New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive Democrat, said West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, one of the party's moderates, engaged in an "egregious breach" of President Joe Biden's trust when he essentially killed the chances of the Build Back Better bill in the Senate.
Ocasio-Cortez's criticisms are only the latest to be directed at Manchin, who sparked anger within the Democratic caucus after he announced he wouldn't support the Build Back Better Act in its current form.
You can hear Ocasio-Cortez's remarks in the video below.
Rep. @AOC (D-NY) says Sen. Manchin opposition \u201cis an outcome that we warned about\u201d and Dems have \u201cevery right to be furious with Joe Manchin.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s really about time that we take the kid gloves off and we start using them to govern for working families in this country.\u201dpic.twitter.com/YV3F58Q0tY— The Recount (@The Recount) 1640005654
She said:
"Of course, we have every right to be furious with Joe Manchin, but it's really up to leadership in the Democratic Party, who made the decision to get us to this juncture. It's really about time that we take the kid gloves off and we start using them to govern for working families in this country."
"I think what Sen. Manchin did yesterday represents such an egregious breach of the trust of the president. It's an outcome that we had warned about well over a month ago.
"It's why we insisted on having the bipartisan infrastructure plan coupled and passed together with the Build Back Better Act."
Ocasio-Cortez stressed that not passing the bill will have a major effect on the country's ability to address the climate crisis:
"We cannot allow the climate crisis to become a catastrophe, which is what is represented right now with this bill going by the wayside or being trimmed down any further."
"Some of us are actually going to have to live on this planet in 50 years, and what happens right now determines how bad it's going to be. And so this is real life. This is serious, and we need to govern like it."
Many concurred with Ocasio-Cortez's assessment and offered their own criticisms of Manchin.
More @RepAOC & less @Sen_JoeManchin please? Because at this point, the Biden admin & \u201cmoderate Democrats\u201d are doing the GQP\u2019s job for them. Who knows, maybe that\u2019s the pointhttps://twitter.com/therecount/status/1472916588554858497\u00a0\u2026— Kim Cronan (@Kim Cronan) 1640094930
A little "I told ya so", but she didn't shit all over "the Dems". Instead, she put the responsibility for this mess squarely on the opposition - where it fucking belongs.\nWe are not the problem.\nAsshole politicians getting paid to hold Americans hostage - they're the problem.https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1472916588554858497\u00a0\u2026— e'Ville Mike (@e'Ville Mike) 1640029385
Frequently disagree with @AOC but she is 10000% right here.https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1472916588554858497\u00a0\u2026— "Fly" by Sugar Ray (@"Fly" by Sugar Ray) 1640009497
She's not wrong.https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1472916588554858497\u00a0\u2026— Mary Dianne Ratliff (@Mary Dianne Ratliff) 1640010021
She's right about Biden. He has been careful for Manchin's sake. No more reason to be careful. Time for the iron fist.https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1472916588554858497\u00a0\u2026— *The* Editorial Board (@*The* Editorial Board) 1640010976
Party leaders aren't going to like that though (this is why there needs to be term limits for both chambers in Congress; have too many dinosaurs in both parties that you can watch fossilize, paralyzing efficient progress).https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1472916588554858497\u00a0\u2026— The Bad Deal \u2197\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@The Bad Deal \u2197\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1640012902
@tech5960 @AOC It really doesn't matter the amount of constituents they represent, what matters is Joe Manchin promising Potus that he will continue working out numbers, then announcing on Trumps foxnews that he's a No. He backstabbed the Pres, the ppl of this country.https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1472916588554858497\u00a0\u2026— Techfpvflyer (@Techfpvflyer) 1640037279
Amen @AOC this bipartisan is BS because the GOP don't give a flying fuck about anybody. @POTUS stop being a coward and get shit done without them. We Don't need themhttps://twitter.com/therecount/status/1472916588554858497\u00a0\u2026— AK (@AK) 1640016768
This interview was . We need more Dems, Profressice or other to \u201ctell it like it is\u201d, roll up their sleeves and make real change happen.https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1472916588554858497\u00a0\u2026— shaka lee (@shaka lee) 1640023826
Manchin has been widely criticized for delaying attempts by House and Senate Democrats to codify much of their economic and social policy agenda via a major spending bill.
The plan is part of efforts from the Democrats to respond to the climate crisis, invest in infrastructure and expand education, healthcare and childcare.
It would constitute the largest broadening of the social safety net in years.
Yesterday, Manchin said Democrats had blundered in their efforts to court his vote since negotiations collapsed last week, saying they figured they could pass their agenda if they "badger and beat one person up."
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, announced talks between Biden and Manchin will continue, though he did not offer a timeline.
Ocasio-Cortez has sparred with Manchin before, accusing him of holding up passage of an infrastructure bill because he is beholden to energy companies. She also criticized him after failed to use her official title and referred to her as a "young lady" in an interview.
Ocasio-Cortez said Manchin's remarks are emblematic of the sexism she has faced as a member of Congress.
MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images
MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images
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