Manchin denies story he's considering leaving Democratic Party

[mcar]

Link to tweet

?s=20

Manchin denies story he’s considering leaving Democratic Party: “It’s bullshit,” he told me. He added: “I have no control of rumors.”

[hlthe2b]

1. Maybe so, but he certainly does benefit from this rumor.

And given he's done very little the past 18 months--the absolute minimum-- to suggest otherwise, it is only understandable people are believing it. Damage done.

[JohnSJ]

6. What damage? Nothing has changed

[hlthe2b]

10. You don't get the damage in sending the message that Manchin is considering becoming an R?

Do you likewise not get how it benefits HIM to spread that rumor (whether he did or merely is benefitting from it?) Really?

At the very point that the entire Biden Presidency is on the line? Really?

It amounts to the same as the extortioner moving from mere threats to a loaded gun at one's head.

[JohnSJ]

15. The reason why is he has immediately refuted it. If he let it fester for several days, I would be

more in line with your assessment

The "threat" of Manchin leaving the party has always been an unsaid concern, though it is pretty clear he enjoys the power he has

[hlthe2b]

17. He doesn't need all day to let it fester. The reporting is ALREADY wide and very much like the

proverbial "shot heard around the world..." At least in Democratic circles.

[Phoenix61]

20. Nothing was said about him joining the Republican Party. nt

[hlthe2b]

24. "Nothing was said?" No, not on nationwide public broadcast video from his moutn, no, but otherwise

that rather misses the point. We see MSM reporting unnamed associates speaking for politicos all the damned time and that was what happened here. Do you choose to ignore ALL unnamed sources?

No, you can't say with any certainty whatsoever that "nothing was said" only that nothing was said on the record and Manchin has NOW claimed the story to be false. And we, of course, all know that he has such a spotless record for always speaking the truth--or do we?

If, (I say IF), it was his plan to seed the public sphere with this rumor to send a message to his fellow Dems--to emphasize his position of power, this has played out exactly as one would expect. And yes, it has reduced public confidence in Dems succeeding on Biden's plans or any other proposals. It feeds right into the RW objectives, whether he remains a Dem or not.

[Phoenix61]

30. Leaving the dem party doesn't automatically mean he

would join the Republican Party does it. It’s much more likely he would be an independent.

[FBaggins]

26. Nice Senate majority you've got there

It would be a shame if something were to happen to it.

The progress of negotiations appeared to take a significant turn for the worst yesterday. I doubt that it was a coincidence.

[hlthe2b]

27. Yup... Seems you and I are among the few--the only ones to recognize the speech patterns

and/or tactics of those engaging in power play.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. Yeah

Lost of Manchin would mean that no more Biden judges would be confirmed

Link to tweet

[Haggard Celine]

3. I was hoping it was bullshit.

That would ratchet up the tension among the Democrats even higher, and we don't need that at all.

[Hortensis]

4. Sounds more like him than threats to join the traitors. Better be true

or we're in severe, severe trouble.

[msfiddlestix]

9. I think we need to act like we are, and run races like there's no tomorrow

because TFG along with Moscow Mitch are not suffering from any legal consequences that would take them out of political life, and that is the ultimate danger.

[Runningdawg]

14. THIS 100%

[Hortensis]

25. We don't know that they won't, tho. Especially tRump.

McConnell's always been very self protective, but he could have made mistakes and developed exposure. Also, not all consequences are through the legal system. If McConnell became an "embarrassment" to those he threw in with, the little man could be discarded. Just like the Tea Partiers when they went renegade and became an embarrassing problem. Moscow Mitch is nothing without power to be used.

I think what we need above all is to define ourselves with achievements, answers to problems and betterments for the people that voters want, can understand, believe in and really care about. And remember when they vote. Even though they mostly were complaining more than paying attention.

[msfiddlestix]

48. Principally I agree.

But the corruption has been so over the top and Mitch sees there are no longer limitations for to grift, No accountability required no consequences. So he doesn't have to care what the American People or the folks in Kentucky want and need. Only what is required to keep the Republican Party in Power with him at the top of the helm. Manchin is not unlike Mitch. He's playing a different angle though and gives fuck all about either party.

People are paying attention, they're seeing that very serious crimes can be committed by those in power. and they're seeing power plays in the house and the senate to advantage the corporate overlords to the detriment by the opposing party despite the efforts of our own to fight hard against their machinations.

If the only response is to GOTV, this fantasy we call a democracy is going to vanish right before our eyes. We have to have accountability both politically and judiciously, in plain sight and in real time.

[Hortensis]

52. So agree with most. But reimposing accountability requires power

and support from the people. If we could just do it, we would. Because you're right. We can't continue like this. Our nation would ultimately fall to them.

[BlueCheeseAgain]

5. Thank goodness.

Anyone saying that Manchin is already a Republican is mistaken. I understand the frustration with him. But Manchin's voting record is far, far, far, far, far preferable to that of any Republican senator, including Susan Collins or Lisa Murkowski. And of course, losing control of the Senate would be a colossal disaster.

The big question is whether we want a big, ideologically wide, Democratic Party or a small, ideologically pure one. While at times unsatisfying, to me the answer is the first one. If you want to get things done, you need a coalition. And that includes everyone from Bernie Sanders to Joe Manchin.

