Apparently, after voting no on ending debate last week, Senator Manchin did what all real leaders do during the vote to end debate on DADT today- he hid in the Senate cloakroom during the vote:
Six Republicans — Sens. Scott Brown of Massachusetts, Susan Collins and Olympia J. Snowe of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mark Kirk of Illinois, and George Voinovich of Ohio — joined 56 Democrats in support of the measure. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) did not vote Saturday, but released a statement saying he could not support repeal “at this time.”
He was also unable to find the floor of the Senate for the DREAM act vote, but issued a statement for that, too.
At this point, I simply can not figure out what his team is trying to accomplish, and the only thing I can figure is his staff simply is not ready for prime time and he is getting horrible political advice. When he voted no on cloture for DADT and the measure received only 57 votes, one of his aides rushed out to inform people that if it came down to his being the 60th vote, he would have voted differently. Today, when it received over 60 votes, he was nowhere to be found.
In other words, his aides want you to believe if it came down to him being the 60th vote today, he would have done it. But 61st or 62nd? No way! It simply makes no sense, and his team is clearly not ready for the big leagues. Manchin could have easily voted yes to end debate today on DADT, thrown a bone to Democrats and WV gay rights groups, and then chosen to vote no on the actual bill tomorrow. He then could refute the negative GOP commercials in 2012 about supporting the repeal of DADT, because he would be on record with a no vote. That would have been the smart way to play both sides of the game.
Instead, he looks weak and cowardly to everyone, pissed off Democrats and the base, and then will probably alienate them more by voting against repeal tomorrow. Unless he is still hiding in the cloakroom releasing statements to the press.
This guy has been my governor for years now, and he hasn’t been a bad governor. I just have no idea what he and his team are doing in the Senate. They look like a bunch of gutless amateurs. Put aside the fact that he is failing a test of basic decency on the DADT and DREAM Act, and look at it from a position of political advantage. Exactly what have they accomplished to help themselves politically here? It just makes no sense.
*** Update ***
The only possible way for Manchin to make his position and his votes more confusing right now would be for him to vote in favor of repeal this afternoon. Your guess is as good as mine what he will do. They’ve got me completely confused as to what they are trying to accomplish.