Looks like Sen. Manchin is showing a lot of spine, so good on him:
Sen. Joe Manchin is firing back after the National Rifle Association targeted the conservative Democrat in a television commercial last week.
The senator from West Virginia said Thursday morning the NRA is using “paranoia” to keep lawmakers from making big moves on gun control, following the Newtown elementary school shooting in December that left 20 children and six adults dead.
“Why do we ask to be policy makers and be involved in the public process, when…we’re afraid basically to engage,” he said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “I’m not afraid to engage. The worst they can do is defeat me and send me home to my family and the state I love, West Virginia. That’s a pretty good consolation. What are we afraid of?”
Manchin released an ad Thursday defending himself against the recent attack from the NRA. A leading voice in the fight for expanded background checks for firearm purchases, Manchin says in the ad that he “hasn’t changed” on his stance for Second Amendment rights and simply wants to bring “common sense” to Washington.
That’s more like it, although it does say something about our politics that we consider it “BOLD” for a politician to stand with what 90% of the public wants.
Ted & Hellen
More specifically, it says something–a lot–about state of establishment Democratic fecklessness as championed by the dominant commenter cohort on this blog.
wvng
I agree. Good for Joe. He has been very consistent on this since the moment he made the decision that something needed to be done and he wanted to be part of it.
piratedan
ty low bar of expectations….still at least Manchin is defending himself and his position, something that goes against the tide these days.
Chyron HR
John Denver he ain’t.
Shortstop
I guess it would be churlish to dwell on the fact that Manchin has been “afraid to engage” on pretty much every other mildly progressive policy — massively, quiveringly, hide-under-the-bed-lest-someone-call-him-a-Democrat afraid. On this issue he’s taking leadership and I’m thankful to him for that.
wvng
@Shortstop: Praise where praise is due.
gogol's wife
Thank you Joe Manchin. I’ll take anything I can get on this issue.
Just Some Fuckhead
What has Joe Manchin been afraid of? Only Joe Manchin knows.
Just Some Fuckhead
I recall Joe Manchin was afraid of endorsing a black President. What is there to be afraid of, Joe?
burnspbesq
@Shortstop:
Yes it would, but that’s never stopped you before, and why should today be any different?
gene108
90% of the public doesn’t vote. In a good year 55% of the people, who can be eligible to vote bother to show up and vote.
Unless you vote, why should a politician care about your opinion.
I think turn out in 2010 was about 35% of eligible voters. You need to win 18% of those voters to win the election and those 18% will vote on gun ownership issues.
Shortstop
@burnspbesq: Can you show me how to cultivate a positive, life-embracing, respectful attitude, Frank? I’m ready to change if only an individual who’s quashed his own demons of spite, sourness and sarcasm and learned to live his professed faith will lead by example. I feel you are that man.
Zifnab
Oh sure, it’s what 90% of poll respondents say they want. But who are you going to vote for? Joe “UN Black Helicopters” Manchin or Generic “2nd Amendment!” Republican?
Haydnseek
The only way Joe Manchin will ever show any spine is after he has been lashed to the mast after being sentenced to 100 stokes from a skilled practitioner with the cat o’ nine……..
Gopher2b
I’m really starting to like him if for no other reason than it sheds light on the fact that most of the DC reps hate their districts and the people they “serve.”
Lurking Canadian
I suppose it would have been bad form for him to tell the truth, which is that the worst he has to fear from losing is a roughly 1000% raise when he’s hired on K street.