U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, left, speaks with press as U.S. President Joe Biden, right, stands before a crowd.
There has been some controversial debate about which Joe runs the United States of America. Elected in 2021, current president Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have not lived up to the expectations of those who have voted for them. Recently another Joe was mentioned as the real Joe in charge. Joe Manchin, a Democrat and U.S. Senator from West Virginia, is responsible for several stops of President Biden’s legislative agenda. Though he has been in the political limelight for the past several months, a televised showdown would introduce him to Black viewers who are now left wondering who Joe Manchin is.
Popular radio and television host Charlamagne tha God welcomed Vice President Harris to his show, “Tha God’s Honest Truth,” on Comedy Central in December. During the show, the host and the vice president discussed an array of issues concerning Black voters. The host used the voting rights act, police reform and the President’s current bill; the Build Back Better plan, as reasons Black voters would potentially not turn out for 2022 midterms and the 2024 presidential race. The host, who is known for his brazen approach to journalism, presented the Veep with a simple question:
Vice President Harris‘ response to the question caught the attention of many as she emphatically announced Joe Biden is the ‘real’ president.
The VP’s response did more than provide an answer. It helped to put Senator Joe Manchin on the radar for Black communities. However, the question still remains: who is Joe Manchin and how does his position affect Black communities?
During the Comedy Central show, Charlemagne and the vice president got into a heated exchange when he questioned the president’s political power in the United States. This comes as Senator Manchin has combated Biden on several key items of his agenda including the Build Back Better Plan. The plan would look to serve millions of families across the nation by providing much-needed financial relief in light of the pandemic, rising costs of inflation and economic fallout. Announcing his stance during a Fox News broadcast, Senator Manchin informed the American people he would be voting against the trillion-dollar bill.
“If I can’t go home and explain it to the people of West Virginia, I can’t vote for it,” said Sen. Manchin during the interview.
Releasing an official statement explaining his stance on the Build Back Better (BBB) bill, Manchin details his reservations on enacting the plan, which he said costs upwards of $4.5 trillion dollars.
“For five and a half months, I have worked as diligently as possible meeting with President Biden, Majority Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi and my colleagues on every end of the political spectrum to determine the best path forward despite my serious reservations. I have made my concerns clear through public statements, op-eds and private conversations. My concerns have only increased as the pandemic surges on, inflation rises and geopolitical uncertainty increases around the world,” Sen. Manchin said in part.
Now, as Congress races to find a solution for the bill, families are left in limbo and wondering from where their financial support will come. A large portion of the BBB bill contains language for continued financial assistance across several sectors including the child tax credit. According to data released by the University of Washington, St. Louis, and Appalachian State University, 50 percent of households earning less than $50,000 per year stated the child tax credit was spent on food and bills. Now, with the bill in limbo, several key items geared towards bailing out American families are up for debate. The White House has unleashed a round of fury aimed at the Manchin. In a statement, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki accused the senator of “sudden and inexplicable reversal in his position, and a breach of his commitments to the President and the Senator’s colleagues in the House and Senate.”
“Build Back Better lowers costs that families pay. It will reduce what families pay for child care. It will reduce what they pay for prescription drugs. It will lower health care premiums. And it puts a tax cut in the pockets of families with kids. If someone is concerned about the impact that higher prices are having on families, this bill gives them a break,” said Psaki in her statement.
Senator Manchin has continued to stand by his decision to strike down the President’s multi-trillion-dollar plan. The bill passed through the House of Representatives and currently sits in the Senate awaiting a decision.
About Post Author
