WV Gov. Manchin, Once Positive on Health Care Bill, Now Says He Would Have Been a 'No' (Yeah, sure)

ABC News ^ | 10/12/2010 | Jonathan Karl

[Qbert]

These days Governor Joe Manchin seems determined to be the most anti-Obama Democrat in the land -- who else has literally fired a bullet through a bill supported by the President? -- but he can be at a loss of words when asked to explain his earlier support for President Obama on health care reform.

In an interview on ABC News Top Line, Manchin was asked about positive statements he made last year about the President's push for health care reform.  This is an exact transcription of what he said:

 "That was during, there is, you need health care reform," Manchin said, suggesting he was being positive on the concept of health care reform generally, not the specifics of the proposal put forth by President Obama. 

Asked if he regrets not being more critical of the bill as it came together, Manchin said he would have been a "no" vote on the bill if he had been in the Senate at the time.

 "You had to have health care reform, okay?  I never saw 2000 [pages of the bill].  I would not have voted on it towards the end," Manchin said.  "They know I would've."

 At the time, Manchin did not say anything publicly to oppose the bill.  Both of West Virginia's Democratic Senators at the time -- Robert Byrd and Jay Rockefeller -- voted yes.

 But Manchin now says he would have demanded changes in the bill.

[Qbert]

Ok, for those keeping score at home, here's the update on Manchin's flip-flopping:

First, he was for Obamacare. Then, (7 days before it passed), he was *really* for Obamacare. Then, when he was losing in the Senate race, he was kinda against it supposedly, but still for it. Then, he was for it still, but wanted to take out the 'bad' stuff. Then, this past Sunday he said if you can't take out the bad stuff, then it needs to be 'repealed'. And now- two days after that- he says he would have voted 'no', despite the fact that he said he would've voted yes right before it passed...

And oh yeah, he's saying the same things about his previous support for cap-and-trade...

(A partial timeline of the Manchin Obamacare flip-flops: http://www.wvared.com/?p=5529)

[mort56]

Twenty twenty hindsight is amazing...ain’t it?

[FlipWilson]

So he would have voted for it before he voted against it? Or, would he have been voting against it until he got a sweet back room deal to vote for it.

I smell toast.

[rod1]

As a sitting Governor, his started support for the bill encouraged its passage.

That is the only opinion that mattered.

[bgill]

Was for it before he was against it. Testing the winds in an election year. Typical politician.

[nbenyo]

Manchin has no stated position on amnesty for illegal aliens, which the Dems are trying to pass in the lame duck session.

Raese needs to pound him on this.

[chimera]

He's full of horsecrap. If the voters of WV are dumb enough to send this bum to DC, all they're going to get is a party-line, Obama rubber-stamp ‘Rat. They never change. They toe the line when push comes to shove, it's what ‘Rats always do. Remember Bart Stupid-pak.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

Two words....... Ben Nelson

Two more words....... Bart Stupack

[Qbert]

“As a sitting Governor, his started support for the bill encouraged its passage.
That is the only opinion that mattered.”

Exactly.

And it’s pathetic that he tries to hide behind the ‘2,000 pages’ excuse. All you really need is ten minutes of learning the basics of Obamacare to understand that it is bad, bad news. (Doctor shortages, rationing, Medicare cuts, forced mandates, onerous tax reporting requirements, etc., etc...Sound like a good deal?)

[Gaffer]

“I voted for it before I [would have] voted against it” A regular John Kerry.....

[Qbert]

Won't get fooled again. (Photo source- Catholic.org and Washington Post)

[Titus-Maximus]

I loved the rifle commercial, but Manchin has to go, its God’s will!

[skookum55]

The only way progressives can get elected is to pretend to be conservative right before an election. Unfortunately, our electorates are far too often foolish enough to fall for that charade. The WV governor is simply going to the successful ‘Rat playbook.

[Inyokern]

In his last commercial, Manchin pulled out a gun and shot Cap and Trade. In his next commercial, I expect Manchin to lynch an effigy of Obama.

[WVNan]

Manchin has destroyed himself politically. He has been a much loved governor (I even voted for him). This flip-flop has exposed his feet of clay. Sad, he seemed like a good honest man. His quest for power has exposed his dishonesty. Raese may not be much better, but he is pragmatic about business and the need to run the government as a business on free-market principles.

[JerseyDvl]

Just imagine if Sarah Palin shot a rifle at the Crap and Trade Bill. Holder and Napolitano would have arrested her.

[conservativebuckeye]

Have you learned your lesson that no rats at high levels of state or national politics are good, decent people?

[conservativebuckeye]

I’ve become convinced that the electorate overall is relatively conservative but wants to believe in democrats because they care about the little guy unlike those greedy republicans. Since republicans rely more on logic than emotion, we can come across as cold and uncaring at times.

[WVNan]

LOL. Yeah, but I’m sort of stuck on the Right to Life issue and Manchin was the only one running who claimed to be pro-life. That was my first D vote in many many years.

[SandRat]

Just heard on FoxNews Radio that it’s all 50 States now.