Manchin to vote against election overhaul bill

[Calista241]

Source: The Hill

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said he will vote against a sweeping election reform overhaul bill, dubbed the For The People Act, putting the fate of the legislation in jeopardy in the evenly split Senate.

In an op-ed published early Sunday morning in the Charleston Gazette-Mail, Manchin, one of the Democratic caucus’s most conservative members, zeroed in on the partisan nature of the legislation, which has not attracted any Republican support.

“I believe that partisan voting legislation will destroy the already weakening blinds of our democracy, and for that reason, I will vote against the For The People Act," Manchin wrote.

“The truth, I would argue, is that voting and election reform that is done in a partisan manner will all but ensure partisan divisions continue to deepen,” he added.

Manchin also said he “will not vote to weaken or eliminate the filibuster,” which a number of leading Democrats have suggested in order to pass election reform.


Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/557033-manchin-to-vote-against-election-overhaul

[mopinko]

1. dont hate on me, but

he's not wrong. which is why the thugs are refusing to go along.
they are going to paint everything they obstruct as partisan, making it so.

[gab13by13]

11. Not hating but this has to be sarcasm?

Not passing S1 brings about the end of democracy. Manchin's excuses don't cut it. He has 2 choices, vote for democracy or vote for autocracy/dictatorship.

[muriel_volestrangler]

22. What, precisely, are you saying he's "not wrong" about?

He is saying that since Republicans have agreed to vote against the act, he should too. Are you just saying he's "not wrong" about Republicans all voting against it? That may be true, but it's hardly worth writing an op-ed about. The news here is that he's decided his vote should be guided by the Republican line - if they're all against it, he must be too. I hope you agree he's wrong about that.

[mopinko]

53. oh i do. they're 3 steps ahead of him.

but he is right about the perception that comes from a one sided vote.
thugs are setting that up now. win or lose, that's how they'll tar it.
that's an old play. the morons will lap it up.

if i were in charge, i would task him w finding those unicorns he sees and lining up their vote.
otherwise, he should stfu.
but he cant even get mittens.

[DownriverDem]

24. Manchin is a total fool

He's not up for reelection until 2024. Any money or programs he wants for WV should be cut off. He disgusts me on oh so many levels.

[gab13by13]

38. Yup, he wouldn't get reelected if he runs in 2024,

I'm guessing he won't even run.

[Fiendish Thingy]

54. He has already filed for re-election. But he won't be. Nt

[William Seger]

50. If he was really worried about partisanship...

... he'd be worried about what the Rs are doing in the states -- the partisan things the bill is intended to limit, and the partisan reason Rs in congress will never go along with the bill. What he's really worried about is his own political future, because he's a fucking coward in the face of the Trump cult.

[benfranklin1776]

86. Bingo!! The Rethugs in control of state legislatures are quite literally rigging future elections!

They are destroying democracy itself. The provisions stripping elections officials of their duties to supervise elections and allowing the rabid fascists in control of those bodies to override the popular vote without any justification or evidence are a direct frontal assault on people’s fundamental right to choose their leaders. It is therefore far beyond a mere partisan act on their part; it’s a profoundly unAmerican fascist attempt to allow a small cadre of individuals to seize power without the just consent of the governed. So Manchin’s utterly pathetic attempt to justify his craven, gutter crawling, bootlicking behavior by decrying the For The People Act as “too partisan” is as execrable as it is absurd. That Act is absolutely vital to the existence of democracy itself by protecting ALL people’s right to vote freely and fairly including Republicans. It’s no more a “partisan” piece of legislation than the Civil Rights Act and the original Voting Rights Acts were, or the National Labor Relations Act was. They protect the fundamental human rights of every American regardless of his or her political affiliation. He’s betraying democracy with his stance which demonstrates he’s utterly a tool of the moneyied interests financing this fascist takeover who mapped it out via the Heritage Foundation, and which he clearly sold his raisin shriveled soul to service.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. How much $$ do you think Mitch funneled to Joe?

