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U. S. Senate podium (photo: scecon via Flickr)
Joe Manchin is an epic disappointment already. He was the only Democratic senator to vote no on a DADT repeal earlier in the month, and then refused to even show his face for the vote on Saturday for the DREAM Act and DADT. SO what pressing engagement had him so tied up that he couldn’t muster an appearance during one of the biggest voting days this Congress has seen thus far?
A Christmas Party, of course!
Manchin spokesman Sara Payne Scarbro elaborated to the Charleston Gazette in an email, saying that he and his wife “planned a holiday gathering over a year ago with all their children and grandchildren as they will not all be together on Christmas Day.”
“While he regrets missing the votes, it was a family obligation that he just could not break,” Scarbro said. “However, he has been clear on where he stands on the issues.”
Source: TPM
I’m a little embarrassed to call Manchin my senator right now. The fact that he skipped out on clearly the most important vote since he has taken office is sad. It doesn’t bode well for his future in the Senate either. Thankfully he’s up for election in 2012; I’d like to see Secretary of State Natalie Tennant give him a run for his money then.
Manchin has pissed off the unions too. In West Virginia, if you’re a Democrat, unions play a vital role in your political life. If Manchin loses the union vote he can rest assured that his tenure as a United States Senator will not last very long at all. . . .
Statement by: West Virginia AFL-CIO President Kenny Perdue Regarding Sen. Joe Manchin’s Absence during Critical Votes
“Great Senators make difficult decisions and they display courage and leadership in the face of adversity. The late Robert C. Byrd personified these qualities. Unfortunately Senator Joe Manchin isn’t demonstrating characteristics of a great Senator during his first month in office. Avoiding key votes on the DREAM Immigration Act and the repeal of the military “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy, issues central not only to the citizens of West Virginia, but to our nation, isn’t just a bad political maneuver, it is ineffective representation and leadership.
Senator Joe Manchin took an oath to be a voice for the great state of West Virginia in the U.S. Senate. It’s a job that encompasses voting on important issues, not avoiding work on the days tough issues are decided. Experience is gained not by sidestepping responsibilities but by commitment, steadfast study and, yes at times, personal sacrifice. It is hoped Senator Manchin will soon begin to display the political integrity and courage West Virginians expect in their Senators and take a page from the late great Senator Robert C. Byrd who never lacked for courage or leadership on the U.S. Senate floor.”
Perdue is president of the West Virginia AFL-CIO, a group of more than 550 unions.
Source: WVaBlue
I voted for Manchin as an alternative to John Raese, his batshit crazy Republican opponent in the mid-term election. Manchin is thus far a disappointment.
11 Comments
My guess is you’re saying that Manchin probably shouldn’t unpack. Hate it that he’s a D.
In my opinion he shouldn’t, however the West Virginia voter base is another story entirely.
Its hard to tell how the state felt about DADT as a policy, and I assume a majority wouldn’t support the DREAM Act. So if that holds true, then Manchin may very well be representing the views of most of his constituents.
WV tends to be fairly socially conservative.
Manchin played the Democrat Party for their support. Who can forget his campaign Ad taking aim at Washington with his imaginary gun? Manchin is really a Republican in sheep’s clothing. He should be ousted in the next WV primary.
Another Baby Boomer where it’s all about senator Manchin.He’s just not that into the USA.Maybe he will get to to show the top 20% where his loyalty really belongs in 2011.
Leaders lead. If West Virginians need to discuss and be educated on these issues — immigration and LGBT rights — who better to lead that discussion than a popular former governor who just got elected Senator?
Shame on Manchin for skipping these votes. I’m sure the party would have gone on without him. And it’s not like West Virginia is far from DC anyway, he probably could have made the trip after the vote.
I fear further disappointment from this one, Chuckie. All I can say to him is, “Didn’t you WANT to be a Senator?”
Yeah, I’m not sure there’s any reason to make this generational, particularly. There are plenty of ME generation folks in the Senate of ALL generations, don’t you think? Kind of a broad brush you paint with when you start a comment “Another Baby Boomer…”
There’s lots of us here trying to do our best.
That was a real gun. And yes, but lets consider who was running on the other ticket. I’d take Manchin over Raese anyday. However, he needs a primary opponent.
Rockefeller also supported him highly even before he announced his candidacy. It’ll be interesting to see if he tries to talk some sense into him
As for the party, he claimed that his family would all be in and he wouldn’t be able to see them any other time. I find it hard to believe that you couldn’t show up for 2-3 crucial votes. Its clearly a cop out.
(I know plenty of people that commute from WV to DC, so yes its very close)
Well, we did know it was just a choice of bad or worse, right?
Just a typical Republican in Dems clothing.
But I’m sure that you made the right choice; Raese would have been much worse. Maybe not on these issues, but on others to come.
We just have to find better primary candidates, and make sure they can get elected. Everywhere.
Feel for you.
Natalie Tennant!
Cut Joe some slack! 75% of all West Virginians believe Obama is a Muslim and was born in the old Belgian Congo. Obama got a brisk 25% of all democratic voters in the primary. The only way West Virginians have survived is by having strong family ties and anything gay sounding freaks them out because they view the gay life style as anti-family. If Joe had voted pro-gay he would have cut his own throat and assured his seat would end up gop in the next two years when he comes up for re-election. Do you Joe knockers want his seat to tip the senate back to Mc Connell and his K Street whore mongers?
Zenostoa