In a stunning about-face, West Virginia Governor and Senate hopeful Joe Manchin publicly rebuked President Obama’s health care overhaul bill, the heretofore signature legislation of the Democratic Party. Speaking to Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday, Manchin, who is struggling to overtake his Republican opponent in the race to win the late Robert Byrd’s Senate seat, claimed that he would not have voted for the bill given what he knows now. Clearly a maneuver to assuage restive West Virginia voters, Manchin’s statements only seem to confirm what many have suggested — that, above all other factors, ObamaCare weighs heavily on voters’ minds, and even heavier around the necks of Democratic candidates.
It’s not news that Democrats are running away from ObamaCare. Politico reported last month that there was seven times as much spending on anti-ObamaCare ads as there was spent on ads in favor of it. Democrats themselves have spent three times as much opposing the bill than they doled out supporting it. Since then, that figure has climbed to an astonishing twenty-to-one spent on ads opposing ObamaCare versus those in favor of it.
How could the tables have turned so remarkably? Recall after ObamaCare passed the Senate last year the Democrats were jubilant, basking in the glow of almost universal acclaim from the media. The fact that a sizable majority of Americans opposed the bill was brushed off with the confident assertion that once the people discovered what was in the bill — and, moreover, once Congress discovered what was in the bill — the public would give the Democrats their due and sweep them back into office. There was even talk that Obamacare would create a “permanent Democratic majority.”
But something truly remarkable happened on the road to serfdom; the putative slaves rebelled and insisted that they wanted no part of the Left’s scheme to control the American healthcare system. More to the point, and much to the detriment of the Democrat’s electoral prospects, rather than being grateful for blessings bestowed from on high, the populace never warmed to the idea. And as more and more details have emerged about the ObamaCare boondoggle, popular anger has only ossified.
The gap between those who oppose ObamaCare and those who support it is not huge. The latest survey released by the Kaiser Foundation, a pro-ObamaCare nonprofit group, shows that 49% of likely voters oppose the law while 39% support it. But the lukewarm support of the minority is overshadowed by a veritable tsunami of visceral disdain by the majority. The passion of those who oppose ObamaCare is what is terrifying Democrats like Joe Manchin.
ObamaCare, for these voters, has come to define everything that is wrong with President Obama’s agenda and the Democratic control of the House and Senate. It has become shorthand for the litany of wrongs the majority party has foisted on the country. This is why Joe Manchin is not merely running away from ObamaCare, but is actually trashing his party’s “proudest achievement” in order to curry favor with the most enthused portion of the electorate.
We all remember the so-called "blue dogs" and how they caved when it came time to vote. As it turned out, their "principles" were much more about political posturing than anything else.
These days, a "conservative Democrat" is as mythical a creature as a "moderate Muslim."
Democrats, what safety is to be had by running from the Chosen One? First of all, they are Democrats and when the day is over and done, they are still Democrats. Secondly, if Democrats get the majority in Congress, they are in control. Are these Democrats going to caucus with the Republicans??????? Obama’s transformation goes on IF DEMOCRATS ARE ELECTED. I hope the citizens of West Virginia recognize understand this and vote accordingly. It a vote, not against you, Governor Manchin, but against Mr. O.
All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.
Thomas Jefferson
The democrats received 10 million pink slips signed by the voters of the nation and organized by the Tea Party. Manchin as well as the other democrates in the WH were fully aware, as the boxes were piled up in all of their offices. You could not miss all the Fed-Ex deliverys throughout the WH. Manchin knew and went ahead and voted against the people. Manchin and others didn't respond to the people and didn't care.
Only now, at this time does he claim to have a care. Until he's elected again.
No reasonably moral and ethical citizen ought to vote for ANYONE who self-describes with a Democrat label. The fact that a person would accept identification with a party such as the Democrats is all the evidence a reasonable person needs to prove moral turpitude and utter un-trustworthiness.
No reasonably moral and ethical citizen should accept ANY promises from ANY candidate, regardless of party affiliation, as truthful. Democrat, Republican, whatever – if they have ever held elected office, they are irredeemably corrupt and unworthy of further consideration, with but one or two possible exceptions in the current Congress..
