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The senator from West Virginia has shown he thinks and behaves for himself.
One of the big questions in Congress is whether Democratic Senator Joe Manchin will change parties. Manchin says he is approached every day about the possibility of ditching the Democrats in favor of the Republicans.
“What I’m telling you now is who I am,” Manchin said. “Do you think by having a ‘D’ or an ‘I’ or an ‘R’ is going to change who I am?”
During President Joe Biden’s first year in the Oval Office, Manchin has toed the line of being the so-called ‘problem Democrat’ while voting along party lines on other issues.
“I don’t think the Rs would be any happier with me than Ds are right now,” Manchin said. “I mean, that’s about as blunt as I can put it. So I don’t know where in the hell I belong.”
Manchin has left many Americans intrigued regarding where his allegiances truly lie. During Biden’s State of the Union address, Manchin sat with Republican Sens. Mitt Romney and Roger Wicker. However, he made sure to stand and applaud Biden with his fellow Democrats numerous times during the speech.
Manchin has repeatedly shown the ability to work with both Republicans and Democrats during the course of Biden’s presidency. For example, Manchin was a key roadblock for Biden in regards to his Build Back Better domestic agenda. Manchin is a big reason Build Back Better is now defunct. However, Manchin announced he would vote to confirm judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. Axios also reported that Manchin would be open to a revised Build Back Better legislation which narrowly addresses climate change, prescription drug prices, and deficit reduction.
Ultimately, Manchin could be an example to other Congress members on what it takes to work with both sides of the aisle regardless of party affiliation. Manchin has no problem siding with Republicans or Democrats on any given issue.