[myohmy2]

101. can't we...

...buy a republican or three to replace him?

...give our favorite republicans all kinds of trinkets and treats to bring back to their states...shower them with loving words and easy election challengers...

...are all puke states trump states?...what's democratic about one person blocking everything?...even when it's our turn we don't seem to get a turn...do we want to wait more election cycles to be back right where we are now?...and then what?....more of the same?

...time to get serious before time runs out...

[Botany]

3. He and Sinema are being paid off, pressured, and or black mailed.

At least that is what I think.

BTW want to get rid of the partisan divide Joe? Pass this bill so the republicans
can not longer be protected by dirty elections. Notice Manchin doesn't speak
about what is in the bill but about talks about things that are not in the bill.

The republicans along with Manchin and Sinema want Biden to fail in order to
make the American people hurt so they will blame the dems.

[DownriverDem]

26. Just saw where

Sinema's big financial backer told her to vote to change the filibuster or resign from the Senate.

[not fooled]

31. That's great news

Do you have a link you could post?

[ancianita]

97. Here's something.

Former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods urged Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) and Senator Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) to agree to kill the filibuster or resign from office on Friday.

Woods, who served as Arizona's Republican attorney general from 1991 to 1999, was a prominent backer of Sinema's 2018 Senate campaign after switching parties during the same year. He now says that both Sinema and Manchin no longer belong in office if they remain unwilling to kill the filibuster in order to pass Democratic voting rights legislation....

Woods expressed a similar sentiment in a tweet from the previous day, writing that "if you don't vote to protect voting rights and save our democracy by breaking the Jim Crow filibuster, it should be your last vote as a United States Senator." Although Sinema and Manchin were not explicitly mentioned in the tweet, Woods added that there were "no exceptions."

https://www.newsweek.com/arizonas-former-gop-ag-says-kyrsten-sinema-joe-manchin-should-abolish-filibuster-resign-1597851

[not fooled]

102. Thank you

[bluedigger]

47. I'm not a big fan of financial backers giving orders or ultimatums to legislators.

Whether or not it benefits my side.

[Butterflylady]

57. So its ok that repugs have been doing this for years and years

But God forbid democrats shouldn't. Maybe that's why were in this bind. Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire.

[bluedigger]

60. Good point.

I'm off to knock off a convenience store now, because if the rich can steal there's no reason I shouldn't.

[aocommunalpunch]

65. That's fine, but that's the legalized bribery system we currently have.

[RVN VET71]

75. Backer is a former Republican, according to the story I read here.

And he’s telling her, I think, that if she wants his continued $upport, she’d better toe the line or forget about re-election. Of course now, with Manchin publicly admitting he’s in the enemy’s camp, Sinema can come over to the Dems and we’d still lose.

God, we need to pick up more Senators in 2022 or it’s game over.

[KPN]

77. That has been their game plan since Carter. They've just gotten better at it over the years.

Hopefully, their charade peaked effectively during Obama's years. Even if it has, it won't matter if their assault on voting rights works in next year.

Schumer and Biden need to step up their game with these two. Where is Lyndon Johnson when you need him?

[monkeyman1]

104. try all the above !

[Lonestarblue]

4. So Manchin will vote no and allow democracy to suffer one more kick in the teeth.

We had better get even busier and elect more Democratic Senators in 2022 so we have a real Democratic majority that wants to protect democracy and move the country forward instead of continuing the Republican status quo of doing nothing.

[gab13by13]

43. Problem is with gerrymandering

and the fascist voter laws the GQP is passing in the states it's going to be really hard for Dems to keep control of the House. Dems need to pass S1 now to counter the GQP rigging the 2022 election.

[Fiendish Thingy]

55. Without S1, Dems will lose their majorities for a decade or longer.

Warnock’s seat is gone, and possibly Kelly’s too. I don’t see 4 pickups in 2022.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

90. That means more Republican judges.

[Fiendish Thingy]

96. it means the end of democracy, and the completion of America's slide into authoritarian fascism.

