Manchin Denounces Partisanship As Democrats Fear Third Party Run
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), a Democratic stalwart, has long been a unique figure within his party. Embodying a brand of moderate politics that sometimes seems a rarity in today’s polarized climate, Manchin has recently taken a hard line against the growing partisanship in the American political landscape. With murmurs of aligning with the No Labels Party and further speculation of a potential third-party bid for the White House in 2024, Manchin’s message is clear: the nation is due for a political reset.
During an appearance on WABC 770 AM’s The Cats Roundtable, hosted by John Catsimatidis, Manchin expressed his frustration with the prevailing winds of American politics, emphasizing that both major parties were guilty of painting the other as the villain. “If you’re a Democrat, they expect you to villainize every Republican,” Manchin explained. “And if you’re a Republican, you should villainize the Democrats.” Such animosity, he argues, is not what the founding fathers had in mind. “That’s not the way our founding fathers intended for this democracy to work. It was intended for us to work together,” he asserted.
Manchin’s sentiments are echoed by other prominent figures, including Joe Lieberman, former Democrat Connecticut Senator and the founding chairman of No Labels. During the same radio show, Lieberman pointed out that while political differences have always existed, the current atmosphere in Congress goes beyond mere disagreements. Instead, legislators from opposing sides often view each other almost as adversaries from “an enemy nation.”
But what is this No Labels Party that has captured the attention and potential allegiance of key political players like Manchin? Founded as a bipartisan organization, No Labels seeks to bridge the widening divide in American politics. They now advocate for a “unity ticket” for the 2024 presidential race. The core premise is offering Americans more options beyond the conventional two-party system.
In speaking about No Labels’ mission, Lieberman made it clear that their goal is not necessarily to present a new presidential ticket. Instead, it’s about sending a message to the two dominant parties. “What motivates us is not that we want to run a ticket,” Lieberman elaborated. “But we hope that maybe the strength that we’re showing will be a message to the two parties to try to come back toward the center and, not to change what they think is right, but to begin to work together for the good of the country.”
However, not everyone is on board with the vision laid out by Manchin and the No Labels movement. Ana Navarro, co-host of ABC’s The View, voiced concerns in July about a potential No Labels candidacy, arguing that such a move might disrupt conventional party strategies, potentially compromising the electoral chances of major players.
As the U.S. faces unprecedented challenges at home and abroad, the push for unity and a return to bipartisanship is a message that resonates with many Americans. With political figures like Manchin and organizations like No Labels leading the charge, the upcoming election cycle promises vigorous debate and potentially transformative choices for the nation, especially among disaffected Democratic voters.
