During an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier on Wednesday, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) explained how the rhetoric has become “so toxic” and how it scares him that politicians on both sides value their party over the election.
“Cori Bush says: ‘Joe Manchin’s opposition to Build Back Better Act is anti-Black, anti-child, anti-woman, anti-immigrant. When we talk about transformative change, we are talking about a bill that will benefit Black, brown and indigenous communities,’” Baier asked. “Your response to Congresswoman Bush?”
“I would just say the congresswoman doesn’t know me. She doesn’t know me. And I’m happy to talk to her. I think maybe she will have a different opinion. Go home to West Virginia and ask people, and I think you will get a different opinion,” Manchin responded. “And this is a shame when we start this war — war of words. I’m not going to speak ill about any of my congressional friends and colleagues on the House side or the Senate side.”
“We can have a difference of opinion,” Manchin continued. “The rhetoric around here has gotten so harsh and so toxic that you can’t agree to disagree anymore. You can’t sit down and say, OK, I disagree with you, Bret. You’re going to say, OK, Joe, do we agree on the same problem? I said, yes. Let’s start working. Tell me what you think you would fix it. That’s not happening.”
“And … let me tell you what I don’t hear, what scares the bejesus out of me,” Manchin later added. “I don’t hear people saying: This is good for our country. It’s more or less on both sides: This is better for my party. This is better for the 2022 election.”