The fight is NOW, in the streets of WV and AZ.

[Efilroft Sul]

5. No, senator. The truth is that voter suppression is being done in a partisan manner.

You're not going to get the same people who are guilty of voter suppression to correct their wrongdoing in a bipartisan fashion.

How stupid does he and Sinema think we are?

[ananda]

32. I don't think he wrote it for us.

He appears to be appeasing rich Republicans.

[Demnation]

7. Mealy-mouthed argument and dead wrong. There is nothing partisan about fair and open elections.

[orangecrush]

8. Where is L.B.J. when we need him?

L.B.J. was a master of arm twisting.

A President has the power to put an uncooperative senator over a barrel.

My guess is that the coal barons in West Virginia are threatening Manchin.

Joe oughta make it clear to him that that the consequences of bucking him will be much worse.

This weakling also said he would vote against killing the filibuster.

Time to look into this guys campaign finances.

[MichMan]

67. LBJ also used the FBI to investigate MLK & anti war protesters to dig up dirt and delegitimize them

Last edited Sun Jun 6, 2021, 12:29 PM - Edit history (1)

That kind of "arm twisting" ? I hope not

[pwb]

9. Eat shit No Joe.

Now you are embarrassing yourself dude. Things are becoming obvious to us about your politics. Pukes have a lot of dumb shits in office. You trying to compete with them?

[orangecrush]

10. If his campaign finances are gone over

With a fine tooth comb, I'd bet some interesting stuff would surface.

Watchdog group, perhaps?

[housecat]

66. Investigate him until we find it!

[gab13by13]

12. Democracy or autocracy Joe, that's the choices.

Schumer should bring S1 up for a vote once a week and make Manchin vote against every damn time.

[CrispyQ]

13. Hey Manchin, you just demoralized 81 million people who stood in long lines to vote for change.

It was going to be hard work getting them all back to the polls in 2022 & 2024 & now it will be even harder. Wow. What a fucker. And Sinema too.

[Crowman2009]

14. Anyone gonna post any excuses on why we still need this SOB to have a majority?

Or will they go into hiding now?

[JohnSJ]

15. The Supreme Court and judges. Regardless how he votes on this, unless they get rid of the

filibuster it would not pass anyway.

The only way to get around this is winning 2022 in both the House and Senate by more than two seats

That has been the reality since we won in 2020 because of Manchin and Sinema(sic)

[Crowman2009]

25. +1

[Elessar Zappa]

17. We need him for judges.

And, yes, he does vote for Joe’s judge choices. That’s almost as important as voting rights because the wrong judges can do irreparable damage.

[JohnSJ]

19. They are equally critical, but I cannot understand why some seem to forget that very important fact

[muriel_volestrangler]

27. He voted for Kavanaugh and Gorsuch

A comparison with the Independent Angus King: https://projects.propublica.org/represent/members/M001183-joe-manchin-iii/compare-votes/K000383-angus-king/115

"The wrong judges can do irreparable damage" is indeed something that Manchin should be made to remember.

[Elessar Zappa]

29. I know that but

he’ll also vote for Biden’s nominees. If McConnell was in charge, we’d get no judges probably.

[muriel_volestrangler]

34. So it's not about "the wrong judges", which is who Manchin has voted for

It's about assuming that not a single Republican will vote for a Democratic-nominated judge, and therefore we need to throw away people's voting rights.

[Elessar Zappa]

36. That's not what I meant.

I meant it’s better that we have Manchin on our side because we would be even more fucked if McConnell was in charge. I don’t like his stupid positions on voting rights either but he’s all we got until 2022.

[muriel_volestrangler]

37. I would say we don't "have" Manchin any more

In the sense that he prefers to have his vote on voting rights be guided by Republicans than by his own judgement, or by Democrats. And he won't reform the filibuster in any way.

[LenaBaby61]

93. "I meant it's better that we have Manchin on our side."

