Bette Midler says Manchin wants US to be like West Virginia: ‘Poor, illiterate and strung out’

Actress Bette Midler, a frequent and fierce critic of Republicans on her Twitter account, called out Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) on Monday, while also criticizing his home state of West Virginia. 

Midler said Manchin “sold us out,” apparently in reference to his blocking Democrats’ social and climate spending package, and added he wanted the rest of the country to be like West Virginia: “Poor, illiterate and strung out.”

The “Hocus Pocus” actress said the “rest of America” just “wants to move forward, not backward, like his state.” 

What #JoeManchin, who represents a population smaller than Brooklyn, has done to the rest of America, who wants to move forward, not backward, like his state, is horrible. He sold us out. He wants us all to be just like his state, West Virginia. Poor, illiterate and strung out.

— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) December 20, 2021

The 76-year-old actress’s remarks drew criticism on Twitter, and Midler later tweeted an apology for generalizing about the people of West Virginia, though she continued to call out Manchin, asking “Is he really the best [West Virginia] has to offer its own citizens?” 

I apologize to the good people of WVA for my last outburst. I’m just seeing red; #JoeManchin and his whole family are a criminal enterprise. Is he really the best WV has to offer its own citizens? Surely there’s someone there who has the state’s interests at heart, not his own!

— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) December 20, 2021

Manchin has been criticized for his continued financial involvement in Enersystems Inc., a coal brokerage firm which he founded in the 1980s and handed control of to his son in 2000. The senator still owns millions worth of stock in the firm and earns annual dividends. 

Last year, Midler criticized Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) using an image of McConnell listing Kentucky’s low national rankings in things like education, employment, and economic opportunity.

He is useless, utterly useless. How did he win with an 18% approval rating? Fucking cheated, that’s how! #Kentucky, you are keeping us all down. I demand a #KentuckyRecount https://t.co/tHsptG1puF

— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) December 10, 2020