Journalist and pundit Jemele Hill blasted Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) after the conservative Democrat voiced opposition to a voting rights bill being pushed by his own party and reiterated his commitment to keep the Senate filibuster intact.
“This is so on brand for this country,” Hill tweeted Sunday, linking to a story on Manchin’s recent op-ed in a West Virginia paper that spelled out his positions.
“Record number of black voters show up to save this democracy, only for white supremacy to be upheld by a cowardly, power-hungry white dude. @Sen_JoeManchin is a clown.”
In the op-ed published early Sunday morning, Manchin called the For the People Act too partisan and said its passage would further divide the country.
“I believe that partisan voting legislation will destroy the already weakening binds of our democracy, and for that reason, I will vote against the For the People Act. Furthermore, I will not vote to weaken or eliminate the filibuster,” he wrote.
Progressives have attacked Manchin for what they say is standing in the way of change and aiding Republican efforts to stymie their agenda.
“Joe Manchin has become the new Mitch McConnell,” Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) said during an interview on Monday. “Now Joe Manchin is doing everything in his power to stop democracy and stop our work for the people.”
Former President Trump praised Manchin for doing what he called “the right thing” in defending the filibuster.
“Otherwise you’re going to be packing the court. You’re going to be doing all sorts of very, very bad things that were unthinkable and were never even brought up during the election,” Trump said on Monday. “Nobody brought this stuff up.”
Hill, a former employee of ESPN, left her role at the network anchoring “SportsCenter,” saying she wanted to pursue a position elsewhere where commentary is more encouraged.
She is now a contributing writer at The Atlantic and hosts a podcast where she discusses sports, politics, race and culture.