He's certainly NOT on the side of African-Americans and minorities by voting NO on a voting rights bill he called Partisan, which would have aided African-Americans/minorities in voting which is what the GQP is stopping us from doing because they have recently been able to pass over 400 pieces of legislation which will severely curtail the voting rights of African-Americans and other minorities come the next major election cycle. What if his buddy Racist McTurtle tells him that the black female judge Pres. Biden is sure to want to place onto the court is too liberal, a Commie and this guy refuses to vote for her? Then what? Dems have to put people onto the court that Racist McTurtle wants? That ass stacked the court enough for the GQP all across this country, so now he tells Manchin to not vote for these Commie judges. Can you say assuredly that Manchin will do the right thing? He's not doing the right thing NOW by calling a bill partisan which helps African-Americans and other minorities to express their God-given RIGHT vote for whom/what they want to vote for. I mean what, he didn't see what happened on January 6th, 2021 when tRump sent his crazies to destroy the US Capitol? I mean even when the GQP loses they still end up winning. I mean, after 400 plus years of being treated like 2nd class citizens, here he comes to make sure we know our place as 2nd class citizens by helping the GQP in their efforts to steal an election that they cannot win fairly and squarely.

Finally, I agree with you when you say that he's all we got until he's voted out of there, but he sure isn't on the side of African-Americans or minorities as their rights to vote are being taken away from them by HIM and the GQP, and like I said, we already have over 400 pieces of GQP-inspired passed legislation helping them to take back the House & Senate and when that happens Pres. Biden WILL be impeached. There's no doubt about that. and you KNOW worse is coming as the GQP will try to totally END our democracy if they do steal back the House/Senate. Manchin's worth $7 million dollars and is a white center-right male, so of course he gives no fucks about the rest of us here.

[New Breed Leader]

30. Yeah like the asshole in Cali who equated AR15's with Swiss Army Knives

[mahina]

99. I've provided contextual info in his support. Not hiding. Hurting.

[Orrex]

16. Oh yes, I recall his tireless efforts to combat Republican partisanship

Wait, no I don’t. He only finds his spine when he’s fighting against the Democratic agenda and, in this case, against democracy itself.

[AngryOldDem]

40. +1

Reprehensible. Just what is he trying to prove?

[NewHendoLib]

18. DINO. DINO. DINO saur, before too long. Yuck,

[Hotler]

20. Note that you don't hear Joe Manchin preach to the repugs to be

more bipartisan. It is always the Dems that are asked to play nice.

[elleng]

81. Right

[ananda]

23. He wrote it in a fucking op-ed!

What a horrible man.. and such bad logic!

[Calista241]

33. An op-Ed to announce voting positions isn't unusual.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he let Schumer and others know in advance, but the op-Ed announcement is pretty standard.

[ananda]

83. He's announced it to the whole country..

This is very bad.

[New Breed Leader]

28. I'm frightened for the future of our democracy right now.

Truly terrified.

[PortTack]

45. Remember..all the voter suppression laws are being legally challenged and if not all at least the

Most Egregious parts will not stand

Marc Elias one of the attorneys leading this fight said these laws are poorly written, illegal and unconstitutional. He agrees we need legislation to fix this, but added that the suits being bought will buy democracy some time.

It’s up to us now to do everything we can to GOTV..volunteer, donate, support our Dem leaders and those fighting the court battles-.deomcracydocket.com, ACLU, NAACP, DNC and others.


For updates
Follow Marc Elias and democracydocket.com on twitter

[Humanist_Activist]

52. With the amount of dumbass Trump judges on the bench, I don't know if I can trust...

the judiciary on this. Not to mention this Supreme Court is even more conservative than the one that gutted the Voting Rights Act. Fascism is coming to America, and unfortunately it has some bipartisan support.

[piddyprints]

35. I find his shit

So disturbing. I’m terrified of what will happen to our country from 2022 and after.

McTurtle has already broadcast his intention to block Biden’s agenda. What part of that is Manchin missing? In order to have bipartisanship, both sides have to be willing to play. The GQP has signaled on several occasions in recent years, and even just this year, that they are not willing. They want power at all cost, even the cost of the country.

