Two stories today — considered together — suggest that Manchin had a particularly absurd (and non-substantive reason) for making his comments Sunday that have threatened to derail Biden’s agenda (not to mention send the stock market spiraling down today).
First, The Hill reports that Manchin was upset about White House “incivility.” And the story indicates that the specific cause for his anger was this anodyne statement:
“I had a productive call with Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer earlier today. I briefed them on the most recent discussions that my staff and I have held with Senator Manchin about Build Back Better. In these discussions, Senator Manchin has reiterated his support for Build Back Better funding at the level of the framework plan I announced in September. I believe that we will bridge our differences and advance the Build Back Better plan, even in the face of fierce Republican opposition.”
Then Politico elaborates that, what bothered him about the above-statement, was that Manchin was identified and singled out by name:
White House staff had given Manchin a heads-up on Thursday that the president was soon to put out a statement accepting a delay in the Build Back Better Act and that it was going to mention the West Virginia senator by name. Manchin objected, asking that either his name be left out or that he not be alone because his family had already been the target of abuse and he didn’t want to be singled out.
But the statement went out anyway, and contained only Manchin’s name. The senator then snapped at White House aides and told them that he was done negotiating. The West Wing interpreted that as meaning that current talks were done but could pick up again next year.
So if this reporting is accurate Manchin threw a bomb out of pique that he was mentioned by name in an extraordinarily innocuous statement.
If true, I guess the good news is that all Biden needs to do is make nice and polite with Manchin to put things right back where they were last week. But the bad news is that Manchin is a child, throwing temper tantrums over the slightest provocation. Not exactly reason to feel optimistic.