Manchin’s Message: I Won’t Be Democratic ‘Rubber Stamp’

[The Northerner]

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Gov. Joe Manchin III's odd political dilemma in his bid to succeed the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D) was evident the minute he began speaking to the 55th annual gathering of a local Democratic club.

Rather than delivering the standard Democratic campaign boilerplate, Manchin launched into well-rehearsed remarks assuring his audience that if elected on Nov. 2 he will not "rubber-stamp" President Barack Obama's agenda, that he opposes cap-and-trade legislation to regulate carbon output, and that he would work to repeal much -- although not all -- of the new health care law. Manchin delivered the same line during a pep talk to volunteers at the Monongalia County Democratic headquarters.

In an interview on Thursday afternoon following his luncheon speech at the Clinton District Democratic Women's Club, Manchin readily acknowledged that Obama and Democratic leaders in Washington, D.C., are acting as an albatross in a Senate race that most prognosticators assumed would be among Democrats' few easy victories this fall. Manchin is running against wealthy Republican businessman John Raese, who has led the governor in most recent polls.

"It's hurting, it's hurting. And, yes, don't like these overreaching government policies," Manchin said in the lobby of the Ramada Inn Hotel in Morgantown. "We're a West Virginia Democrat, we're responsible, we're held accountable, we don't think everything should be given away, we think you should earn it. We don't think government should tell you everything you should do. But you have to have government for that balance, and they think it's out of balance."

"The only rubber stamp I am is for the people of West Virginia," he added.

Read more: http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docid=news-000003749319&topic=Feature

[neverforget]

1. How about running as a Democrat? You know, stand up for the little guy?

[nxylas]

2. So, whose agenda will he rubberstamp?

Don't answer that, it was a rhetorical question.

[montanacowboy]

3. His Agenda is Big Coal

and always has been - so why not just run as a Repuke and get it over with;

[Bitwit1234]

4. Gee not run as a Democrat run as a republican if that is how you feel

or did you run as a Democrat thinking you would get the most votes while still being a republican.

[OHdem10]

5. Democratic Politicians are the last to catch on, I fear. The change

has come--it is here. Either be an authentic Democrat or
an authentic Republican. DINOs are not selling and it is
going to get worse for you.

Do the Joe Manchin's of the world ( and we have quite a few
here in DC) not get it??? You look like a weak Hypocrite
when you diss your own party. This rubber stamp line may
have worked years back. An authentic Democrat can win.
People want leaders who believe in something and who will look
out for their interests. People will often vote for you even
if they do not agree with you on every issue.

Do not give voters the opportunity to pick a real Republican
because they cannot stand "fake" 'Republicans. (DINOs)

[tritsofme]

6. Obama got 42% of the vote in this state.

Was he not being authentic enough?

[OHdem10]

8. I do not believe Obama was dissing the Party or its leaders.

[TwilightGardener]

7. He should dress up as a lump of coal for Halloween. That's pretty much

all he's doing here--pledging his utter devotion to Big Coal above all.

[nxylas]

9. I suppose his argument would be "what's good for big coal is good for WV"

And it's not entirely untrue, a lot of jobs depend on coal and steel there (my wife's home town of Weirton is basically a company town owned by Weirton Steel). Those of us with an environmentalist bent need to rise to the challenge of planning how places like Steel Valley can make the transition to a post-carbon economy without devastating job losses.

[TwilightGardener]

11. Yes--that is the reality of that region, politically.

Although Manchin seems to be going a little overboard on the Dem-refudiating (to borrow a Palinism).

[nxylas]

17. Yeah, it's not like it's rock-ribbed Republican

He's already the governor, ffs.

[jefferson_dem]

10. In his opponent's latest ad, he says "I'm not perfect" ... and uses "rubber stamp" three times...

over a 30 second spot. What a fucking teabagging tool.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

12. I Agree

What is Machin supposed to say?

"I'm going to be a rubber stamp."

[jefferson_dem]

13. Besides, electoral politics and messaging aside, I suspect it would be the truth.

Manchin would be more Ben Nelson-ish than rubber stamp-ish if he is elected to represent WV.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

14. His Opponent Is A Real Piece Of Work

I rather have Manchin. flaws and all.

[BlueIdaho]

15. Well THAT'S a relief!

Now where did I put that sarcasm thingie...

[FBaggins]

16. Say "Reid/Pelosi" if you must... or even "Obama"...

...but if you're running as a Democrat, for heaven's sake don't say you won't actually BE a Democrat.

Say you're a WV Democrat not a Washington Democrat. This is just dumb.

[bornskeptic]

18. Did you read the OP?

You said

"...but if you're running as a Democrat, for heaven's sake don't say you won't actually BE a Democrat.
Say you're a WV Democrat not a Washington Democrat. This is just dumb."


Manchin said

"We're a West Virginia Democrat, we're responsible, we're held accountable, we don't think everything should be given away, we think you should earn it. We don't think government should tell you everything you should do. But you have to have government for that balance, and they think it's out of balance."

You're calling him dumb for not saying exactly what he said.

[FBaggins]

21. There's a difference between saying "A instead of B"

And saying "A and B"

The concern is that he's knocking the party in general rather than just the few that moderate dems in WV have a problem with.

It's as if he's not trying to pick up democratic voters.

[smalll]

19. I can definitely see Manchin at some point going all the way with this kind of stuff --

and promising, if elected, to caucus with the Republicans.

[golfguru]

20. A Republican light?

I don't think that is wise.

[BlueIdaho]

22. Light? nt.

[golfguru]

23. Opposite of heavy lol

Light is the correct word, Lite is slang.