And my former Governor and current Senator once again proves his Republican bona fides:
U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) today will introduce bipartisan legislation, called the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 2012, that would repeal the Obama Administration’s mandate requiring religious employers to cover contraception for their employees under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Last week, Manchin sent a letter to President Obama, explaining his strong opposition to the mandate that he called “a direct affront to the religious freedoms protected under the First Amendment of our Constitution.” He asked the President to expand the mandate’s exemption for religious employers.
“Under our Constitution, religious organizations have the freedom to follow their beliefs, and government should honor that,” Senator Manchin said. “The Obama Administration’s position on this mandate is wrong and just doesn’t make any sense to me. I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Senator Rubio, which will ensure that the First Amendment rights of religious employers are afforded the respect they deserve.”
Again, I am no lawyer, but my understanding of the bill these two is proposing is that it goes well beyond religious organizations and is basically waging war on women’s health insurance provided by any organization. Basically, anyone can say “that offends me” and screw women over, even if it really doesn’t and it is just a way for them to save a few bucks. I really liked Manchin as governor, but every single time he has made the news in the Senate it is undercutting this administration. Well, not every time. There was that time he demagogued DADT and the DREAM ACT for weeks and then turned himself into a national laughingstock by skipping the votes to go hang out with his family. It’s like he senses that with the Lieberman/Nelson retirements, there is a real opportunity for him to be the biggest asshole Democrat in the Senate.
What he fails to realize is that all this mavericky nonsense is self-defeating. First, he’s at odds with the majority of the nation. Second, he’s backing bad policy. Third, this isn’t going to make Republicans like him anymore, because they hate him simply because he has a (D) after his name. He could vote with Republicans on very single issue, and they are still going to spend millions funding John Raese or whatever wingnut they find to run against Joe. And finally, if he is ever in a fix, no one is going to rally to his aid- Democrats like me will say, just like we are with Nelson and Lieberman- “Good riddance. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass.” Remember when Weiner got in trouble and all his colleagues basically said “Ehh, screw him?” No one likes grandstanding jackasses.
I don’t think it is unfair to expect Manchin to at some point, some time in his term, to behave like a Democrat. Or at least just shut up once in a while and stop undercutting other Democrats.
And Manchin Undercuts The Administration. Again.Post + Comments (114)