Manchin appears with Clinton, shies from Obama

From NBC's Shawna Thomas
Morgantown, W.V. -- Continuing a whirlwind tour on Monday, former President Bill Clinton stumped for West Virginia Senate candidate Gov. Joe Manchin, a Democrat who has worked to distance himself from Clinton's Democratic successor - Barack Obama.

The former president tailored his speech for Manchin’s careful middle-of-the-road campaigning in a state where Democratic policies are increasingly unpopular.

"If people in this state weren’t hurting and frustrated and angry, he’d be ahead by 30 points and you know it," Clinton said of Manchin.

"I’m old enough to know that when you make a decision when you’re mad -- and this is not just [in] politics -- there’s about an 80% chance you’ll make a mistake," he added.

(Clinton was on message during the speech, but he couldn’t help but joke with the crowd when a woman in the front row
passed out. “At my age, rarely does a woman faint on me,” said the former president.)

His visit to the state came on a day when West Virginians were getting their first taste of Manchin’s
newest television ad, in which the governor slams Obama-backed health care and cap-and-trade legislation.

Just like in his new commercial, Manchin called the new health care law “Obamacare” and said that while there are many aspects of the bill he supports, there are an “awful lot of things in that bill that need to be fixed.”

In an interview after the event, Manchin was even more explicit. When asked whether he would’ve voted for the bill as passed he said, “No, I would not have voted for the final version of that health care law.”

Asked twice if he would like the current president to come to West Virginia, Manchin dodged the question, saying that Clinton had appeared on his behalf merely "as a friend."

“I’ve never had anybody come stump for me," Manchin said. "I don’t do that. Whether it be President Obama, with all due respect, or anybody else. I just have never been that type of a candidate. I think that I’m the one you’re going to have to vote for.”

After the speech, some of the diehard Democratic attendees seemed unfazed by Manchin’s criticisms of Obama’s policies. When asked how she felt about Manchin appearing to run away from his party, Morgantown resident Stella Konchesky said, “He likes to be his own person. You know, he’s still a Democrat but he wants to be his own person being a Democrat and there’s nothing wrong with that. “

Both she and her friend Alice Raley, didn’t seem to mind Manchin’s comments about health care. Raley said, “It isn’t perfect health care, but it’s the best we can get.” She continued, “I know that we were lucky to get what we got. It’s like a stepping stone. Without it we have nothing."

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Manchin is a punk.....So he coins the phrase of the republicans....in order to get votes....

    Reply#29 - Tue Oct 12, 2010 9:43 AM EDT

     I repeat: I would sooner eat dhit and die than vote for a republic :):)!  But Brother Manchin, you lost a lot of respect from a lot of people when you "shunned" the President....same as Sis Marshall in NC.  If I were in WV, you'd get my vote, but not my respect.  Sis Marshall did a fine job during the debate last evening.  She'll make a good senator, but I will never forget the "slight".  Things like that sting - makes you remember how far you have yet to go...........

      Reply#30 - Tue Oct 12, 2010 10:45 AM EDT

      Good idea, eat as much of it as you like.

        #30.1 - Tue Oct 12, 2010 12:32 PM EDT

        I guess we can assume respect is not high on your list of character traits.

          #30.2 - Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:17 PM EDT
          Reply

          Morgantown, W.V. -- Continuing a whirlwind tour on Monday, former President Bill Clinton stumped for West Virginia Senate candidate Gov. Joe Manchin, a Democrat who has worked to distance himself from Clinton's Democratic successor - Barack Obama.
          *****************

          So tell me, libbies, why would one of yours work to distance himself from your savior?

            Reply#31 - Tue Oct 12, 2010 10:50 AM EDT

            Wasn't it Bill Clinton who was getting illegal campaign contributions from China?

            Perhaps the media should try telling the truth about the housing bubble. See who really screwed everyone, in their own video-taped words.

            SEARCH: "Starring Bill Clinton's HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo And Barack"

              Reply#32 - Tue Oct 12, 2010 11:29 AM EDT

              Smart man. I sure would, but as an American citizen we collectively need to IMPEACH Obama !

              You can sign the petition at:

              http://www.impeachobamacampaign.com/sign-the-petition/

              You can also keep a very close eye on this filthy rat at:

              http://www.exposeobama.com/

              IMPEACH OBAMA AND PELOSI NOW !!!!!!

                Reply#33 - Tue Oct 12, 2010 11:35 AM EDT
                • come on ,hearder,stop hating on President obama,show some respect.
                • didn.t anyone impeach president Bush, on his 2 wars ,the one in iraq's
                • ,they never did find , mass of nuclear,or whatever.people say ,
                • he lies,but l'm not going to disrepect a former president like that.
                • but something went wrong. l'm not the expert okay.
                  #33.1 - Sun Oct 17, 2010 5:45 PM EDT
                  Reply

                  I take offense to that. I was an UN Peacekeeper during the Serbia/Bosnia conflict. And apparantly u have no idea what happened there. War is always mess.

                  Now on to the Fmr Pres Clinton. He may have his flaws but none of us are perfect. I am not saying he is entirely responsible for the great economic rise in the late 90's but he did help. Heck i even met him once. Alot of dems remember those days. Some still have amnesia.

                    Reply#34 - Tue Oct 12, 2010 11:38 AM EDT

                    In an interview after the event, Manchin was even more explicit. When asked whether he would've voted for the bill as passed he said, "No, I would not have voted for the final version of that health care law."
                    *****************

                    Soooooooooooo, apparently the votes are swaying the other way. Typical Hypocrite, and bald-faced liar too.

                      Reply#35 - Tue Oct 12, 2010 12:36 PM EDT

                      Pres Clinton: ""If people in this state weren't hurting and frustrated and angry, he'd be ahead by 30 points and you know it," Clinton said of Manchin." Sure, and if your community organizer Pres didn't pass his economically destructive policies he would be ahead. Duh!

                        Reply#36 - Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:13 PM EDT
                        • the Midterm list for the Grand ole Party: the GOP Agenda:
                        • if they win any seat in congress
                        • they will or try to take the country back to the dark ages
                        • no minimum wages.this mean slavery/American people work for nothing or
                        • very little wages.cheap labors /like the 3rd world countries.
                        • repeal financial reforms/mean end the validation of something as a law.
                        • repeal healthcare reforms /undo laws/that has been put into place.
                        • revoke,and abolish laws of the Obama adminstration.
                        • this is not good for the common man/or working class people.
                        • low income and for ours seniors.
                        • the party of --NO----repeal and rescind,,,,,revoked,and undo.
                        • this is it,,the grand ole pary,,the elephant...
                        • l think each party should work together,to bring jobs
                        • back to America./and stop selling ours democracy to others
                        • countries, and do what is best for this country.
                          Reply#37 - Sun Oct 17, 2010 5:29 PM EDT
                          • how did karl rove. get with these group of people that are donating
                          • millions of dollars for attacks ads if rove is in
                          • groups yeah,it's got be crooked and corrupt, because
                          • President Bush Threw ,karl rove of his staff.for
                          • corruption.
                          • corruption; is karl rove lst name.
                            Reply#38 - Sun Oct 17, 2010 6:03 PM EDT
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