United States This man again caused “panic and disbelief” and the rage of his own party – what does Joe Manchin really want?

Joe Manchin did it again.

The West Virginia senator has become president To Joe Biden the actual hanging stone. In his latest appeal, Manchin probably ruined the Christmas of the president and the Democrats, that is, his own party. And maybe the whole next year.

Manchin reported on Fox News on Sunday in an interviewthat he does not intend to support the President’s Build Back Better package. The announcement quickly became the headline news of all American media.

This is a huge investment package that would direct $ 1 750 billion, or EUR 1 500 billion, to climate change mitigation, early childhood education and various social policy programs, among other things. Adopting it is one of Biden’s key goals – a bunch of reforms without which his legacy would be muted and his promises empty.

Biden has been fighting all fall to get his own party lines straight and behind his performances. Now everyone is threatening to fall into one man’s opposition.

And so this man is West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin.

Manchin is a right – wing Democrat in the Senate who has been slouching through President Biden ‘s ambitious and useless left – wing policies throughout the year.

He has been in the headlines for years, objecting at any time to his own party’s agenda. Him rubbed unemployment benefits from the corona recovery package, he did not agree the most ambitious climate action and settled with cross rollers With Biden’s recent appointment as an official – among other things.

Manchinilla as such, it has no more power than any single democratic senator.

The Senate is divided equally between the parties 50-50. Democrats have the smallest possible majority, as in the event of a tie, the President of the Senate, the Vice President Kamala Harrisin the voice decides. However, Harris ’vote doesn’t matter if any Democrat gets out of line.

Manchin has a special position because he is the most conservative Democrat in the Senate. Therefore, it is he alone who often ends up on a different line with the majority of his party, which in a way gives him a veto over most things.

Manchin has repeatedly taken advantage of his position. So has the Arizona Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema, which has also refused to give its unreserved support to the EUR 1 500 billion investment package.

West Virginia the position of senator is facilitated by the fact that he has no debt to his party or to Biden. He has excelled in several elections in a state that is now firmly held by Republicans. It gives him the political capital and the opportunity for an attitude where he can play hard and not have to apologize.

Manchin has repeatedly stated that his status and world of values ​​should come as no surprise to anyone.

“I have told my colleagues that if you are taken in the head, choose more liberals for your forces. I’m not a liberal, ”he said According to Politico. “I’m not trying to change Bernie [Sanders]. Bernie is loyal to herself, I respect that. Why do they want to change me? ”

Biden of course he is aware of the value of Manchin and has spoken quite transparently about his extensive contact with him.

Men have much more in common than a first name – they are both Catholic, in their seventies, proud of their working-class roots. So far, Biden says he hasn’t actually put pressure on him to vote against his beliefs.

“He just said if you can help me, help me,” Manchin said of the duo’s conversation To The New Yorker in June.

Stakes however, are now tough.

If Build Back Better were to be pitted, Biden’s first year as president would end in a rather downturn in a situation where his popularity has already experienced hardships.

There are several things along the way. Manchin has been on several occasions statedThe main problem is the size of the package. Manchin fears it will, above all, fuel inflation, though, for example The New York Times According to expert opinions, the impact of the multi – annual program on inflation is likely to be relatively small.

Manchin has also talked a lot about the uncontrolled growth of government debt. He believes temporary programs will eventually become permanent, which would increase costs from what was estimated.

However, the weight of the votes has been such that as late as last week, reconciliation was believed to be found. On Thursday, the White House announced an optimistic tone bulletinthat talks with Manchin will continue in good spirits.

“I think we can get our differences settled,” it said.

Just a couple of days later, Manchin watered everything down.

Politicon by Fox News Sunday program caused “panic and disbelief” in the White House. Officials tried to block Manchini from appearing, but he refused to take a call from the White House.

Democrats are furious and are now pushing for the narrative that Manchin betrayed the president and ate his word. The media has in places interpreted that Manchin “killed” the bill, or at least asked if that was the case.

However, negotiations have not been concluded. According to the White House, the intention is still to find out if Manchin could “turn his sleigh again”. Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated Monday morning that he plans to get some version of the bill to be voted on early next year.

Manchin, too, chose his words with Fox carefully so that he left the back door open.

“Was this here? Is this really not? ” the interviewer asked.

“This is not for this legislation. I have tried my best, ”Manchin replied.

No to this legislation. So he may still give his support to some filed version.

However, it may be a rather watered-down version of the historically great social policy reform that Biden originally sought.