What’s Happening:
The Washington swamp was sent for a loop when Democrat Sen. Kyrsten Sinema announced she was ditching the party. The Arizona politicians will become an independent, citing the Democrats’ shift toward “radicalization.”
This change sets up big problems for Democrats. They don’t have 51 assured votes to force their agenda through. Sinema left specifically so she wouldn’t have to obey Schumer or Biden. That has led people to wonder if another Democrat could jump ship soon too. And this was his stunning answer.
From Twitter:
Just asked Joe Manchin if he may become an independent like Sinema did. “I’ll look at all of these things. I’ve always looked at all those things but I have no intention of doing anything right now. Whether I do something later, I can’t tell you what the future is going to bring”
Manchin: “I’m not a Washington Democrat. I don’t know what else to tell you. … And if a Washington independent is — we’ll see what happens there. We’ll have to look. People are registering more for independent than any other party affiliation, they are sick and tired of it.”
Manchin: “I’m not a Washington Democrat. I don't know what else to tell you. … And if a Washington independent is — we'll see what happens there. We'll have to look. People are registering more for independent than any other party affiliation, they are sick and tired of it.”
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) December 12, 2022
Wow. A reporter from CNN asked Joe Manchin if he would follow Sinema and leave the Democratic Party. Manchin, more than Sinema, has long criticized the radical left wing of the party. He is a vocal critic of Joe Biden and has refused to support many of his party’s bills.
When asked if he’d leave, he didn’t say yes. But he didn’t say no, either. There was a good reason Sinema left the Democrats. And it has everything to do with the folks back home. Arizona was a long red state that is sadly turning purple. But there seems to be a growing number of folks who reject both parties. Sinema is trying to capitalize on that trend by leaving the DNC.
Will Manchin do the same? There doesn’t seem to be as many West Virginia voters leaving either party to become independents. West Virginia is a strong red state–and signs point to it getting redder. If Manchin leaves Democrats at all, he’d do well to join the GOP.
His answer does shut the door to leaving at all, though. He flatly stated he was not a “Washington Democrat.” What does that mean? Aren’t Democrats… just Democrats? Is this a clue that he is soon to deprive Democrats of another seat?
If Manchin was smart, he’d become an independent and caucus with Republicans. That would keep him safe with conservative and liberal voters back home. And it would rob Schumer of the majority he’s been lusting over.
But is Manchin the kind of man brave enough to take such a leap? That’s not for us to say…
Key Takeaways:
- Joe Manchin did not say no when asked if he’d leave the Democrats to become an independent.
- This comes as another Senate Democrat leaves the party.
- Manchin has long criticized Democrats in Washington for their wild spending.
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