Manchin responds to Pence attacks: ‘This is why Washington sucks’

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Vice President Mike Pence exchanged rhetorical volleys on Wednesday that led to Manchin saying Pence’s comments represent “why Washington sucks.”

“The vice president’s comments are exactly why Washington sucks. I’m disappointed in his comments but will continue to work to make Washington work so West Virginia and our country work,” Manchin said in a statement. 

“Last week, I worked in a bipartisan way with Senator [Susan] Collins to end the shutdown, and last night President Trump called for unity and bipartisanship,” he said. 

Manchin’s comments come after Pence attacked the West Virginia Democrat, who often finds himself breaking with his party in the Senate, for voting against the recent tax-reform bill after Pence lobbied him on the legislation.

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“I was in WV a few months ago & I spoke to the WV Chamber of Commerce. @Sen_JoeManchin was there — & I looked him in the eye and I told him, ‘Joe, the people of the Mountain State are counting on you,’ so let’s ‘get this tax cut done together.’ But #JoeVotedNo,” Pence tweeted earlier Wednesday.

“.@Sen_JoeManchin is going to keep voting against West Virginia & I think Chuck Schumer & Nancy Pelosi are pretty happy w/ the way he votes. But WV needs to let him know that they EXPECT BETTER & they need to let Joe know that WEST VIRGINIA DESERVES BETTER,” he added.

Manchin retorted later Wednesday that Pence had pushed legislation “in a divisive and partisan way” and now continued “his partisan attacks” even after President Trump “called for unity and bipartisanship” in Tuesday night’s State of the Union address.

“I was shocked that after the Vice President worked for almost a year in a divisive and partisan way to take health care away from almost 200,000 West Virginians, bankrupt our hospitals, and push tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and huge corporations that he would come to West Virginia and continue his partisan attacks,” Manchin tweeted.

I was in WV a few months ago & I spoke to the WV Chamber of Commerce. @Sen_JoeManchin was there – & I looked him in the eye and I told him, “Joe, the people of the Mountain State are counting on you,” so let’s “get this tax cut done together.” But #JoeVotedNo.

— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) January 31, 2018

.@Sen_JoeManchin is going to keep voting against West Virginia & I think Chuck Schumer & Nancy Pelosi are pretty happy w/ the way he votes. But WV needs to let him know that they EXPECT BETTER & they need to let Joe know that WEST VIRGINIA DESERVES BETTER. #JoeVotedNo

— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) January 31, 2018

I am shocked that after the @VP worked for almost a year in a divisive & partisan way to take healthcare away from almost 200k WVians, bankrupt our hospitals & push tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans & huge corporations that he would come to #WV & continue partisan attacks.

— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) January 31, 2018

Last week, I worked in a bipartisan way with Senator Collins to end the shutdown, & last night President Trump called for unity & bipartisanship.

— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) January 31, 2018

The VP’s comments are exactly why Washington Sucks. I’m disappointed in his comments but will continue to work to make Washington work so #WV & our country work.

— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) January 31, 2018

The GOP’s tax-reform bill passed the House and Senate last year, and was signed into law in December. The bill did not pick up any Democratic support, and Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) defected and voted against the bill as well.