Joe Manchin, the former Democratic senator from West Virginia, has dropped a political bombshell with his upcoming book, exposing the fiery temper of former President Joe Biden and a party he believes has lost its way.
According to The New York Post, Manchin’s memoir, “Dead Center,” pulls no punches as it details his clashes with Democratic leadership and his quiet hope for a Republican Senate takeover to preserve key institutional safeguards. The book, set for release on Tuesday, offers a rare insider’s critique of a party he sees as increasingly out of touch.
Manchin, who served for over 14 years in the Senate, accuses prominent Democrats of undermining the checks and balances that protect democracy. He specifically calls out leaders like Barack Obama, Harry Reid, Joe Biden, and Chuck Schumer for prioritizing agenda-driven power plays over principled governance.
In his final Senate term, Manchin, alongside Arizona’s Kyrsten Sinema, took a firm stand against scrapping the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster rule. He viewed this as a critical barrier against unchecked majority rule, a stance that put him at odds with his party’s leadership.
Recounting a 2022 episode, Manchin describes how Schumer pushed for a vote to weaken the filibuster for election legislation, not to debate, but to create a spectacle. “He wanted a vote he could weaponize, a moment he could broadcast to the radical left to prove his loyalty,” Manchin writes, exposing what he sees as a cynical grab for political points over substance.
His commitment to preserving the Senate’s traditions ran so deep that he privately rooted for Republicans to regain control in his last year. To him, this was the only way to save the institution from becoming a rubber stamp for partisan whims.
Turning to Biden, Manchin doesn’t shy away from revealing the former president’s “very bad temper” during their heated exchanges. Their relationship, often tense, hit a boiling point over policy disagreements that Manchin felt betrayed fiscal responsibility.
During early 2021 talks on the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, Manchin called Biden out for what he deemed “reckless” spending, bluntly criticizing the idea of “sending a f—ing check to everyone.” Such policies, he argues, contributed to inflation soaring to 9.1% by June 2022, the highest in nearly four decades.
The senator’s frustration wasn’t just with Biden’s temper but with the broader economic fallout of decisions he saw as shortsighted. For a man who prides himself on being “fiscally responsible and socially compassionate,” watching his warnings go unheeded clearly stung.
Manchin also takes aim at his former party’s sharp turn toward what he calls “woke” ideology, arguing it alienates everyday Americans. “When the party pushes hard on DEI mandates and other social agendas, it creates unnecessary divisions,” he writes, pointing to a disconnect from the commonsense middle ground.
He laments the Democrats’ departure from being a “big tent” that once welcomed diverse perspectives. This shift, in his view, prioritizes cultural battles over the practical concerns of most citizens, a misstep that risks long-term electoral damage.
Even as he critiques, there’s a trace of regret in his words, as if he wishes the party could reclaim its broader appeal. Yet, he stands firm that chasing progressive applause over pragmatic solutions is a losing strategy.
Reflecting on his own journey, Manchin admits he considered switching to the Republican Party after Trump’s first election in 2016. “There were enough reasons to change my political affiliation to Republican right then and there,” he muses, hinting at a path not taken for political advantage.
Despite past tensions, Schumer reportedly urged Manchin to run for re-election in 2024 to keep the West Virginia seat Democratic, a request that underscores the party’s reliance on his centrist appeal. Manchin, however, stayed true to his independent streak, choosing retirement over another term of party warfare.
“Dead Center” isn’t just a memoir; it’s a warning from a political maverick who believes both sides need to rediscover compromise. Manchin’s story, laced with sharp insights and blunt critiques, challenges readers to rethink the cost of partisan zeal and the value of holding the center, even when it’s a lonely place to stand.
