Sen. Joe Manchin’s New Voting Rule: Bipartisanship or Bust, Except for the “Bats*** Crazy”
West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin announced on Wednesday that he would only support nominees who have earned the backing of at least one Republican senator. This critical swing vote in the closely divided Senate made this statement during a press conference, emphasizing his commitment to bipartisanship as he prepares for his retirement in January 2025.
Manchin stated, “I’m going to be very honest with everybody. If my Democratic colleagues and friends can’t get one Republican vote, don’t count on me. You can’t make it bipartisan; don’t count on me.” He further explained, “I’m not leaving this place unless I can practice what I preach and I’m preaching, basically bipartisanship. This is my little way of doing it.”
The comments from Manchin came as a response to inquiries regarding President Joe Biden’s nominee for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, Adeel Mangi. This nomination has been a subject of intense debate, with many Republicans expressing vehement opposition and accusations of extreme views and antisemitism. Meanwhile, top Democrats strongly defend Mangi and are pushing for a floor vote after his narrow approval in the Senate Judiciary Committee in January.
Manchin did not comment specifically about Mangi but stated that he would look into his record before making a decision. Meanwhile, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a centrist Republican from Alaska who often votes across the aisle, expressed the need to examine Mangi’s record before deciding on her vote.
Manchin clarified that there was an exception to his new bipartisanship requirement: “That’s my requirement unless they’re bats*** crazy. If they’re bats*** crazy left, I’m going to vote against them anyway. If they’re halfway decent, they’ll get at least one Republican to vote for them.”
This new rule from Manchin adds another layer of complexity to the already contentious process of confirming judicial nominees, highlighting the importance of securing bipartisan support in an increasingly polarized political climate.