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Joe Manchin III on Principles & Values

Democratic Jr Senator; previously Governor

 


We can only fix things by coming together

Manchin repeatedly stressed he is working for West Virginia, and its best interests, as a senator in the nation's capital. "Let me make it very clear the only team I belong to is team America, and team West Virginia. I'm the most centrist senator in the Senate. I don't vote for the party, I vote for the issues. Always have, and I always will. I think West Virginia we have proved that you can only fix things by coming together," Manchin said.
Source: West Virginia Public Broadcasting on 2012 W.V. Senate debate , Oct 3, 2012

My forte is creating jobs; I'll bring spirit of capitalism

Manchin mostly emphasized to voters that, in Washington, he would not be tightly joined with either party.

Raese, the millionaire heir to a powerful company in the state, repeatedly cited his business acumen, promising to "bring the spirit of capitalism to the United States Senate."

"My forte is creating jobs," he said.

Source: Washington Post coverage of 2010 W.V. Senate debate , Oct 18, 2010

To Raese: Mr. Obama's name will not be on the ballot!

Manchin distanced himself repeatedly from Pres. Obama, while his GOP opponent constantly invoked "Manchin and Obama" as if the two men were running mates.

Manchin emphasized his opposition to parts of the president's health care overhaul and said he would be "independent" from his party in Congress. Asked by one of the debate moderators to name a policy advanced by Democrats he agreed with, Manchin named Social Security, Medicare and the minimum wage--avoiding any of the major bills Obama and the Democrats have passed over the last two years.

Nonetheless, businessman John Raese, who has surged in the polls by linking Manchin to Obama, assured the audience that the president and governor "are together" on most key issues.

"I hate to inform my opponent, but Mr. Obama's name will not be on the ballot," Manchin said after Raese had linked him once again to the president.

"The bottom line is President Obama or President Bush, I'm an American, I want my president to succeed," Manchin said.

Source: Washington Post coverage of 2010 W.V. Senate debate , Oct 18, 2010

Duty as governor to work with the president

Both Manchin and Raese called for a federal balanced budget amendment, criticized Pres. Obama for his administration's proposed regulations of the coal energy and advocated repealing most parts of federal health care reform.

Raese claims Manchin would be a "rubber stamp" for the administration. Manchin said it is his duty as the state's governor to work with the president.

The Obama administration's pursuit of a cap-and-trade policy for greenhouse gases has not gone over well in coal country.

Source: State Journal coverage of 2010 W.V. Senate debate , Oct 7, 2010

Certify 2020 Presidential election as fully & fairly counted.

Manchin voted NAY blocking certification of the Electoral vote

Explanation of 1/6/21 Electoral Certification, by Emily Brooks, Washington Examiner:Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Paul Gosar led an objection to counting Electoral College votes from the state of Arizona, the first formal objection to state results in a series of moves that will delay the certification of Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election over President Trump. Cruz is advocating for an `emergency 10-day audit` of election returns in disputed states. The usually ceremonial joint session of Congress that convenes to count and accept Electoral College votes will be put on hold as the House and Senate separately debate the objection.