The moment the White House accused Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) of betraying “his commitments to the president” may have been the straw that broke the camel's back.
SEE ALSO: Manchin Hints at Leaving Democratic Party
Manchin has tried to negotiate with his fellow Democrats over the Build Back Better (BBB) bill for months. Manchin's opposition to BBB's most controversial provisions never wavered despite the attacks against him.
In an appearance on “Fox News Sunday” Manchin revealed that he wasn't able to reach an agreement with President Biden, Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Schumer. He also reiterated his concerns about BBB's impact on inflation, the debt, and the ongoing supply chain crisis.
Manchin's statements caught the White House off guard, which responded with a fiery statement:
The weekend bombshell has led to widespread speculation that Manchin will leave the Democratic Party.
Axios reports on his possible next moves:
If Sen. Joe Manchin bolts the Democratic Party, he'd be more likely to switch to independent — and caucus with the Democrats — than become a Republican, people close to him tell Axios.
A defection by Manchin would make even passing a watered-down version of BBB more difficult.
SEE ALSO: ‘Fully Paid for' is Lie of the Year
But it would also bring clarity to Biden's political predicament: With 50 votes, his party formally controls the Senate. In reality, any single Democrat can take the party hostage on any given issue.
The big picture: Progressives were worried all year that they would whittle down their spending ambitions to bring Manchin aboard, only to have him pull the rug out once the negotiations got real.
SEE ALSO: Meet the Republicans Who Supported the Schumer-McConnell Debt Limit Deal
They knew that their only leverage was holding up the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package, and they were right. As soon President Biden signed the infrastructure bill into law, they lost all leverage and Manchin was in the driver's seat — though it's not clear they could have brought Manchin along even if they'd held out longer.
Do you believe that Build Back Better is truly dead? Or will Democrats figure out a way to pass (most of) it in 2022? Tell us in the comments below!
Manchin represents West Virginia, not individuals, stupid Dems. He’s a Senator, not a representative. The U.S. Senate ensures the U.S. is a Republic, a Union of 50 states.
What dimwits. The Leftisit don’t even take time to learn about what they criticize.
Talk about being illiterate, Bett is the poster child for illiteracy and stupidity, and she just loves to show how stupid and illiterate she is, nothing like taking pride in yourself.
I voted for Donald Trump the last two elections but, were Joe Manchin to run for president he’d have my vote. I hope he doesn’t, his voice of reason, sanity and fiscal responsibility is sorely needed in the Senate. What a courageous man, we owe him a lot. Thank you Senator Manchin!
I wish someone could enlighten me-I can’t see how Manchin leaving the Democrat Party, becoming an Independent and caucusing with the Democrats would change a damned thing. In the end, nothing changes over what is currently happening. I just love how the intelligentsia posits reasons for Manchin voting FOR the BBB, so we can get on with a better future-as though everyone is waiting with baited breath to become a Communist hell hole.