We must drive a permanent stake into the beast's heart next Tuesday.
It's too late for turn-coat Manchin. He was all for Obamacare, willingly signed it, now he gives this ultra-lame excuse that he "didn't realize what was in it". Even if that were true, what does it say about his competence? I don't think the voters of WV will forgive him.
He's just an opportunist, like Kerry, he was for it before he was against it. Blue dog democrats my eye. There is no such thing. Chezwick Mac is right, a "conservative Democrat" is as mythical a creature as a "moderate Muslim."
The problem isn't with Democrats. The problem is with Republicans, or people who think that the majority of Republican office holders/candidates, are conservative, better yet embrace a concept of government power limited by the constitution, as it is supposed to be. Now, I realize people vote lesser of evils in many cases, but that has really become evident this time around. They don't like the idea of government strictly limited in power by the constitution, because that cuts against their own interests in many cases. Granted, not as often as it cuts against the current crop of Democrats, but if we returned to that, you would be surprised how many Republicans would howl, when they weren't drowned out by the Democrats. Really would be a nice sound.
All too sadly, the Elephants HAVEN'T been better than the Donkeys on healthcare.
In fact 0bamacare has been one of the few brightspots where the GOP is concerned. With only a couple of exceptions from the usual suspects, the GOP stood united against government healthcare. Now whether they did that out of principled belief or political posturing, is another question.
What are you talking about? We have an extremely unpopular president, with an extemely unpopular congress of basically one political party. Absent some disaster it is almost one big brightspot for the GOP.
Any Republician that doesn't repeal Obamacare will be fully unemployed in two years time. They can join the present lot in their loss. It is to be expected that they are intelligent enough to understand just how much the nation does not want it.
In two years time, the people WILL put people in power who do listen to them.
If the Democrats and their minions want Obamacare, they can keep it.
Just please allow me to effectively opt out of it and go my own way. I'm sure I can find something that suits my needs and problems better that the Sec of HHS.
More Freedom, less mind control
The fate of Joe Manchin should serve as a warning to Republicans.
Manchin, despite being a Democrat, was a very fiscally responsible governor. No tax increases combined with cuts in spending. The Cato Institute gave him an "A". The other three "A's" went to Bobby Jindal, Tim Pawlenty and Mark Sanford so in a field of 50 governors Manchin stood in pretty good company.
Manchin's problem was that he wanted to play on both sides of the fiscal fence. He endorsed ObamaCare in order to stay in favor with the DNC and Obama. Ultimately, Manchin got what he deserved – derision from both Ds and Rs and possibly a chance to find gainful employment in the private sector.
Manchin, as a governor, was among the best of the Democrats, but his desire to go along to get along may well have ended his career.
Republicans take note: If you go along to get along you will end up like Joe.
FPM spends over a year lying about health care reform and scaring people to the best of their ability…then they cite the fear as evidence the bill itself is not good. Then you use whatever numbers you want to show disparity.
Manchin now finds himself having voted for 1 thing and being accused of voting for the bizzaro world's idea about death panels. Yeah FPM…its a tough job countering the ignorance you guys spew everyday. FPM is like gulf oil leak…black sludge that just keeps coming…
Mr. Moran's conclusion that it's not about the economy is a bit off the mark. This election is still about the economy, and the passage of the Democrats' government-mandated healthcare protection racket is part of the equation. As the polls point out, the majority of Americans are aware that this thinly-veiled attempt to push our healthcare system towards nationalization will not lower healthcare costs and reduce the national debt. This all gets back to the household and national economics that are the primary concern of American voters. On Tuesday, Congressional Democrats are going to get what they deserve for turning a deaf ear to will and interest of those voters. In 2012, the Alinskyite-in-Chief will follow them out the door.
It is important to remember the Kaiser Foundation has been an advocate of ObamaCare from the beginning. Any poll they conduct will overstate the pro ObamaCare percentage and understate the anti ObamaCare percentage.