Manchin’s Gesture Speaks for Many of Us

Chuck Schumer went to the floor of the Senate last week and, to some, embarrassed the Democrat Party. For the Party of Nancy Pelosi, Jerry Nadler, and The Squad, embarrassing them is not an easy task. The Republican Party had unexpectedly come up with a compromise offer to temporarily fund the Federal Government and avoid a government shut down on October 31st. I say unexpectedly because most felt the Republicans had the Democrats in a corner and should not send them a lifeline. Mitch McConnell blinked, and Chuck Schumer pounced.

All politicians love the limelight, and maybe no one, except for Nancy Pelosi or AOC, enjoys it more than Chuck Schumer. Schumer is an over-the-top actor who comes off classless with many Senate chamber segments or his weekly pressers. In this case, he was handed a gift by Mitch McConnell, and he decided the best way to say thank you was to berate the Minority Leader and all Republicans. It was typical Chuck Schumer from Brooklyn.

During his time at the microphone, the camera captured the emotions and disgust of Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia). Manchin is one of two Democrats, along with Senator Sinema of Arizona, preventing the passage of the $3.5 Trillion reconciliation spending bill. This piece of legislation is a vital part of President Joe Biden’s plan, and Manchin and Sinema are alone on the Democrat side, not wanting to see this pork-filled bill pass the Senate and move on to the House. As Schumer was working towards his climactic crescendo, Senator Manchin dropped his head into his hands in the ultimate show of distaste with what his Party’s leader was doing and saying. As Schumer was winding down, Manchin left the Senate Chamber in a final show of disgust at the behavior of the Majority Leader.

When later addressing the media about his actions, Joe Manchin made it clear that he would not be complicit in the total breakdown of civility in Washington politics. He felt Schumer was out of line and that the timing and content of Schumer’s comments were unnecessary and unprofessional. He is 100% correct.

Every Democrat Senator, and even President Biden, has been meeting with Manchin and Sinema to see if they could come up with some compromise that would clear the way for these two moderates to join the other 48 Dems who have pledged their support. Schumer’s performance and the activists who have been confronting Sinema in the restroom of Arizona State University or airports are probably solidifying their Nay votes. If they are against the bill’s spirit, which is to transform America into a cradle to grave nanny state, it should make no difference if the price tag is $3.5 or $1.5 Trillion. Their vote should be the same, nay. That is not acceptable to the Democrats.

In their all-for-one mindset, dissension and individual thought are not allowed. In the Democrats world, civility has been replaced with cynicism. The debate has been usurped by divisiveness. When asked about the restroom incident of Sinema, Joe Biden said he disapproved of it, but it was part of the process. This comment is from the man who promised to bring maturity, calm, and unity back to the White House and America. Sorry, I am having a difficult time typing with my face buried in my hands.