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Remember the summer of 2009? Members of Congress came home to hold town-hall meetings as usual in August, part of their annual listening-tour strategy to keep incumbents in favor back in home states and districts. When voters started showing up in droves to berate these Senators and Representatives over ObamaCare, however, the town-hall meetings started getting canceled, and those that did continue made for great moments on YouTube --- especially the declaration from former US Representative Baron Hill (D-IN), who declared that no one could tape the meeting because he didn't want it to end up on YouTube [update: video...

Ladies and gentlemen of the WVCDL and West Virginia. Today, around 3PM I met with Senator Manchin. In any conversation with a person of that level of power, there are two conversations that occur at once. The first is the obvious and direct meaning of what is spoken. The second conversation is the meaning between the lines. In this case, neither is good. West Virginia, in my opinion, you have been sold out. First, let's talk about the direct conversation. It's very simple. Senator Manchin supports a three-pronged approach that includes universal background checks, including private sales. He supports mental...

We highlighted West Virginia Democrat Senator Joe “NRA A-Rated” Manchin’s post-Newtown come-to-Jesus epiphany on the need for common sense gun control laws earlier this week. But not long after basking in the approval of media outlets everywhere for his level-headedness on the issue, he tried to walk the whole thing back. As he backpeddled furiously, mediaite.com reports that he was heard shouting, “’I’m not supporting a ban on anything,’ Manchin said. He instead reinforced his praise of the gun lobby group, saying, ‘I’m so proud of the NRA, I’m so pleased they agreed to be part of this.’” But Mountain...

In the days after the horrific tragedy in Newtown, Conn., I made it clear that I believe it is time for us to move from rhetoric to action to prevent future acts of senseless mass violence. Since then, much has been made of those comments — some of it accurately reflecting what I said, some not. Because I am an A-rated, lifelong member of the National Rifle Association and a proud defender of the Second Amendment, some people viewed my comments as a tipping point in the debate about guns in America. The true tipping point, of course, is what...

West Virginians plan to rally in front of the Charleston, W.V. offices of Sen. Joseph Manchin III (D-W.Va.) Dec. 22 in protest of his abandonment of the pro-gun rights positions he campaigned on in 2010 and 2012. “We are expecting 300 to 1,000 people to attend — it will be bigger than any of the events we held during the campaign,” said Keith T. Morgan, the president of the Charleston-based West Virginia Citizens Defense League. “We have received hundreds of RSVP’s through our Facebook page and tons of emails,” he said. “It is front page news here and we’ve gotten...

In the wake of the tragedy, Democrats are calling to pass the Assault Weapons Ban. When asked by Breitbart News, Manchin disagreed that his remarks on MSNBC show his stance on the second amendment have flipped. "I didn't change my mind on anything. I think everything is open for discussion." It should be noted that Manchin, also known for breaking campaign promises on tax hikes, may have a difficult time explaining his turnaround on guns to voters in his own state. West Virginia, a state President Obama lost in 2008 and 2012, has one of the highest rate of gun...

(CNN) – Sen. Joe Manchin, a conservative Democrat from West Virginia and "proud gun owner," said Monday he believes last week's Connecticut elementary school shooting should be the tipping point in the debate over limiting gun rights. "I just came with my family from deer hunting. I've never had more than three shells in a clip. Sometimes you don't get more than one shot anyway at a deer," Manchin said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." "It's common sense. It's time to move beyond rhetoric. We need to sit down and have a common sense discussion and move in a reasonable way."...

Manchin: ‘Enough is enough, it’s time we cancel our flights home, roll up our sleeves and get down to the people’s business’ After vote today, Senate is expected to adjourn until the election Washington, D.C. – In an impassioned floor speech today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) urged his colleagues to stay in Washington until the nation’s fiscal problems are solved, rather than spend the next seven weeks focused on campaigning and politics.   “It’s clear to me that betting on Congress getting religion after an election is also a risky gamble – a gamble with America’s future, a gamble...

Three coal-fired power plants in West Virginia will soon stop generating electricity. The last day of power generation for FirstEnergy Corp.'s plants in Albright, Rivesville and Willow Island was scheduled for Saturday. FirstEnergy spokesman Mark Durbin said the plants would be deactivated by the end of the day. Officials say some workers likely will remain on the job for a short period. They will deactivate the plants and take care of permits and environmental regulations. The plants employ a total 210 workers. FirstEnergy also plans to close six coal-fired operations in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland. The Ohio-based utility attributes the...

