Democrats Are Done Playing Manchin's Games

Senator Joe Manchin rocked the political world this weekend by announcing - on Fox News - that he definitely wouldn't support the Build Back Better reconciliation bill. This time, the White House let him know that they're done with his games.

Senator Manchin’s comments this morning on FOX are at odds with his discussions this week with the President, with White House staff, and with his own public utterances. Weeks ago, Senator Manchin committed to the President, at his home in Wilmington, to support the Build Back Better framework that the President then subsequently announced. Senator Manchin pledged repeatedly to negotiate on finalizing that framework “in good faith.”

On Tuesday of this week, Senator Manchin came to the White House and submitted—to the President, in person, directly—a written outline for a Build Back Better bill that was the same size and scope as the President’s framework, and covered many of the same priorities. While that framework was missing key priorities, we believed it could lead to a compromise acceptable to all. Senator Manchin promised to continue conversations in the days ahead, and to work with us to reach that common ground. If his comments on FOX and written statement indicate an end to that effort, they represent a sudden and inexplicable reversal in his position, and a breach of his commitments to the President and the Senator’s colleagues in the House and Senate.

It's probably useless to speculate why Manchin would go from proposing an outline for BBB to completely pulling the rug out from under the whole thing. Perhaps he knew that he and Biden were getting close to moving forward on something he was never prepared to support. But that's just a guess. 

At any rate, it is clear that Manchin has been playing games. That is demonstrated by how he handled this announcement.

After Democrats worked with Manchin in good faith for several months, he didn't just kneecap them yesterday, he did so without class. Instead of picking up the phone and letting Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer know about his decision, Manchin waited until yesterday morning — less than an hour before his on-air appearance — to have an aide let party leaders know.

He then announced his opposition to the bill on Fox News — a network closely affiliated with Republican politics — after reportedly turning down a phone call from the White House.

It wasn't just the White House that called Manchin out. Majority Leader Schumer issued a "Dear Colleagues" letter to Senate Democrats.

These are just some of the major issues the Build Back Better Act would immediately address. We were elected to address these many needs and we will not stop fighting until we do. Therefore, Senators should be aware that the Senate will, in fact, consider the Build Back Better Act, very early in the new year so that every Member of this body has the opportunity to make their position known on the Senate floor, not just on television. We are going to vote on a revised version of the House-passed Build Back Better Act — and we will keep voting on it until we get something done.

Schumer is saying that Manchin will have to go on record with a vote to "make his position known on the Senate floor." The "not just on television" remark took direct aim and how the Senator from West Virginia handled himself over the weekend.

But the Majority Leader took things a step further, saying that the Senate will consider a rules change in order to pass voting rights.

Additionally, please be advised that shortly after the 117th Congress resumes in January, the Senate will consider voting rights legislation, as early as the first week back...

I believe our constituents deserve to know which Senators choose to hide behind ill-conceived and abused rules and which Senators prefer to restore Senate floor procedures to better align with the Founders' intentions. As Former Senator Robert C. Byrd said in 1979, Senate rules that seemed appropriate in the past 'must be changed to reflect changed circumstances.

The pointed reference to one of Manchin's heroes, Sen. Robert Byrd, wasn't lost on anyone. 

Schumer ended the letter by promising Manchin that he'll face a long night of pushback on Tuesday.

To further discuss these issues, we will hold a virtual special caucus on the evening of Tuesday, December 21, the longest night of the year. 

One of the members Manchin will be hearing from on Tuesday night is sure to be Senator Raphael Warnock. He recently took to the Senate floor to challenge Manchin's notion that any voting rights bill must be bipartisan.

When I’m asked about bipartisanship—which I firmly believe in—I just have to ask, at what expense? Who is being asked to the foot the bill for this bipartisanship?

And is liberty itself the cost? pic.twitter.com/b7HVckQyIT

— Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (@SenatorWarnock) December 14, 2021

Warnock pointed out that slavery was bipartisan - as was Jim Crow. The refusal of women's suffrage was bipartisan, along with the denial of basic dignity for members of the LGBTQ community. He went on to say that "the 3/5 compromise was the creation of a putative national unity at the expense of Black people's basic humanity." That is the basis on which he posed the question: "Who is being asked to foot the bill for this bipartisanship?" I can imagine Warnock putting that question to Manchin directly on Tuesday night.

None of this is to suggest that Manchin will change his mind and vote for either BBB or voting rights. But it's clear that, after his performance over the weekend, Democrats are done playing Manchin's games. It's time to put up or shut up.