Millions of Children Have Been Thrown Back Into Poverty Because Manchin's Feelings Were Hurt

According to Steve Clemons of The Hill, Joe Manchin came out against President Biden's Build Back Better because of "incivility" from the White House:

Joe and Joe were pulling in the same direction. There would be no Build Back Better gifts under the Christmas tree — but no one would get coal in their stockings, either. Both sides were congenial, and both agreed not to trash each other, not to throw around White House chief of staff Ron Klain’s name, or the president’s or presidential counselor Steve Ricchetti’s — and the White House would refrain from finger-pointing as a way to keep the process constructive. 

My sources on this come from both Manchin’s people and the White House.

But then — bang! — the White House released a statement blaming Manchin for the delay. It tried to strike a positive tone about the future, but it targeted Manchin specifically and alone. 

Biden’s statement starts: “I had a productive call with Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer earlier today. I briefed them on the most recent discussions that my staff and I have held with Senator Manchin about Build Back Better. In these discussions, Senator Manchin has reiterated his support for Build Back Better funding at the level of the framework plan I announced in September. I believe that we will bridge our differences and advance the Build Back Better plan, even in the face of fierce Republican opposition.”

I know Manchin. He believes in civility above all things. When George Washington, at age 14, hand-wrote 110 rules of civility, Rule No. 1 was: “Every Action done in Company, ought to be with Some Sign of Respect, to those that are Present.” When I saw Manchin’s name in the presidential statement, I knew he would perceive it as a breach of process, a breach of spirit, a breach of Joe and Joe working this out so that politicians from Scranton and Charleston could find a way to align with those from Brooklyn and San Francisco.

So in other words because Joe Manchin's feelings got hurt he has seen to throw millions of children back into poverty. As the kids say, f*#k your feelings. Manchin is hardly in any position to accuse anyone of incivility given how he callously claimed to his Senate colleagues that parents would use the child tax credits to buy drugs. 

All of this demonstrates that Joe Manchin is thin skinned as former President Trump and needs to grow the hell up and do the right thing and support Build Back Better. It won't do him any damage in 2022. He can retire from office in 2024 and lounge on his yacht. Perhaps his Republican successor will be worse but Manchin isn't doing anyone much good now except for Republicans.