Democrats freak out over leaked video showing GOP lawmakers praising Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema



Progressive pundits appear furious and are making renewed calls to abolish the Senate filibuster after video was leaked of Republican lawmakers telling conservative activists to praise moderate Democratic senators.

Democratic activist Lauren Windsor on Friday posted a video of Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) telling a group of conservatives that the Senate filibuster is preventing President Joe Biden from accomplishing the most radical parts of his progressive agenda. In the video, he credits Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) with preserving the filibuster.

"The reality is they're pushing as far as they can," Biggs said of the Democrats. "Fortunately for us, the filibuster is still in effect in the Senate. Without that we would be dead meat."

"Thank goodness for Sinema and Joe Manchin," he added, praising the two Democrats in the Senate who have consistently opposed calls from progressive activists to abolish the filibuster.

Another Republican who speaks in the video, Rep. Bryon Donalds (R-Fla.), urged the conservative audience to call Manchin and Sinema's offices in Washington, D.C., to thank them for standing firm.

"All of you in this room, people at home on Zoom, let me tell you right now, if you want to do one thing to keep the republic afloat, call Joe Manchin's office, call Kyrsten Sinema's office," Donalds said.

The 60-vote majority required to overcome a filibuster in the Senate has acted as a significant obstacle to Biden's agenda. The most popular legislation among the progressive left on issues such as election reform, the climate, and so-called "human" infrastructure like free college tuition, government-funded child care, and a national paid leave program, has all been defeated by filibuster threats from the Republican minority.

Democratic activists and pundits have over the course of several months expressed their fury with Manchin and Sinema, and many such critics seized on the leaked video to shame the moderate senators.

"Republicans were caught on video thanking Manchin & Sinema for blocking Dem legislation. Let's make this viral and make it clear we're sick and tired of Manchin & Sinema's obstruction," Scott Dworkin, the founder of an anti-Trump super PAC that supports progressive candidates and causes, said.

MSNBC host Joy Reid echoed Dworkin's sentiments, asking if Manchin and Sinema are "content to play this role in the fall of our democracy."

Are @JoeManchinWV and @SenatorSinema content to play this role in the fall of our democracy??? https://t.co/TQfZ2Q9qnQ

— Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid 😷 (@JoyAnnReid) 1625859942.0

"I sure hope @SenatorSinema and @Sen_JoeManchin watch this video and reconsider their positions on the filibuster for civil rights bills," added Grant Stern, the executive editor of Occupy Democrats.

"Wow, when the GOP are using you for stooges and laughing behind your backs @SenatorSinema and @Sen_JoeManchin , it might be time to join your own party," Tennessee State Rep. Gloria Johnson said.

DNC chairman says Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin — whose vote is keeping Dems in power — is 'against America'



West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin holds the Senate's balance of power in his hands. It is his vote that keeps Democrat Chuck Schumer in his role as Senate majority leader and prevents "Cocaine Mitch" McConnell from controlling the agenda in Congress' upper chamber.

But judging solely by the treatment Manchin has received from the left and his fellow Democrats — most notably from the chairman of the Democratic Party — one would be excused for believing the party doesn't know or care that it is one vote away from losing its Senate majority.

What's happening?

Manchin's biggest crimes have been his unwillingness to bow to the far left's agenda — most recently the attempt at sweeping federal election reform known as the "For the People Act" — and his repeated refusal to kill the filibuster, which would allow Democrats to force their agenda through the Senate. His stance has garnered a lot of hate and unhinged reactions from the left.

  • Liberal members of the media have called for abolishing the Senate.
  • Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez posted a snarky photo in response to Manchin's rebuke of her "crazy socialist agenda."
  • The far-left-wing No Excuses PAC, founded by former AOC staffers, is working to defeat Manchin in the Democratic primary, which would likely doom Democrats' chances in the deep-red Mountain State.
  • Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said people like Manchin who support the filibuster are going to need to offer an explanation for their "indefensible" position.
  • Leftist commentator Jemele Hill called Manchin a "cowardly, power-hungry white dude" for his opposition to liberal progressive election reform.
  • After Manchin reiterated his position against Democratic election reform, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) called him the "new Mitch McConnell," while Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.) compared Manchin's opposition to preserving Jim Crow.

But other than Durbin, those are not actual leaders in the Democratic Party.

So it was significant that Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison went on MSNBC Thursday to decry Manchin's positions and say the senator essentially hates America.

When MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle asked Harrison what Manchin is supposed to do, considering he represents a conservative-leaning West Virginia populace, Harrison gave no quarter, accusing the senator of being "against America."

"Democrats in South Carolina or West Virginia are not the same as Democrats in New York or California," Ruhle began. "If Joe Manchin does what progressives want him to do, does he risk losing his seat?"

"Joe Manchin needs to do what Americans want our senators to do, which is to protect their right to vote," Harrison answered. "Because if we don't protect that right, that is the right by which all other rights are built upon. It is the great equalizer."

"We're not asking for any partisan thing," he added. "People say 'both sides' — this is not a 'both sides' thing. Either you are for all Americans voting or you are against it. Either you are for securing democracy or you're against it."

"People need to make a decision where they are on this issue, because it's not a 'both sides,'" Harrison continued. "It's either you're for America, or you're against it."

DNC Chair Jaime Harrison whacks @JoeManchinWV saying he is "against America" for opposing S1. "Either you're for… https://t.co/Oxxvx9nZuK

— America Rising (@AmericaRising) 1623332146.0

'Political ineptitude'

With the Senate as evenly split as it currently is, many political observers are wondering why Harrison and his party would put their majority at risk by attacking Manchin.

HotAir's Ed Morrissey is one of those with questions:

Put aside Harrison's dishonest spin on the bill itself, and just marvel at his political ineptitude instead. Manchin is the only man standing between Mitch McConnell and control of the Senate floor. The massive shift in Manchin's home state puts enormous pressure on him to flip parties anyway. And now the chair of Manchin's own political party is calling Manchin a traitor not to the party but to America on national television for not supporting progressives' performative bill — which has no chance of passing the Senate even with Manchin's vote.

Harrison probably shouldn't count on Manchin's vote for the Green New Deal, either. Can't wait for Harrison to call Manchin a traitor to the planet when that happens.

Democrats have said they fear losing control of the Senate, but if they keep up their attacks on Manchin, they'll have no one to blame but themselves.