Manchin Breaks With Dems, Says He’ll Vote For Pompeo As Secretary Of State

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 27: U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) looks on during a news conference to discuss the national opioid crisis, on Capitol Hill June 27, 2017 in Washington, DC. The Democratic senators discussed the ... WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 27: U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) looks on during a news conference to discuss the national opioid crisis, on Capitol Hill June 27, 2017 in Washington, DC. The Democratic senators discussed the opioid issue and how it relates to the Senate health care bill being considered. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) broke with Demcorats on Monday and announced he would support Mike Pompeo as the next secretary of state when the nomination is moved to the Senate floor for a vote.

Manchin cited Pompeo’s “foreign policy perspectives,” his time as head of the CIA and his “exemplary career in public service” as rationale for his support, a move most Democrats have indicated they won’t make.

Heading into a key Senate Foreign Relations Committee vote Monday, Democrats on the committee indicated their opposition to Pompeo’s nomination, even Democrats who voted in favor of Pompeo’s appointment to run the CIA last year. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has already said he would not support Pompeo to run the State Department.

Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) announced last week that she would also back Pompeo.

While the Senate Foreign Relations Committee may not have the votes it needs to give a positive recommendation of Pompeo, the full Senate is still expected to consider Pompeo’s nomination later on this week.

Machin’s backing follows outcry of obstruction from White House spokespeople and President Trump himself Monday morning, following reports of uncertainty over whether Pompeo would be approved.

Early Monday, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told “Fox and Friends” that Democrats will have to “decide whether they love this country more than they hate this President.” Trump followed up with a tweet, calling Democrats “obstructionists.”

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Notable Replies

  1. Guess he had to show loves his country more than he hates Trump.

  2. Trump followed up with a tweet, calling Democrats “obstructionists.”

    Supreme Court Justice Merrick Garland could not be reached for comment.

  3. Oh course he will.

    I can’t stand Manchin. If we didn’t need him as a Democrat to help us get back our majority, I’d throw that piece of shit overboard for anyone that didn’t suck up to Republicans in such an obvious way as that man. If Republicans in WV wanted Republican lite, you’d think they’d just go ahead and vote for the real thing.

  4. There is nothing less patriotic than fulfilling one’s Constitutional duty of advice and consent!

  5. He has an election to run. And since he hasn’t killed any miners or poisoned any stream with anything more than beer piss, he is in serious disadvantage,

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