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) announced Tuesday that he will vote on Democratic legislation to extend the Bush-era tax rates. Manchin said he will join Democrats in voting to extend the rates for income up to $250,000 a year. The Democratic legislation would allow Bush-era rates on higher annual income to expire. Republicans want to extend all the rates for another year.  The vote on the Democratic plan is expected to take place on Wednesday.  "When considering these two proposals, I kept two priorities in mind: putting our fiscal house back in order and restoring fairness to the tax code," Manchin said...

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) says he supports Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin’s re-election because he believes Manchin is not beholden to short-sighted political interests. Coburn recently gave $250 to Manchin’s re-election campaign. “I think he votes thinking about the long-term interests of the country. We don’t agree on everything but he’s a good guy,” Coburn told The Hill.

Democratic senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia refused to answer a question about his position on repealing part or all of Obamacare this afternoon outside the Senate chamber. Asked by THE WEEKLY STANDARD if he supported repealing any part of the 2010 health care law, Manchin then stepped into an elevator with retiring Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska, who laughed as the elevator doors closed. Soon after the Supreme Court ruling in June that upheld most of the health care law, Manchin released a statement calling for Congress to take “additional action to repair” the law, “fixing what is wrong…and saving...

In a year when the Obama administration’s “war on coal” could signify a Republican victory of landslide proportions in West Virginia, three of the state’s top Democrats recently announced they would not attend their party’s national convention that will renominate the president on Labor Day weekend. Rep. Nick Joe Rahall, Sen. Joe Manchin, and Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin—all of whom who faced stiff re-election challenges in their last races and now face strong Republican opponents this fall—have said they want to spend Labor Day weekend campaigning in or working for West Virginia rather than attend their party’s convention in Charlotte,...

Senate Democrats balk at ending Bush-era tax rates for wealthyBy Alexander Bolton - 06/19/12 05:00 AM ET A growing number of Senate Democrats are signaling they are not prepared to raise taxes on anyone in the weak economy unless Congress approves a grand bargain to reduce the deficit. At least seven Democratic senators have declined to rule out supporting a temporary extension of the Bush-era income tax rates, breaking with party leaders who have called for letting the rates expire for people earning more than $1 million per year. That gives Senate Republicans a chance to push a temporary extension...

Three high-profile Democrats from West Virginia are not planning to attend the Democratic National Convention in September. Sen. Joe Manchin, Rep. Nick Rahall and Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin have opted not to go to the convention in Charlotte, according to a West Virginia Democratic Party press release. President Barack Obama is not popular in the state, and in 2010, Manchin ran a TV ad openly attacking the administration on cap-and-trade. Manchin, who is on the ballot again in November and does not face a difficult race, had already said this spring he wasn’t sure he would vote for Obama’s re-election.

With a majority of Americans rallying against the Obama Administration's rule that religious institutions must be forced to provide contraception, it appears that the sentiment is growing. The ObamaCare mandate mainly affects the Catholic Church, but many non-Catholics are making clear their opposition to this government intrusion. It's even spread to Democrats. One Democrat in particular, Senator Joe Manchin, has been unequivocal in his condemnation. Manhcin is up for re-election this year after serving two terms as West Virginia's Governor. "This is not only unacceptable, it is un-American," says Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., a Catholic who faces re-election in November...

PARKERSBURG - A temporary extension of the Social Security payroll tax has infuriated a West Virginia senator. Sen. Joe Manchin said the two-month extension is a failure for the American people. "I am furious and disgusted that anyone could imagine this stopgap measure is the best that Congress could offer hard-working Americans, seniors and the unemployed," Manchin, a Democrat, said. "Delaying a decision for another two months makes no sense, especially when Congress will not be working for one of those months. Only in Washington would you get a month off for failing to do your job. West Virginians and...

Freshman Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) on Tuesday announced his support for strict spending caps, which put him at odds with his party's leadership and President Obama.  Manchin told an audience in South Charleston, W.Va., he would endorse the "CAP Act," which sets a tighter spending limit than what the president's budget calls for, as well as a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution. The senator suggested the legislation could help Republicans and Democrats agree to a deal to raise the nation's $14.3 trillion debt ceiling.  "Today, I will be announcing my support for two proposals that I believe provide a good...

Watch the liar himself, in his own words.Then pass it along to everyone you know in West Virginia.

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin ripped President Barack Obama on his budget proposals in a Senate floor speech Tuesday, a rare rebuke from a freshman Democrat who clearly is worried about the politics of deficit spending as he faces a tough reelection in 2012. Manchin charged the president with failing to lead the way in reducing spending, while also criticizing Republicans for offering “partisan” and “unrealistic” budget proposals. “Why are we doing all this when the most powerful person in these negotiations — our president — has failed to lead this debate or offer a serious proposal for spending and...