Dear Senator Manchin, just the act of going down in history is not an accomplishment. People will know your name in the future, but not because you did anything to help save our democracy. You will be remembered as one of the most ignoble non-patriots of this time. Please consider the future of our country that you pretend to love.

[AngryOldDem]

39. Why the fuck is he a Dem?

More to the point, as others here have said, there is a lot more at stake now than these stupid partisan turf wars.

Just leave, Joe. Please.

The filibuster is a cancer.

[world wide wally]

41. Trump/Mancin 2024?

Just asking

[AngryOldDem]

79. Would that really surprise anybody...

…the way things seem to be headed?

[Marthe48]

42. We aren't supposed to criticize sitting dems

so I will bite my tongue.

As I watch democracy die because of one obdurate _____

[gab13by13]

44. We damn well better criticize the positions they take

when it involves the loss of our democracy.

[Marthe48]

64. a few weeks ago I posted a comment critical

about manchin and a DU ad. deleted it and kindly pointed out we aren't supposed to post negative things about sitting dems. I haven't changed my opinion about manchin, I just keep it to myself. It is not a good opinion and I agree we should be speaking up loudly and vehemently to defend our right to vote, our need for an economic direction that lifts as many people as possible.

[AllaN01Bear]

46. i think that this guy is a false flag and have been feeling this all the way along.

[patphil]

48. If that bill doesn't pass, the Republicans will probably gain control of both houses in 2022.

They have engaged in a highly partisan effort to manipulate the voting process to insure they win big in 2022. I can't understand why Senator Manchin doesn't see this.

The sad truth is that the Republicans aren't interest in any form of bi-partisan legislation for any reason. They want it all, and will do what it takes to get it.

He believes that partisan voting legislation will weaken our Democracy. Well, we will probably get to see him proven right when all these Jim Crow laws are in place.

[padah513]

72. Senator Joe Manchin

Doesn't see it because he doesn't want to see it. Nary a peep during trump's four years and now he's squawking like a parrot whose tail-feathers got stepped on. Someone throw the towel over his cage and shut him the freak up. Chuck Grassley said that repubs could count on Manchin and Sinema did a presser with John Cornyn. Manchin even said that he talks to trump regularly. Need I say more?

[bucolic_frolic]

49. Exactly what's partisan about universal sufferage?

That fascists don't like it?

[William Seger]

73. Well, it severely disadvantages a party with a plutocratic agenda, huh

[Fiendish Thingy]

51. Fuck.That.Guy. Anyone against the For The People Act supports Jim Crow 2.0.

I hope the streets of WV are filled with protestors this summer.


To potential jurors:

If this were 1960, would you hide a post that said “Fuck That Guy” regarding Strom Thurmond or George Wallace? (Both Jim Crow supporting Democrats).

[Paladin]

56. Chickenshit motherfucker.

He needs to pay for this, big-time.

[jalan48]

61. If the 2020 election in Georgia had taken place under today's new Georgia voting laws would the two

Democratic candidates have won?

[Oliver Bolliver Butt]

62. So his vote depends not on the merits of the bill, but on who else votes for it

Good to know.

[hadEnuf]

63. Does he think the restrictive anti-voting laws being passed

in Republican states are NOT partisan? The For the People Act is a direct response to Republican attempts at division.

Manchin is a stealth Republican. Is there a way to recall or otherwise get rid of this Vichy ass?

We need to start playing hardball with this type of shit.

[LiberalFighter]

68. Being bi-partisan is not always a good thing.

Being fair, honest, and democratic is.

[HUAJIAO]

69. ""I believe that partisan voting legislation will destroy the already weakening blinds of our

democracy....."

Talk about the "blinds"....

[Politicub]

70. I just don't get it. I have a theory of why things are playing out

in the way they are, and it’s so depressing. I hope I’m wrong. Time for another news and politics break.

