disability communities,' has its sights on energizing voters who don't cotton to rejecting the benefits this new Democratic majority offers their state.

That's his political base, not the ultra-conservative republican party in his state working overtime to deny West Virginians those appropriations. So Manchin jumping parties is nonsensical if he wants to keep the support he has in the state party. They won't try and primary him, and I don't believe he could win a republican primary; his Jim Crow act hasn't actually moved WVa. republicans into his corner. He can't dog whistle loud enough for them, and, to date, he's wisely voted with Pres. Biden 100% of the time.

It's a choice for Manchin between a party that's bound to appease him, and a party which would destroy him for ANY Democratic associations. He's really not threatened by Democrats at all, as long as he remains a Democrat.

[The Magistrate]

9. That Sounds Fairly Thin, Sir

The group you reference is, I agree, one that makes the margin of victory for him, and he does run some risk of alienating them to the point of their staying home on 'not a dime's worth of difference' grounds.

I do not see any reason he would stand no chance in a Republican primary. The governor there ran as a Democrat and turned coat afterwards. I do not know off-hand how they work their primaries there, but if they are not closed there would be little to stop people who now vote for him as a Democrat from voting for him as a Republican.

[bigtree]

12. sounds invincible

...until you consider that Manchin as a republican candidate would likely be primaried against by Democrats who would cut pretty deeply into him.

I believe West Virginia's parties get to decide among themselves whether to allow outside voters to participate with registered members in their primaries.

The participation rates, outside influence, and national focus makes the comparison with the governors race a bit of a stretch. I think it would be such a clusterfrick that he'd do better just retiring, rather than running that gauntlet. I'd bet he'd pine away for the catbird seat he has now.

[The Magistrate]

13. Just A Position Hard To Winkle A Man Out Of, Sir

And I suspect a direct attack will only consolidate resistance.

What did Ms. Swearingen get during the primary when she ran against him as a progressive voice. roughly one vote in four?

[bigtree]

14. the coal miners daughter?

..it would be a different dynamic in that scenario which wouldn't necessarily favor Justice Democrats.

Good opportunity for (state senator) Ret. Major Richard Ojeda to step forward, who narrowly trailed Paula Swearengin in that race.

[The Magistrate]

15. Best Of Luck To The Gentleman, Sir

He seems an odd mix. The ever-elusive Sanders supporting Trump voter of 2016 in living color.

Should he make it, I expect his ratio of kisses to kicks wouldn't be far off Manchin's.

[bigtree]

16. tongue in cheek, of course

...like you say, he's the poster guy for everything wrong with the present progressive instincts opposing Manchin and the like.

Ojeda makes the fence-leaning senator look like a statesman with his frenetic shape-shifting demagoguery, but you never know.

Maybe they can get McConaughey.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. Attacking Senator Manchen is a bad idea

[ProudMNDemocrat]

3. Let the people Manchin represents put the pressure on....

When the people rise up, that sends a more powerful message in that Joe Manchin works at the pleasure of the people of West Virginia .They are his boss and they need to speak loud and clear their needs are not being met.

[Fiendish Thingy]

4. Bullshit article- Manchin couldn't win the 2024 GOP primary

He only switches parties if he plans to retire in 2024.

Fact is, every time public pressure has ramped up, Manchin has issued a statement softening his position.

Pelosi and Schumer, after private conversations with Manchin, feel optimistic that he will eventually support the For the People Act.

The pressure campaign and direct action should continue. Schumer is bringing S1 to the floor the week of June 21, and appears ready to force the issue of changing the filibuster.

Some “prominent Democrats” are pushing to cancel the August recess if voting rights and infrastructure are not passed by then…

[Lars39]

6. There won't ever be enough "carrots" for him.

[lagomorph777]

7. The Koch Bro seems to have plenty of juicy carrots.

I only hope we can come up with something that appeals to, or frightens, Manchin enough to get him to vote for things that will actually help his constituents, rather than his right-wing donors.

[Lars39]

8. I should have said from his constituents.

Biden's already appointed Manchin's wife to a good position. If that didn't give him some loyalty to Biden's agenda not much else will.

[jcmaine72]

10. Bullying? Oh, bullsheet!

Being justifiably criticized for being a Reagan democrat in the 21st century is not bullying.

[Aristus]

11. What do we need to understand about West Virginia politics?

The people there need jobs, and the public infrastructure could use some serious modernization. The yahoos in Charleston aren't doing to do anything about that. So let the Federal government help with the statewide unemployment and low-wage poverty problem.

I don't really know anyone who would prefer to starve rather than work a well-paying public works job.

[ananda]

17. Bullying? Really?

Has anyone seen one single example of any Dem bullying lately?