As Democrats come to terms with the consequences of Trump’s second-term presidency, one figure has emerged with the rather drastic opinion of cooperating with the president: Joseph Manchin. Former Democratic Senator Joe Manchin is a political anomaly for having succeeded in the Trump-dominated region of West Virginia. He is now urging the former party he was part of to begin seeking common ground with the administration instead of continuously fighting.
Manchin is one of the very few politicians who spoke out after leaving his position in Congress in January this year. In one of his rare interviews, he offered a rather straightforward critique of the Democrats’ current issues. “Why would you not work with him? Just because he’s a different party? Didn’t vote for him? That’s not a reason,” stated Manchin, directly pushing back on the prevailing attitude of his former party.
A Voice From the Heartland: Manchin’s Distinct View
Manchin’s point of view matters, especially with the power he has to win elections as a Democrat in a Trump state. His occasional breaks from party loyalty, and in particular his opposition to some of Biden’s core policies, demonstrated an independent spirit tempered by constituent constituency. Now officially an “Independent” after a change from “Democrat,” Manchin’s sharp and unsparing appraisal of the polity comes with the fire of raw, unchained sentiment.
“I want Donald Trump to succeed,” Manchin stated. “I want to help wherever I can help. I want to give them my experience of the mistakes I have made that we shouldn’t make again.” To this end, he hoped that President Trump would join him by “open[ing] his arms up” to collaborating with Democrats and Independents while maintaining center stage focus on pushing the former Soviet-dominated side of politics to adopt more realistic methodology.
A Reality Check: Manchin’s Open Attack
The Manchin interview opened up with criticism of the internal workings of the Democratic party. Emphasizing the party’s concern for immigration, as in the case of Kilmar Ábrego García, a 29-year-old illegal immigrant from El Salvador who was deported last month, he considered it problematic. “The Democrats are saying, ‘What a horrible situation.’ …They’re making more of a case out of this one person who’s an illegal immigrant being sent out of the country that could have been tied to a gang… If I’m a Republican strategist, I am going to keep quiet and just let you all go on.” Manchin said.
While pointing out that Ábrego García’s due process entitlements should have been respected and denouncing attacks on the judicial system, Manchin perhaps more controversially defended Trump’s second-term antics as not ‘as objectionable’ to the electorate as they are to democratic officials in Washington. “He’s doing exactly what he said. People shouldn’t be all upset,” Manchin noted. “The people who are upset right now lost. This is the system.”
A Call for Fiscal Responsibility: A Path to Redemption?
In another display of being out-of-touch, Manchin suggested that Democrats shift their focus from immigration to the indefinite debt crisis that he dubbed the United States’ most imminent threat—essentially proposing a “tackling debt” policy as a conflict resolution strategy. “We’re 36 trillion dollars in debt. There’s no way that we can handle this,” Manchin warned. He pushed further, arguing the Democrats’ reputation among voters could be salvaged if they simply embraced some fiscal responsibility. “If the Democrats wanted to reposition themselves, why don’t they do it on fiscal policy? Do you ever hear anybody talking about balancing our budget, fiscal policy, or living within our means?” he posed in question.
Vision for Reform: The Remarkable Suggestions of Manchin
For the sake of the country, Manchin went as far as supporting term limits for elected representatives and justices of the Supreme Court and provided practical approaches towards voting solutions aimed at dealing with the deeply entrenched political gridlock in American politics. “I believe the president should have one six-year term, Katty. A president should never have to worry about getting re-elected. All they should do is their job,” he suggested. In addition to wanting the congressmen and women capped at 12 years, he proposed 18-year terms for Supreme Court justices, which younger Democrats who are fed up with the old leadership of their party sharply endorse.
Still, Manchin granted the burden of having to actually execute such changes, given that they intend to campaign for the very congressmen whose heads would be the ones placed on the chopping board for the execution of such reforms.
An Unfiltered Voice: The Enduring Influence of Manchin
Although Manchin’s advice will not be accepted by the Democratic Party, his perspective is useful coming from a veteran politician who has traversed American politics grappling with the complexities of a divided electorate. His skill in winning over Trump country time and time again illustrates his grasp of a portion of the electorate that eludes Democrats. His lack of discretion blasts away the need for the party to rethink its approach, strategy, and flexibility in the age of new politics.
