Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.V., fired a parting shot at democratic party, He described his former party as “toxic” as he prepares to retire from office at the end of his congressional term.
Manchin, who was a lifelong Democrat before registering as an independent earlier this year, criticized the Democratic Party in an interview on CNN's “Inside Politics with Manu Raju,” which aired Sunday.
“Brand D has been maligned from the point of view that it is merely toxic.” Manchin said Adding that he left the party because he no longer considered himself a democrat “in the way the Democratic Party has turned into.”
Manchin blamed progressive lawmakers for shifting the party's brand away from issues like ensuring good jobs and wages for Americans to instead focus more on sensitive social issues like transgender rights and telling Americans what they can and cannot do.
Manchin delivers emotional floor speech as West Virginia senator: 'The honor of my life'
Manchin left the Democratic Party earlier this year and registered as an independent. (Kevin Deitch/Getty Images, File)
“They've basically expanded into thinking, 'OK, we want to protect you out there, but we're going to tell you how you're supposed to live your life from now on,'” Manchin said of the Democratic Party.
The progressives claimed washington dc, They are out of touch with the Americans, saying: “This country is not going left.”
Manchin has often served as a crucial swing vote in the Senate. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images, File)
But Manchin not only criticized Democrats, he pointed the finger at Republican lawmakers who he claimed were “too extreme” and lacked common sense on the gun issue.
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“I'm not going to stop you from buying them, but you're going to have to show some responsibility,” Manchin said of the weapons.
“So Democrats are going further, and they want a ban,” Manchin said. “Oh, let the good times roll,” says the Republican. Let anyone have anything they want.’ Just some logical things there.”
Manchin, often a crucial swing vote, was known for his moderate approach and bipartisanship on national issues. In the Senate.
Manchin served 14 years in the Senate. He began his political career as a state delegate in the early 1980s, before being elected as a state senator until the late 1990s. Manchin served as Secretary of State for four years, then was elected governor West Virginia In 2005.
Aubrey Spady of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
