Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) refuses to support ending the filibuster because he somehow still believes bipartisanship is possible. Well, that blew up in his face spectacularly on Friday.
A bill that would create an independent commission to investigate the January 6th Capitol insurrection has bipartisan support in the House as 35 Republicans stepped up to vote for it. But when it got to the Senate, the bill ultimately failed even though it received 54 votes, a majority that would have passed it had there not been a filibuster in place that required 60 votes.
Manchin’s insistence that Republicans will do the right thing and work with Democrats failed. The GOP has repeatedly made it clear that they are nothing more than obstructionists who don’t care about the country.
In response, Manchin attempted to shame Republicans.
Choosing to put politics and political elections above the health of our Democracy is unconscionable. And the betrayal of the oath we each take is something they will have to live with. My statement on the January 6th Commission vote: pic.twitter.com/tlPme9LMIo
— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) May 28, 2021
Only his response backfired because of his failure to back ending the filibuster, a Jim Crow tool conservatives have used for decades to turn the Senate into a legislative graveyard. And Twitter users blamed him in particular for the 1/6 commission being blocked.
When you admit there’s a big, dangerous problem yet you choose to do nothing about it, you might be Mitch McConnell.
Then again, you might be Joe Manchin.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) May 29, 2021
I’m distressed that Joe Manchin is only distressed today and has no plans to do anything about it
— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) May 29, 2021
Is Joe Manchin hopin’ that one day the Republicans will name a death-camp after him?
— Tea Pain (@TeaPainUSA) May 29, 2021
Let’s all thank @Sen_JoeManchin @SenatorSinema for their Republican support on the filibuster https://t.co/HEN7sXccel
— David Rothschild™ (@RealDRothschild) May 29, 2021
Helping them do it and get away with it is something that @Sen_JoeManchin will have to live with. And if he lets them do and get away with even worse, he’ll have to live with that too. https://t.co/wKTvDUkK6X
— Jersey Curmudgeon (@JerseyCurmudge2) May 29, 2021
Yesterday’s Filibuster of the Jan 6 Commission proves the GOP can no longer be trusted. Big question, do @Sen_JoeManchin and @SenatorSinema wish to go down in history as the Neville Chamberlains of our time. #EndTheFilibuster now before it is too late. https://t.co/7MioFXLmrw
— Karl J. O’Farrell (@Karlof88) May 29, 2021
You will have to live with it. You’re the reason it wasn’t a majority vote.
— Andrew Rudick (@andrew_rudick) May 28, 2021
Today, all of @Sen_JoeManchin and @SenatorSinema‘s dreams came true.
Congratulations on being the ones history remembers as the people most responsible for killing the great American experiment in democracy.
— Tony Jenson (@tonyjenson) May 28, 2021
The only way Manchin can repent for this shameful episode in our history is to finally support getting rid of the filibuster and pass this bill and others. Until then, he and his family should be shunned.
Featured Image: Screenshot
