Joe Manchin has spent the past few months trying to please both sides in the abortion debate. But all the Democrat Senator has done with his fence straddling is demonstrate his lack of principle on the issue.
Manchin first took heat from pro-life groups when he tried to cozy up to the liberals in his party, vowing at a town hall to vote to send taxpayer money to the nation’s leading abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, and posing for a picture with an “I Stand with Planned Parenthood” sign.
Manchin then tried to overcorrect, meeting with representatives from Students for Life, as well as anti-abortion activist David Daleiden, and posing for a picture with a “We Don’t Need Planned Parenthood” sign. A Manchin spokesman explained the apparent conflict between the sentiments by informing West Virginians that any signs Manchin holds “bear no relation to his policy positions.”
Well, predictably, this didn’t go over so well with the left. Manchin recently picked up a primary opponent, and this week abortion activists confronted Manchin outside his Washington office for meeting with Daleiden. Sadly for all, the group was not interested in having Manchin pose with their sign, but took the opportunity to call out the rudderless career politician for trying to take both sides in the abortion debate.
“Joe Manchin is quickly learning that his shameless pandering won’t satisfy either side in the abortion debate,” said NRSC Spokesman Bob Salera. “Manchin claims to be ‘pro-life,’ but his vow to continue sending taxpayer money to abortion providers proves he is just another Washington Democrat.”