West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin has voiced his concerns over President Joe Biden's political trajectory, expressing his disappointment over the President's shift to the left.
Manchin, who has known Biden for many years, expressed his hope that the President would return to his moderate roots.
According to Fox News, Manchin shared his thoughts in a recent interview with the New York Times. "Joe Biden has been pulled so far to the left after he was elected that it was not the Joe Biden I knew all these years, and I kept saying that. Im hopeful that my friend who Ive known can come back to where I know he always has been, where his comfort is, in the middle," he said.
Manchin, who was among the Congressional members who urged Biden to step down after his initial debate with former President Trump, also expressed relief over Biden's decision not to seek re-election. "But Im happy for him and the peace of mind he has and his health and well-being. Hes going to have a heck of a legacy, I believe. Hes got a chance to do some things here in four and five months. See, I believe the presidency should be a one six-year term," he added.
The West Virginia Senator, a former Democrat who now identifies as an independent, also expressed his frustration with the polarized attitudes in Congress. He emphasized his role as a voice for the moderate middle, criticizing the focus on extreme viewpoints. "Im trying to make people explain. They come to me, and I said, Do you understand that only 23 percent of Americans are Democrats, only 25 percent are Republicans and 51 percent are, like me, no party affiliation? I said, You cant win without the middle. Why are you continually throwing meat at the extremes? Theyre fine. Theyre well fed. But youre not going to win that way," Manchin explained.
He further elaborated on his stance, expressing his bewilderment at the lack of focus on the moderate middle. "It just doesnt make any sense to me at all that you cant find that moderate middle, to where people say, Yeah, thats how I live my life. Thats what I expect you to do. And its not exciting. You expect us to do the right thing. When someone talks common sense, no one gets excited. No one sends money at the fund-raisers. But if you say something stupid and crazy, I guarantee you youll be flooded."
Manchin, known for his occasional divergence from party lines in a gridlocked Senate, asserted that many politicians from both sides privately agree with his views. "Theres an awful lot of people in the Democratic caucus that feel like I do, to a certain extent. They need to speak up more. And theres a lot of people in the Republican caucus that arent Trumpsters that need to speak up more. And hopefully they will," he stated.
In November, Manchin announced his decision not to seek re-election in 2024, a move that was met with mixed reactions from both sides of the political spectrum. His departure will undoubtedly leave a void in the Senate, where his moderate voice has often served as a bridge between the polarized ends of the political spectrum.
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