Joe Manchin Faces GOP Backlash After Skipping DADT Repeal Vote For Holiday Gathering

Newly-elected Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) was missing in action on Saturday as the Senate voted to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell -- a military policy preventing gay service members from serving openly.

Manchin, the only member of his party in the chamber to oppose lifting the ban, reportedly was tied up in his home state while his colleagues were on Capitol Hill. The Charleston Gazette reports on his absence:

In an e-mail to the Gazette-Mail, Manchin spokeswoman Sara Payne Scarbro said the senator and his wife, Gayle, had "planned a holiday gathering over a year ago with all their children and grandchildren as they will not all be together on Christmas Day."

"While he regrets missing the votes, it was a family obligation that he just could not break," Payne Scarbro said. "However, he has been clear on where he stands on the issues."

The Hill reports:

Senate GOP aides noted that Manchin could have booked a seat on a United flight leaving Dulles airport at 5:40 p.m. that would have landed in Charleston at 7:16 p.m., possibly in time to make an evening party.

Manchin cast a vote against a procedural motion to advance repeal legislation earlier this month. The West Virginia Democrat does not support the DREAM Act, which also received a vote in the Senate on Saturday.

Manchin's no-show sparked criticism from the Republican side of the aisle. "I'm sure that most senators, as well as the hundreds of staffers who had to come to work today, would have rather been at a Christmas party like Joe Manchin," explained Brian Walsh, communications director for the National Senatorial Campaign Committee, according to the Gazette.

"But perhaps in Joe Manchin's world today was a win-win," Walsh reportedly said. "Not only was he able to skip work and party but he was also able to avoid voting on two very sensitive political issues."

Comments

[ConservativeCapitalist]

10:43 PM on 12/23/2010

Whether you are a Lib or a Conservative, Manchin chickened out.

What better way to have no record that to not vote. Maybe Manchin should have just voted "PRESENT".....

[taddles]

07:04 PM on 12/23/2010

Ya know, one would have thought that when replacing someone of Sen. Byrd's stature they could have found someone who actually had a work ethic and was smarter than his keyboard.

[bygollymissmolly]

10:34 AM on 12/23/2010

The only reason why they care is because they wanted his "no" vote. If he supported the bill, they would have been happy he didn't show up.

[mancoff]

01:24 AM on 12/23/2010

One Senator showed up to vote and he had had just had prostate surgery 48 hours earlier. But I guess that shows you the difference between a Senator who is there to serve the country and a Senator who is interested only in serving himself. Too many in Congress put party first, country be dammed.

I hope people throughout the country keep a close look and listen at exactly what senators are doing and what they are saying (those two things don't always go together when your dealing with politicians) and I hope everyone remembers what was said and done and by whom, come elections in 2012. We're gonna have alot of people in Congress whose actions speak alot more loudly than their words....so pay attention, people. Obviously, as seen by the outcome of 2010 elections, we weren't paying close enough attention and we will pay dearly for it over the next two years.

[littlered43]

04:42 PM on 12/23/2010

Wyden 2016

[Appleton]

06:32 PM on 12/22/2010

It certainly hasn't taken Sen. Manchin long to cement his reputation as a gutless wonder.

[taddles]

07:05 PM on 12/23/2010

Yea he is a real disgrace considering the political stature of the man he replaced.

[bellenoir55]

04:06 PM on 12/22/2010

I'd bet good money that the "Christmas dinner" was a fund rasing event.
And we all know how important those are to our duly elected officials!
I read recenty that some GOPers want to convince Manchin
to switch sides.(They're still upset over Virginia turning blue in 2008)
He may as well;he already thinks,acts and votes like a Republican.
He's already shown that he's not a reliable vote for the Democrats.

[Sue Christner]

03:21 PM on 12/22/2010

Manchin is said to have some gay members in his family.......

[carolr51]

05:33 PM on 12/22/2010

Doesn't just about everyone?

[Lahonda]

03:16 PM on 12/22/2010

Joe had to clean his 2nd amendment appendages.

[tjconkster]

02:23 PM on 12/22/2010

Turn-coat....sometimes I think that bringing the "stocks" back to the town square would be a good idea for people like him and the rest of the blue dogs...

[Carolyn LeBeauf]

01:36 PM on 12/20/2010

Joe will be the biggest loser when it all boils down. He will be a one term senator, soon.

[taddles]

07:06 PM on 12/23/2010

Half term, like Palin.

[urispas]

12:31 PM on 12/20/2010

What a loser. Not even man enough to vote. Thanks for nothing Joe.

[ThinkTwiceWriteOnce]

12:25 PM on 12/20/2010

The late Senator Byrd would have made it in a wheelchair and on oxygen rather than shame the institution he loved. Granted his are large shoes to fill, but Senator Manchin seems unsuited even to tie the late Senator's laces.

[AAKAlan]

12:13 PM on 12/20/2010

Why should Republicans be ticked off at Joe Manchin? Apparently, he is one of them.

At the very least, he is a dependable vote for Republican filibusters.

[Rogan]

06:33 AM on 12/23/2010

They're pressuring him to switch parties. If he switches, next time, there won't be any "GOP backlash" -

[JOEL1954]

08:53 PM on 12/23/2010

No upside in switching. he would be primaried out in 2012 by a real crazy republican. Even if he gets re-elected he will have to stay as a democrat. He has to vote against obama until he gets a full term since he said he would not be a party vote.
Not voting was stupid though, he is a bigger DINO than Ben Nelson. WV likes their pork and lets Rockefeller vote as liberal as he wants.A little hypocritical if you ask me. Manchin is pro labor but otherwise is no different than a conservative republican.

[mjtaylor22]

12:09 PM on 12/20/2010

hey small govt, means no one is at work............
if he would rather be at home thatn at his job during this time of economic crisis in the nation, he should resign.........

[tahoegal]

12:09 PM on 12/20/2010

When will the thinking people of WV elect a REAL Democrat? Manchin is a DINO, and evidently not a courageous one.

[Tim Elms]

04:54 PM on 12/22/2010

We got Jay. Joe works for no one but Joe. Jay Rockefeller on the other hand is a class act.

[James Rocket]

05:16 PM on 12/23/2010

Because no one knew he would be an obstructionist-sympathizer.

[taddles]

07:07 PM on 12/23/2010

That was his record as governor, why would it have changed?