Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) said during an interview on Wednesday’s “Morning Joe” that West Virginia, unlike Texas, would welcome military training exercises that have led to widespread conspiracy theories in several western states.
“Let me just say this. I want to make news right now,” Manchin said. “I don’t know what’s going on in Texas. I don’t know the paranoia that goes on in Texas, but the people in West Virginia welcome, welcome the special forces exercises. Please come to West Virginia. We’ll welcome you with open arms. We’re not afraid of you. We embrace you, we want you to be part of us.”
Manchin’s comments came in response to a question from MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski about Jade Helm 15, a military training program set to take place this summer in seven western states. The operation has generated a series of conspiracy theories that the program is a front for a covert U.S. government takeover of Texas.
Last week, concerns from conspiracy theorists prompted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) to order the Texas State Guard to monitor the military exercises.
“I have no clue,” Manchin said, when asked by Brzezinski what was happening in Texas. “I’ll have to call my buddy Rick Perry and find out if he can get me the scoop on this.”
“We’ll let you do that,” Brzezinski said. “You let us know what you find out, Joe Manchin.”
Watch below:
And your negotiable currency at our roadside refreshment centers. Nothing caps a military exercise better than an ice cold Mountain Dew and a bag of Ranch-flavored Sun chips…
I can’t believe this is still a story.
Where are the leaders in the GOP? Why aren’t they being more forceful in knocking this crazy story down?
Where is military expert John Maverick McCain? There’s usually a camera that can’t escape him getting in front of. Is he speaking out about this?
Walnuts is doing what Walnuts does – waiting to see if carrying this banner provides any benefits to the carrier. Right now, it’s only earning huge, moist snorts of concern from everyone except from the Clive Bundys of the world.
Seriously…Greg Abbott is from Wichita Falls…yank Sheppard Air Force base
right out of there if he doesn’t trust them…watch the rednecks howl!!!
The leaders in the GOP? That’s a big part of their overall problem right now…they don’t have any leaders. But given that at least 2 of their declared candidates for the presidency, and at least 1 more who is expected to declare, have all weighed in that these are valid concerns and merits investigation…I think its pretty easy to see where their faux leadership is on this.