Red-state Dem tells Schumer to 'kiss my you know what' on Supreme Court vote

The Hill ^ | 07/14/18 | Avery Anapol

[yesthatjallen]

Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin (W. Va.) had strong words for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (N.Y.) efforts to unify the party against President Trump’s Supreme Court pick.

Manchin suggested to Politico that Schumer does not have any influence over whether or not he supports Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination.

“I’ll be 71 years old in August, you’re going to whip me? Kiss my you know what,” Manchin told Politico, referring to whipping votes among the party caucus.

Schumer has spoken out harshly against Kavanaugh and vowed to oppose him “with everything I’ve got.” Democrats will need at least two GOP votes, in addition to all Democrats, to block the nomination.

But Democrats up for re-election in Trump states are not guaranteed votes against the confirmation, and many have signaled that Schumer’s efforts may not be enough to convince them to vote against the nominee.

“My decision won’t have anything to do with Chuck Schumer,” Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) told Politico. Donnelly, in addition to Manchin and Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) all voted in support of Neil Gorsuch.

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) told Politico that Schumer “knows better” than to try to pressure her to vote a certain way.

“He doesn’t come to me and say: ‘You’ve got to vote with us on this.’ He knows I’ll tell him to take a flyin’ leap,” she said. “I’m going to do what I think is right. It has nothing to do with the party.”

[Oscar in Batangas]

—”kiss my you know what’ on Supreme Court vote”—

And I will kiss yours on every single vote that comes up for the next years. Deal???

[LeoTDB69]

“I’ll be 71 years old in August, you’re going to whip me?”

Who knew Schumer was into that sorta thing?

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

My money says manchin will vote to oppose.

Well, they say that Manchin’s base won’t be happy with a yes vote. But then, Trump’s base won’t be happy with a no vote - and Trump’s vote was pretty big in WV a couple of years ago.

But, what do I know - I live in Pennsylvania.

What I do know is that half of the entire Senate Democrat caucus is up for re-election this year, and enough of those seats represent the states ^{the voters of the states} that went for Trump that the odds are pretty long against Democrat control of the Senate in ’19. If the Republicans keep or expand their control of the Senate, voting down Brett Kavanaugh could easily look like a pyrrhic victory.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Republicans generally don’t know how to play hardball, but if they did, they would have at least two members indicate they were going to oppose the nomination right up to the day of the vote. This would put great pressure on the democrats to all vote no in order to have a victory. After all votes are cast, but before the vote is announced, the two republicans could change their vote. The nomination would be confirmed and the swing state democrats would be on the hook for opposing him.

That would be a sneaky underhanded trick. I think I like it.

[MayflowerMadam]

Schmucky must be terrified realizing that he is losing control of his underlings. Mutiny in the Dem party would be a beautiful thing.

[castlebrew]

The Janus case killed union extortion from those that don't want to be members. Almost RTW, but good enough for this State's public employees.

[Persevero]

It MAY get red state democrats reelected if they vote for Kavanagh.

Then again they may lose dem votes even if they gain rep votes. So it may not help. And it may not hurt.

It’s an unknown result, really.