Joe Manchin Warns Democratic Party ‘Toxic’ As He Steps Down From US Senate

In his farewell speech to the Democratic Party, Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.V., referred to his former party as “toxic” as he gets ready to retire at the end of his congressional term.

In an interview with CNN’s “Inside Politics with Manu Raju” that aired on Sunday, Manchin, who was a lifelong Democrat before registering as an Independent earlier this year, attacked the Democratic Party.

According to Manchin, “the D-brand has been so maligned from the standpoint of, it’s just, it’s toxic,” and he left the party because he no longer identified as a Democrat “in the form of what Democratic Party has turned itself into.”

Manchin accused progressive lawmakers of changing the party’s branding from issues like making sure Americans have good jobs and good pay to more delicate social issues like transgender rights and dictating what Americans can and cannot do.

“They have basically expanded upon thinking, ‘Well, we want to protect you there, but we’re going to tell you how you should live your life from that far on,’” Manchin said regarding the Democratic Party.

The progressives in Washington, D.C., he said, are disconnected from the American people, saying, “This country is not going left.”

In addition to criticizing Democrats, Manchin blamed Republican lawmakers for being “too extreme” and lacking common sense when it came to the gun debate.

“I’m not going to ban you from buying it,” Manchin said regarding firearms, “but you’re going to have to show some responsibility.”

Manchin remarked, “So the Democrats go too far, want to ban,” “Oh, let the good times roll,” the Republican responds. Permit anyone to have anything they desire. There are only a few commonsense items.

Known for his moderate stance and bipartisan work on national issues in the Senate, Manchin has frequently been a pivotal swing vote.

Manchin was a senator for 14 years. Prior to being elected as a state senator until the late 1990s, he started his political career in the early 1980s as a state delegate. Manchin was elected governor of West Virginia in 2005 after four years as Secretary of State.