Fox News
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., blasted the White House “staff” for leaking “absolutely inexcusable” things about him after rejecting President Biden’s Build Back Better Act during an interview on “Fox News Sunday.”
Manchin said during a Monday interview with MetroNews Talkline that the White House “retaliated” against him after he told “Fox News Sunday” that he could not support Biden’s signature COVID–19 relief legislation.
“Basically, they retaliated,” the West Virginia Democrat said. “I figured they would come back strong.”
Manchin defended his decision to oppose the Build Back Better Act, elaborating that he has “gone and talked” to Biden, who “knew we couldn’t get there.”
The senator also blamed the White House “staff” for recent news reports about him, saying they were being “driven” by the president’s staffers and that he understands it is not Biden’s doing.
“This is staff. And they drove some things and they put some things out that were absolutely inexcusable,” Manchin said. “And they know what it is. And that’s it.”
Manchin did not specify what the White House staff released about him. The senator continued by saying that he would not be pressured into supporting the bill by his fellow Democrats.
“They figured, surely to God we can move one person. We can badger and beat up one person,” Manchin said. “Surely we get enough protesters to make that person uncomfortable enough.”
“Well, guess what? I’m from West Virginia,” he added. “I’m not from where they’re from. And they just beat the living crap out of people and think they’ll be submissive, period.”
Manchin’s announcement Sunday…
