MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Former U.S. Senator Joe Manchin will begin a five-stop tour in support of his memoir, Dead Center: In Defense of Common Sense, in Morgantown this evening
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Manchin will be interviewed by retired MetroNews “Talkline” Host Hoppy Kercheval at the Diversified Energy Terrace in Milan Puskar Stadium beginning at 5:30 p.m. The book goes on sale Tuesday.
Manchin said commonsense is within the grasp of everyone but seems to be a fleeting personality trait in the nation’s capital.
“It’s the most uncommon thing in Washington and the political arena today,” Manchin said recently on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town.” “We have weaponized this division, tribal mentality, and the hatred that’s spewed on both sides that you must be wrong if you’re not on my side; if you don’t agree with me, you must be wrong and we have to get out of that.”
Manchin’s first taste of partisan politics in Washington came when, as a new U.S. senator, he was informed about a “party line vote.”
Manchin, now an independent, said he voted ‘no.’ That signaled the beginning of his efforts to stay in the middle and try to bring others together.
Manchin said said the Democrat and Republican parties operate identical organizations with very different political priorities and goals. The spirit of each organization directs the members to constantly oppose the other side at any cost, leaving little room for the pursuit of common ground, causing them to lose sight of their purpose and the needs of constituents
“Both business models are based around hate, division, and diversion. They want you to pick a side and hate the other side, and if you hate the other side, you’re on my side 1000 percent, and we’ll fight to our death, and that’s not the political system.
Standing up for the Constitution is what Manchin said the politicians of today have lost sight of. Without regard for beliefs, race, origin, age, ability, or education, elected representatives are the guardians of the framework that gives them the freedom to pursue their lives, not dictate or shame others into a position
“My responsibility is to make sure you can pursue whatever you desire in any kind of life,” Manchin said. “But don’t force it on the public and make the public believe they’re wrong if they don’t believe the way you do.
Operating as a moderate has drawn attention from the GOP to move to the right side of the aisle on many occasions over his career. Switching parties wasn’t as important to Manchin as continuing to work for voters and work within the constitution
“I’ve been aggressively recruited to switch parties for a long time,” Manchin said. “I considered it very seriously, but then I kept thinking, why should I pick a side? I like both sides—I like Democrats, and I like Republicans, but I don’t think I fit in either party real well.
Just like many would say the Democrat party has abandoned the working class in the country, the Republicans too have strayed from their core principles.
“On some of the Republican stuff, I said you guys are supposed to be for a streamlined government, paying our bills, and being more fiscally responsible,” Manchin said. “I don’t see anyone taking that action—we’re $37 trillion in debt, and no one is saying a word.”
Other stops for Manchin’s book tour include:
- September 15 — New York City (Gayle King moderating)
- September 17 — Nashville, Tennessee (Brad Paisley moderating)
- September 18 — Los Angeles
- September 21 — Washington D.C. (David Rubenstein moderating)
- September 22 — Naperville, Illinois (David Axelrod moderating)