U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, Democrat from West Virginia, under fire from many elected Democrats and Democratic voters, pushed back on Thursday, proudly declaring he's no liberal – and announcing his top-dollar limit on President Joe Biden's social spending bill, the Build Back Better Act.
"I've never been a liberal," Manchin told reporters when pressed on his positions on President Biden's $3.5 trillion social programs legislation.
Manchin says his top-dollar limit is a mere $1.5 trillion.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV): "I've never been a liberal in any way, shape, or form," so if progressives want a bigger reconciliation bill, "elect more liberals." pic.twitter.com/Xkf7NLRMtp
— The Recount (@therecount) September 30, 2021
Joe Manchin is saying we should take his $1.5T bottom line and take the rest to the ballot box in the midterms.He doesn't recognize that we're in the majority and White House because we already did that. pic.twitter.com/hj8frbNDbG
— Sawyer Hackett (@SawyerHackett) September 30, 2021
Instead, Manchin announced he's willing to support less than half of the Biden agenda:
*MANCHIN: MY OFFER REMAINS $1.5T FOR SPENDING PLAN
— Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) September 30, 2021
Former Clinton White House press secretary weighs in:
It's amazing how closely Manchin's comments track with Republican talking points. Inflation, he compromised going from zero to 1.5 trillion. It's really quite remarkable
— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) September 30, 2021
National Journal's Zach C. Cohen posted this very telling image of the scrum of reporters surrounding the West Virginia Senator.
On a pivotal day for the Democratic agenda, Sen. Joe Manchin gaggles with the press outside the Capitol. pic.twitter.com/7xIuMryXES
— Zach C. Cohen (@Zachary_Cohen) September 30, 2021
Protesters chanting “hey Joe, we had a deal" as Manchin's presser begins: pic.twitter.com/Xg6aBXw4XX
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) September 30, 2021
