Senator Joe Manchin punted on a question as to whether or not he’d consider leaving the Democrat Party, suggesting he’d wait and see how the Inflation Reduction Act played out first.
“Do you see an advantage in this environment to becoming unaffiliated, to becoming an independent?” CBS News’ host Margaret Brennan asked.
“If people are trying to stop something from doing so much good because of politics, thinking that somebody else will get credit for it, let’s see how that plays out,” Manchin (D-WV) replied.
“I’ll let you know later what I decide to do, but right now I have no intention of changing anything,” he added.
Manchin’s hedging on the matter comes just days after fellow Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona officially left the Democrats and registered as an Independent.
“Do you see an advantage in this environment to becoming unaffiliated, to becoming an independent?” @margbrennan asks Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin.
“I’ll let you know later what I decide to do, but right now I have no intentions of changing anything,” Manchin says. pic.twitter.com/smbJCuTpl1
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) December 18, 2022
Manchin to Leave Democrat Party?
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Speculation mounted on Manchin’s future when he issued a statement last week in which he denounced “political games” in Washington and vowed to serve constituents “with an independent voice not a political party.”
“What is clearer now than ever is that party politics are paralyzing our nation’s ability to unite around the solutions our country needs,” he said.
“The American people have had enough of this dysfunction and so have I,” Manchin added. “It’s time for our elected leaders to put the American people first.”
America first? What a crazy idea.
Democrats COULD lose control of Senate if Manchin follows Sinema’s lead, splits from Democrat Partyhttps://t.co/vvk2Kc3gYH
— RSBN ?? (@RSBNetwork) December 11, 2022
Of course, Manchin has shown himself to be little more than a showman who likes the attention of going against his party but ultimately caving to their demands as long as they throw him a bone.
The Inflation Reduction Act he mentions is one such example.
According to the New York Times, Manchin was sold on the bill after months of holding out due to a pledge by Democrat leaders and the White House to complete a highly contested 304-mile gas pipeline in West Virginia.
He then celebrated with Democrats and President Biden at the White House while Americans were suffering from the inflation crisis.
.@BretBaier: “Inflation is not slowing.”
Manchin: “I said a year and a half ago…I said inflation was real.”
Baier: “Isn’t it disingenuous to call this the Inflation Reduction Act?”
Manchin: “It’s the only thing we have ever done that has a chance to really fight inflation!” pic.twitter.com/u2w7P72L0t
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 13, 2022
RELATED: Kyrsten Sinema Bails on the Democrat Party – Switches to Independent
One Other Senator Has Already Bailed on the Democrats
Manchin’s wait-and-see approach comes as earlier this month a colleague from Arizona already bailed on the Democrat Party.
“In a natural extension of my service since I was first elected to Congress, I have joined the growing numbers of Arizonans who reject party politics by declaring my independence from the broken partisan system in Washington and formally registering as an Arizona Independent,” Kyrsten Sinema tweeted.
Sinema has claimed she’s “never fit neatly into any party box.”
She, like Manchin, also caved on the Inflation Reduction Act after being offered concessions, including a roughly $5 billion drought resiliency fund for Arizona.
Schumer and Sinema announce deal to move the “Inflation Reduction Act” — which won’t reduce inflation but will raise taxes — forward to a vote pending the Parliamentarian’s review. pic.twitter.com/sCjzE9r0TJ
— Spencer Brown (@itsSpencerBrown) August 5, 2022
Former Representative Tulsi Gabbard announced her departure from the Democrat Party in October.
Gabbard blasted her colleagues as being controlled by “warmongers” who stoke anti-white racism and are possessed by “cowardly wokeness.”
I can no longer remain in today’s Democratic Party that is now under the complete control of an elitist cabal of warmongers driven by cowardly wokeness, who divide us by racializing every issue & stoke anti-white racism, actively work to undermine our God-given freedoms, are… pic.twitter.com/oAuTnxZldf
— Tulsi Gabbard ? (@TulsiGabbard) October 11, 2022
Even if Manchin were to switch to an Independent, and even with Sinema’s move, they will most likely continue to caucus with the Democrats, leaving that party’s majority in the Senate intact.
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