[JohnSJ]

7. I agree

[leftstreet]

8. That's exactly what he wanted to hear

He probably leaked it so he could deny it, but the threat is out there and everyone can kiss his worthless ass in gratitude that "at least he's a Democrat" and then cave completely

Schumer needs to be replaced with a leader willing to strip these pampered millionaire senators of their committee assignments

[msfiddlestix]

11. This 10,000 %

[AZSkiffyGeek]

18. Hey! Let's trash Schumer now!

Why stop at Manchin? Let's replace Pelosi as well!
Hell, why not primary Biden?

[leftstreet]

38. I would replace both leaders

I've said it many times here

And I'm not "trashing" them as elected officials or Democrats - they have good qualities

But neither of them has the leadership skills that can rise to this moment in history

[mcar]

39. Some here think they know how to govern

more than these three leaders.

[hlthe2b]

28. What I have been saying as well. I won't naively' trust him going forward.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

12. The moment Manchin left for the GQP, he'd become about 100X less important

I really don't think he wants that.

[Torchlight]

13. I bet he was floating a trial balloon and got spooked by the reaction

He's not really a left-leaning Democrat, but he's not dumb either. He's gotta placate his state's Democratic base as well as pander to the WV independents.

I'm guessing he wet his finger, held it up in the air hoping for leverage, but soon realized which way the wind is blowing.

[Thomas Hurt]

16. He did it and denied it to make himself the center of attention. He is playing the spoiler.

He has power in the position he is in. Seems he is just another malignant narcissist like the Pig.

[C_U_L8R]

19. Maybe he started the rumor himself

Seems to be yet another attention-getting ploy. Ugh.

[obamanut2012]

23. lol I just posted the same thing

[Irish_Dem]

43. I was going to post this as well. Certainly would fit his psych profile to start the rumor himself.

He has a strong need to control others and likes to threaten to get his way.
He is a bully.

[world wide wally]

21. Yeah, right...

Mitch McConnell would NEVER tell Manchin, or anyone else what to do.

[obamanut2012]

22. I believe it may be BS

I believe he, or someone else for him, "leaked" the info to pressure Biden. He is still a dick, and I hope we hold the Senate and add a couple seats to neuter him, but who the fuck is he if he is an Indie or GOP? No one.

[Alhena]

29. Hope so, but it was an awfully specific story to have nothing at all to it

[UTUSN]

31. He's such a well spoken, articulate gentleman.

[MineralMan]

32. David Corn is not my favorite political pundit.

In the initial thread, I pointed out that he did not name any of the "associates." I think it was a flier on his part. Manchin's denial can be written off for reasons like some written in this thread, so Corn loses nothing.

I don't trust David Corn, to tell you the truth. He has been all over the place for years.

[mcar]

34. This is not the first time he's reported in this style, IIRC

[MineralMan]

35. That's true, however, without corroboration, I'm not convinced

that it's 100% legitimate. Corn also attacked Obama and Hillary Clinton at strategic times, and seems to waver all over the place when it comes to his political opinion. I know he's a MoJo regular and comments on MSNBC sometimes, but, I never take what he says as true without some sort of independent corroboration.

Now that Manchin has said this is "Bullshit," Corn needs to identify his source(s) - the "close associates" he mentioned but didn't identify.

I don't consider David Corn to be as reliable as I think he needs to be to be believed without corroboration.

[mcar]

40. That's exactly what I meant

I lost trust in him some time ago with another "sources say" Bombshell that ended up not being true.

I agree, he needs to ID his sources.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

42. Reminds me of Rick Wilson's breathless pronouncment last week

That the 1/6 committee wasn't going to do anything. Lots here latched on to that as well. Confirmation bias drives web clicks.

[mcar]

44. Good point

Confirmation bias drives web clicks.

[Hav]

50. The initial "leak" never made any real sense to me

Not because it's unthinkable that Manchin could leave the party but because of how detailed the leak was. It would have undermined the very plan Manchin allegedly had. It rather read like someone writing some fantasy story about the motivations of another person without having any insider info.

[MineralMan]

51. Yes. Too many people are ready to believe anything.

It's sad.

[Qutzupalotl]

33. Sinema whistles and sashays by.

[BlueIdaho]

36. If Manchin became a republican

He would be out on his ass before you could say Big Pharma kickbacks. Nah - he realizes his only value is as a roadblock to any Democratic agenda item.

[Poiuyt]

37. Frankly, I'm surprised he hasn't switched parties already

[mcar]

41. Why would he?

Lose power, fundraising ability, and the Rs would just primary him next time around.

[spanone]

45. How will we know?

?

[wellst0nev0ter]

46. If Manchin leaves the Democratic Party, his political career is OVER

It goes without saying that no real Democrat would vote for him anymore.

Look at what happened to Joe Lieberman after how he sabotaged Obama's agenda and campaigned for McCain.

Also Manchin voted to convict TFG twice. That loses him the trumpanzee vote in a deep-red state.

He's better off staying put and staying in line.

[mcar]

47. Agreed

[LetMyPeopleVote]

54. There is no way for Manchin to win in 2024 if TFG is on the ticket

Effectively Manchin's career will end in 2024

[honest.abe]

49. I hope this is true.

As bad as he is, we desperately need him... unfortunately.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

53. On the Reidout, Corn is still sticking to his reporting

Link to tweet