[PSPS]

71. Translation: My reelection relies on voter suppression.

[seta1950]

74. I'm so angry , I better not say anything 😤

[KPN]

76. Vomit! What a crock of shit! A red herring rationale for not defending our democracy. "Already

weakening blinds [sic]"??? "will all but ensure partisan divisions continue to deepen"??!

Give me a fucking break!

Manchin needs to go. He's no democrat. Ditto Sinema.

[Marrah_Goodman]

78. Grrrr... I cannot stand him

[elleng]

80. DAMN

[PoliticAverse]

82. Manchin supports the John Lewis Voting Rights Act...

From: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/manchin-support-measured-voting-reform-lieu-sweeping-democratic/story?id=77646348

Sen. Joe Manchin is breaking with Democrats and throwing his weight behind a more measured voting rights bill in lieu of the sweeping Democratic voting reform bill that Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has labeled a top priority of the caucus.

The Democrat from West Virginia told ABC News exclusively that he intends to support the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, a more narrowly tailored piece of voting rights legislation that he said he believes could muster bipartisan support even as voting legislation is becoming a flash point between the two parties.

[aocommunalpunch]

87. LMAO

a. he can't show his bipartisan support cause it ain't there, and
b. they'll vote against it anyway.

[dlk]

84. In a democracy, how can removing barriers that prevent eligible voters from voting be a problem?

Maintaining those barriers or erecting new ones is anti-democratic. If we have a government that is not truly of the people, by the people, for the people, there is no democracy. Manchin is demonstrating he doesn’t really believe in the Constitution or in democracy.

[Ziggysmom]

85. Manchin and Sinema are both shills

[Schmice3]

88. ARE THERE NO PATRIOTIC REPUBLICANS AT ALL?

Forget Manchin. He's only a Democrat because of political expediency. His multimillionaire daughter is the CEO of a big pharma company involving EpiPens. In the words of the old Union song: "Which Side Are You On"

Oh workers can you stand it?
Oh tell me how you can?
Will you be a lousy scab
Or will you be a man

Well, we know what side he's on. Can't waste time on him. Surely there must be ONE Republican with a conscience and an eye on history who can do the right thing. If not, their names will go down in history as the assassins of American Democracy.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

89. "The people of W. Virginia sent me here to represent them -- by taking away their right to vote."

We had so much hope for Biden's agenda to move America forward, which is supported even by many Republicans.

Manchin can go to hell.

[BobTheSubgenius]

91. Has he not paid even the SLIGHTEST attention to the "election reforms the GOP are pushing?

He is really a conundrum - ran as a Democrat, identifies as a Democrat, but some of his positions seem more in line with those of a complete moron, or someone who's got something going on the side, so to speak.

[Jopin Klobe]

92. "Manchin, one of the Democratic caucus's most conservative members ..." ...

... and, yet, all the talking-head programs refer to him as "a moderate Democrat" ...

... he's not even close to any type of Democrat ...

[yaesu]

94. Jeff Tiedrich tweets about it

Link to tweet

holy fucking shit, Joe Manchin is the most powerful Republican in government

[marie999]

95. Wouldn't the Supreme Court find the part about the people running for president

and vice-president having to show their tax returns unconstitutional? I am not sure about the rules of ethics for the Supreme Court.

[Calista241]

100. Why would they? Social security numbers and tax returns aren't mentioned in the Constitution.

There’s no inherent right to privacy for someone’s personal data. And it’s not like they’re involuntarily publishing everyone’s stuff, you only have to release data if you’re running for President.

[marie999]

105. The Constitution is very specific on what a person has to do or be to be president.

Otherwise, Congress could add all kinds of requirements.

[turbinetree]

98. I need a drink ...

[Marthe48]

103. We will get over the roadblocks

Everyone is tired of fighting the same battles, when the other side keeps throwing up exhausting tactics and finding fresh troops to support their side.
We will have to go back to loading as many voters as possible into the parameters that are available. We will have to use our sincere belief in democracy and the vote to get more people out to vote for representatives who support the U.S.A. and our Constitution.

GOTV!