Dear John,

Last week, West Virginia’s Democratic Senator Joe Manchin put the final spear through the heart of what remained of Biden’s and the Democrats’ domestic agenda.

What’s going on here? I’ve got one word for you: MONEY.

Few if any billionaires or American-based global corporations reside in West Virginia, but lots of money flows to Manchin from billionaires and corporations residing elsewhere. Manchin has not only taken more campaign contributions from oil, gas, and coal companies than any other senator (Democrat AND Republican) -- as well as millions of dollars in dividends from his own coal company -- he has one of the largest war chests in Congress, all of it from big American corporations.

That’s why it’s so outrageous that he’s the Chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources -- which enables him to tank any forward progress by Congress in the fight against climate change.

Democrats absolutely can’t have a senator that’s bought off by the fossil fuel industry leading the committee responsible for championing the fight for the health of our planet.

Join me in calling on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to replace Senator Manchin as Chair of the most important environmental committee in the U.S. Senate NOW.

I’m told the Democrats don’t dare take this step for fear Manchin would leave the Democratic Party and switch his allegiance to the Republicans. Why exactly would this be so terrible? Manchin already acts like a Republican. Oh, no! they tell me. If Manchin switches parties, Democrats would lose control over the Senate.

Well, I have news for Democrats. They’ve already lost control of the Senate.

It’s not as if Manchin has championed anything else Democrats have sought. Remember Manchin’s “bipartisan compromise” on the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act? Nothing came of it, of course. Nothing has come of any of the fig leafs Manchin has conjured to cover his unrelenting opposition to every other Democratic goal.

And let’s be clear, Manchin doesn’t seem to give a cluck.

After all, the Democrat’s agenda -- which Manchin has obliterated -- included pre-K education, free community college, child subsidies, Medicare dental and vision benefits, paid family leave, elder care, and much else.

By the way, all of it would be of enormous value to West Virginia. On a per-person basis, West Virginians would have benefited from the Democratic agenda more than the residents of all but two other states.

In fact, the way things are right now, Biden and the Democrats have the worst of both worlds. They look like they control the Senate, as well as the House and the presidency. But they can’t get a damn thing done because Manchin won’t let them.

Voters need to see consequences for Manchin or Manchin’s obstruction will define the Democratic Party for the midterm elections. Demand Schumer replace him as committee chairman now.

In November’s midterm elections, Democrats will in effect have to go back to voters and say, “we promised a lot but we basically delivered squat, so please vote for us again.”

This does not strike me as a compelling message.

By kicking Manchin out of the party, Democrats could at least go into the midterms with a more realistic pitch: “It looked like we had control of the Senate, but we didn’t. Now that you know who the real Democrats are, give us the power and we will get it done.”

Maybe this way they’ll pick up more real Democratic senators, and actually get it done.

I’m not ready to give up hope, that’s why I’m fighting for accountability and action. It’s the best way forward if Democrats still want to win.

Robert Reich
Inequality Media Civic Action