EDITORIAL: How Much Clout Does Manchin Really Have?
We get some exceptional insights from our readers here at HNN, and one of them made a point this week that we had not previously considered.
For decades, we have heard from our Democratic state leaders how their clout with Democratic national leaders, especially the occasional Democratic President, could only help West Virginia, especially on issues related to some of our key industries like coal. Their reasoning always seems to go like this: even if you don't like the national Democratic policies, aren't you glad you have us to influence matters from the inside out?
Ah, if it were only that simple.
At no time is this "logic" seen to be more flawed than during President Obama's tenure in office, with both houses of Congress controlled by the Democrats. We've been told the same tired lines by Governor Manchin regarding his "insider's influence" with the Obama Administration. In fact, we are hearing it yet again as a main theme in his general election campaign.
Apparently, Governor Manchin doesn't know any different tunes. He believes that his relationship with Barack Obama is his strongest suit, which shows that the Governor's political ear is getting a bit tone deaf.
One of our HNN readers made the following point to us which really is worth considering.
Our reader noted that, as a Democratic Governor who greatly helped Barack Obama get elected, Manchin should have a lot more influence with the administration to free up more coal permits from the EPA. As long as a coal company's environmental and safety records are in good order, why keep more miners unemployed in a time when our nation needs more energy production?
If Manchin's influence isn't evident, then his advantage working in the U.S. Senate during a Democrat administration comes down to a one-sided relationship that only benefits Obama's anti-coal agenda but does nothing good for WV.
In short, Manchin is being used.
Governor Manchin can't have it both ways. If he comes in the name of having great influence with Obama as a reason to elect him, then it's a legitimate question to ask if he's really demonstrated any influence with him to date.
We don't see any significant influence that Manchin has with Obama. However, we do see considerable influence that Obama has with Manchin.