Why Democrats were desperate to win Joe Manchin's vote for an already-doomed election bill

[FBaggins]

There is a 0% chance that the sweeping election reform package pushed by Democratic leaders in the House and Senate in response to the moves in a series of Republican-controlled states to make it more difficult to vote will pass. In fact, it won't even get an up-or-down final vote. The bill isn't going to get the 60 votes it needs to end unlimited debate in the Senate, with every single one of the 50 Republican senators set to vote against it. And yet, to read the coverage in advance of Tuesday's fait accompli vote, you would think the future of the republic hinged on whether or not West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin voted to end unlimited debate on the legislation.

Senate Rules Committee Chairwoman Amy Klobuchar said she "worked all weekend" to placate Manchin and win his vote. Manchin wants part of his slimmed-down election reform proposal, which is also going nowhere thanks to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, included in the package to secure his vote. (And, yes, either way, the package has zero chance of passing, which makes debating what's included sort of, um, beside the point.)

It worked. On Tuesday afternoon, Manchin announced he would vote to proceed with the debate over an amended "For the People" Act. "I've found common ground with my Democratic colleagues on a new version of the bill that ensures our elections are fair, accessible and secure," Manchin explained. Why were Democrats SO focused on courting Manchin for a procedural vote that is doomed to fail? Simple: Politics.

See, now all 50 Democrats will vote to move forward with election reform legislation and all 50 Republicans are expected to oppose that move, Democrats can then go to their base ahead of the coming 2022 midterms and say something like: Every single Democrat wanted to make elections more fair and open. And every single Republican stood in opposition to that effort. That's the sort of thing -- when coupled with the moves in GOP-controlled state legislatures around the country to restrict voting right -- that not only would motivate the Democratic base (an absolutely critical component in a midterm election) but also sway the small number of persuadable voters in districts and states around the country.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/22/politics/manchin-fair-vote-act-senate/index.html

[Wounded Bear]

1. Let's hope we have time for that kind of politics to work...nt

[FBaggins]

2. We do

For all the hyperbolic rhetoric re: the end of democracy... Republican attempts to shift voting rules in their favor can only tweak at the margins. That's not insignificant - it could mean several seats in the House where we don't have any margin to play with...

... but these are the kinds of issues that actually drive real voter shifts. Change the minds of 2-4% of the public and you have ten times the impact of anything they can do by changing early voting hours or requiring IDs.

Assuming, of course, that we stay united and don't give the whole game away by insisting on purity to an impossible standard in candidates who represent center-to-center-right districts or states.

[70sEraVet]

4. I agree. 'The Message' is is what gets out the votes!

And that's what's been missing on the Democrats' side for years. Great ideas that were good for the country, but .....
the Republicans have always had 'The Message'. You know, 'won't be able to wish Merry Christmas', 'they will turn our kids gay', 'schools will teach our children to hate America'.......

[70sEraVet]

5. And don't forget that golden oldie;

'THE BLACK (or brown) PEOPLE ARE COMING!'

[stopdiggin]

7. actually, given the rise of QAnon, and before that

birtherism, Jones, Hannity and Rush ...

I've come to the conclusion that a significant slice of the country just kind of enjoys the WWF - and being lied to like a cheating spouse.

[stopdiggin]

6. thank you. a view of real polical consideration

and consequences.