Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) is a common target of the leftist media because, for the most part, he doesn't go along with the Democrat Party's radical agenda. Therefore, he's not a real Democrat because he's somewhat rational, and hasn't completely lost his mind. The exchange which took place on Sunday's Meet the Press is sure to inflame hostilities between Manchin and his party.
During an interview with Manchin, Meet the Press anchor Chuck Todd tried to get Manchin to weigh in on his party's midterm prospects. The conversation quickly went in an unexpected direction. "What’s your case for Democrats to keep control of the House and the Senate this election year?" Todd asked.
Manchin responded "I don’t know, it’s just if you look back through history it makes it very difficult, especially in the most toxic times we have ever seen. So it’s up in the air right now."
Todd quickly cut the Senator off and asked if he "hope[s] Democrats keep control of the House and Senate?" Manchin paused, shifted in his seat awkwardly, and said:
I think people are sick and tired of politics, Chuck. I really do. I think they're sick and tired of Democrats and Republicans fighting and feuding and holding pieces of legislation hostage because they didn't get what they wanted or something or someone might get credit for something. Why don't we start doing something for our country? Why don't we just say this is good for America? I've always said the best politics is good government. Do something good, Chuck. But I'm not going to predict what's going to happen.
A clearly frustrated and triggered Todd blurted out "I'm not asking you to predict...What result do you want? Do you want the Democrats to keep control of the United States Senate and the House of Representatives?"
Not taking the bait, Manchin noted how he's "not making those choices or decisions on that. I'm going to work with whatever I have. I've always said that." He added that he "think[s] the Democrats have great candidates in the running, good people I worked with and I have a tremendous amount of respect and friendship with my Republican colleagues. So I can work on either side very easily."
"You don't care about the outcome this year? Of the elections?" Todd said in exasperation.
"Well, whatever the voters choose, I can't decide what’s going to happen in Kansas or California or Texas," Manchin replied. "I've always taken the approach whoever you send me, that's your representative and I respect them and I respect the state for the people they send, and I give it my best to work with them, to do the best for my country. I don't play the politics that way. I don't like it that way. That's not who I am."
This segment of Chuck Todd pressuring Manchin to say he wants Democrats to keep control of Congress was made possible by Allstate, Verizon, and IBM. Their information is linked.
To read the relevant transcript click "expand":
NBC’s Meet the Press
July 31, 2022
10:44:58 a.m. EasternCHUCK TODD: What’s your case for Democrats to keep control of the House and the Senate this election year?
SENATOR JOE MANCHIN: I don’t know, it’s just if you look back through history it makes it very difficult, especially in the most toxic times we have ever seen. So it’s up in the air right now—
[crosstalk]
TODD: Do you -- would you like -- do you hope Democrats keep control of the House and Senate?
MANCHIN: I think people are sick and tired of politics, Chuck. I really do. I think they're sick and tired of Democrats and Republicans fighting and feuding and holding pieces of legislation hostage because they didn't get what they wanted or something or someone might get credit for something. Why don't we start doing something for our country? Why don't we just say this is good for America? I've always said the best politics is good government. Do something good, Chuck. But I'm not going to predict what's going to happen.
TODD: I'm not asking you to predict.
MANCHIN: I want to make sure we do something good.
TODD: What result do you want? Do you want the Democrats to keep control of the United States Senate and the House of Representatives?
MANCHIN: I would love -- you know, I'm not making those choices or decisions on that. I'm going to work with whatever I have. I've always said that. I think the Democrats have great candidates in the running, good people I worked with and I have a tremendous amount of respect and friendship with my Republican colleagues. So I can work on either side very easily.
TODD: You don't care the outcome?
[crosstalk]
TODD: You don't care about the outcome this year? Of the elections?
MANCHIN: Well, whatever the voters -- whatever the voters choose, I can't decide what’s going to happen in Kansas or California or Texas. I really can't. I've always taken the approach whoever you send me, that's your representative and I respect them and I respect the state for the people they send, and I give it my best to work with them, to do the best for my country. I don't play the politics that way. I don't like it that way. That's not who I am.
