Joe vs. Joe: How Manchin could save Biden from himself

Haisten Willis

July 19, 06:36 AM July 19, 06:36 AM

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) has become one of the nation's most famous politicians for his practice of scuttling the best-laid plans of President Joe Biden and Democratic leadership, but the same party leaders now cursing him may ultimately benefit from his hesitance.

Manchin has disrupted plans to eliminate or curtail the filibuster or pass the $3.5 trillion Build Back Better Act and most recently declined to back new spending to reach environmental goals. Each of those stances has left progressives apoplectic, but they may learn to appreciate Manchin's resistance in time.

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“It seems odd that Sen. Manchin would choose as his legacy to be the one man who single-handedly doomed humanity," said Center for American Progress founder and Chairman John Podesta. "But we can’t throw in the towel on the planet. Now, it’s more important than ever that President Joe Biden use all his authority to fiercely fight for the future.”

Such language may reflect the feelings of progressives but not of most voters who are facing the impacts of inflation in their daily lives, argues Katie Tubb of the conservative Heritage Foundation.

"The environmental Left likes to ignore trade-offs and evades debate over those trade-offs by claiming a (dubious) climate emergency that trumps all other concerns," said Tubb. "This posture is profoundly opposed to the well-being, security, and prosperity of people. Are greenhouse gas emissions really the most important, let alone only, priority to promote human well-being and environmental stewardship? I think we’re seeing the answer very loud and clear right now based on peoples’ actions."

While top Democrats have argued for eliminating the filibuster over the issues of voting rights and abortion, the tactic could be used against them any time Republicans retake control of the chamber. Such an event happened when Democrats eliminated the filibuster for judicial appointments, excluding Supreme Court justices, in 2013. Republicans then eliminated it for Supreme Court justices after taking the majority in 2017, paving the way for three new conservative justices during the Trump administration.

That scenario could play out again if not for Manchin and Sen. Krysten Sinema (D-AZ) fighting their party colleagues to keep the filibuster in place.

Similarly, many economists point to the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, passed via reconciliation with only Democratic votes, as a major factor in today's near double-digit inflation. If Manchin hadn't killed off the aforementioned $3.5 trillion bill last December, the figure could be even higher today, something Democrats will want to avoid going into the midterm elections.

Manchin again cited inflation last week as to why he didn't support new spending for climate change proposals in the new reconciliation bill.

“Political headlines are of no value to the millions of Americans struggling to afford groceries and gas as inflation soars to 9.1%,” Sam Runyon, a spokeswoman for Manchin, told the Washington Post. “Sen. Manchin believes it’s time for leaders to put political agendas aside, reevaluate, and adjust to the economic realities the country faces to avoid taking steps that add fuel to the inflation fire.”

Manchin later walked those statements back a bit, saying he only wanted to see July's inflation numbers before signing off on green energy items in the spending bill, but his stance still imperils legislation backed by Biden that is running out of time to pass before the current Congress adjourns for good. Democratic strategist Michael Stratton has argued that Manchin's statements indicate he and Biden are mostly aligned on the topic, saying, "Anything that helps inflation go down helps Biden."

With polls showing that 93% of voters are "extremely" or "very" concerned over inflation, indications are that the public would tend to agree.

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Liberal leaders, including the Congressional Progressive Caucus, are now urging Biden to declare a climate emergency, which would grant him additional powers over the matter, and the president has vowed to take "strong" executive action if Congress fails to act. If Biden does so, or gives in to pressure from the Left to declare an emergency, voters may make him pay for it in November.

“[Manchin is] trying his best to save Biden from himself and the 'Bernie bros' that took over his administration," said Club for Growth President David McIntosh. "But it’s probably too late."