is Joe Manchin canceling Neera Tanden a personal gripe or a test of Biden's bipartisanship
Returning to normal shouldn’t mean returning to gridlock.
Guys, I think Joe Manchin just "cancelled" Neera Tanden, and the right-wing is fine with it.
Isn't that supporting cancel culture?
Someone please let me know.
— Wajahat "Not Fasting" Ali (@WajahatAli) February 19, 2021
The West Virginia senator announced on Friday that he intends to vote against Neera Tanden, President Biden’s pick to head the Office of Management and Budget. In a statement, Manchin said that Tanden’s “overtly partisan statements will have a toxic and detrimental impact on the important working relationship between members of Congress and the next director” of OMB. The decision by the West Virginia Democrat imperils Tanden’s nomination due to the party divide in the US Senate, according to reports.
BREAKING: Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) announced that he'll vote against Neera Tanden, Biden's nominee to run the Office of Management and Budget.
This imperils Tanden's confirmation, as she will now need at least one Republican vote. https://t.co/Usd4tHiFvu
— Axios (@axios) February 19, 2021
Why it matters: Manchin’s opposition seriously imperils Tanden’s nomination, as she will now need at least one Republican vote to be confirmed.
- Tanden has drawn fire from Republicans and Democrats for her combative posture on Twitter, where she has engaged in late-night feuds, slashing her opponent and defending her positions.
- “I believe her overtly partisan statements will have a toxic and detrimental impact on the important working relationship between members of Congress and the next director of the Office of Management and Budget,” Manchin said.
- This marks the first time a Senate Democrat has announced opposition to a Biden Cabinet nominee.
The big picture: Tanden adopted an apologetic tone in two Senate committee hearings last week, where she apologized for some of her comments.
- Democrats felt optimistic that Tanden’s conciliatory approach would carry her across the line and that she would be voted out of committee next week.
What we’re watching: Many Republicans haven’t announced their position on Tanden, but if one of them decides to support her, her prospects to lead OMB will be given new life.
Manchin voted to confirm Ric Grenell as ambassador to Germany.
— Sam Stein (@samstein) February 19, 2021
President Biden tells us “no” he will not pull Neera Tanden’s nomination after Sen. Manchin said he won’t vote for her.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) February 19, 2021
In Trump first round Manchin ‘has opposed only three nominees: Price, DeVos, and Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.’ He voted for SESSIONS. He thought he could slam a qualified woman of color like @neeratanden? Dems have long memories https://t.co/px5wV7dzvz
— Jennifer 'pro-voting' Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) February 20, 2021
Joe Manchin, who announced tonight he would vote against Biden’s pick of Neera Tanden to OMB, has several times declined to say to me if he regrets his vote to confirm Bill Barr as attorney general
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 20, 2021
