Manchin apologizes for comments about not supporting Obama

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

A blogger's account of a recent local event:

He said that he wished that he hadn't made the comment about not supporting the President for reelection. He said that his reason for saying it was to get the White House's attention- which worked- but that he didn't realize how much other attention it would get.

He stated that he would never endorse, support, or vote for Romney. He also said that he would never switch to the Republican party. Since he agrees with the national Democratic party on 85% of the issues he isn't going to abandon us.

http://www.wvablue.com/diary/7438/manchin-apologizes-for-comment-why-i-am-supporting-him-in-november

[elleng]

1. Jerk!

'Didn't realize???'

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

4. It's typical ManchinSpeak

The local paper went after him hard and withheld a primary endorsement. I think that has a lot to do with the walkback.

[Angry Dragon]

2. Perhaps he needs to use the words he means to say first

[Dawson Leery]

3. Why? Did he realize that there are still Obama Democrats in West Virginia who's votes he will need?

[Ikonoklast]

5. Trying to play both sides against the middle, hoping no one notices.

Got bit in the ass for it, too.

[davidpdx]

8. After reading that, I was going to say the same exact thing

[DCBob]

6. One of the doggiest blue dogs is cleaning it up.

Good sign. It means the President is getting his political clout back even in those Reddish states.

[tularetom]

7. He figured out that Romney has no coattails

And his best bet to get elected was to not burn all his bridges with the White House.

[Suji to Seoul]

9. Senator. . .I have something to give you. Here is your ass! Someone just handed it to you. Enjoy!

Idiot!

[Arkana]

10. He doesn't agree with us on "85% of the issues".

I'd argue Manchin isn't even with us half the time. He's a tool and a Republican in Democratic clothing.

[brooklynite]

11. Joe, I accept your apology and won't hold it against you...

...I dropped your campaign when you voted for the Blunt amendment.

(spoken by someone who spent two hours on a boat with him last summer).

[polichick]

12. Dems need to fire his sorry ass asap.

[Bruce Wayne]

13. Welcome to federalism, kids. Welcome to the Democratic Party.

This is hardly worth getting upset about. Manchin is the kind of person it takes to win Democratic seats in West Virginia. Without too much fuss, he walked back his unacceptable comments about not supporting Obama. This is the price we pay for living in a pluralistic, nonauthoritarian party. I'll take the occasionally cussed Blue Dog over the lock-step party discipline and conditional patriotism of the Republicans any day of the week.

Everybody wants spaghetti for dinner, but nobody wants the kitchen to smell like garlic.

[MadAnne]

14. There's no other source for this story. N/T

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

15. Too late Mutherfucker! Go cow tow to your racist Tea Bagger brigade in West Virginia!! n/t