Progressive Groups to Schumer: Stand for the Resistance and Ditch Manchin

A group of progressive organizations is calling on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to boot Joe Manchin from his party leadership position, saying the West Virginia senator’s recent record proves he’s unfit to be among those spearheading resistance to the Trump administration’s right-wing agenda.

Drawing immediate ire from progressive advocacy groups, Manchin, who serves as Senate Democrats’ vice chairman of the Policy and Communications Committee, was the only Democrat to join Republicans and vote to confirm former Goldman Sachs partner Steven Mnuchin—dubbed by some the “foreclosure king”—as Treasury Secretary.

His was the only Democratic vote in favor of Jeff Sessions as U.S. attorney general. He also joined just two other Democratic senators—Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.), and Mark Warner (Va.)—to “vote for climate disaster” and confirm former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State.

On top of that, CREDO, #AllOfUs, Democracy for America, Other98, and 350 Action said in a statement Thursday, during a closed-door meeting President Donald Trump held with 10 senators this month, “Manchin reportedly remained silent while Trump launched a racist tirade against Sen. Elizabeth Warren.” Trump reportedly referred to her several times as Pocahontas.

“Senator Schumer has the responsibility to stand up for progressive values and lead the Trump resistance in the Senate,” said CREDO Action senior campaign manager Heidi Hess. “Joe Manchin’s constant refusal to stand up against Republicans’ racist, sexist, and misogynist agenda disqualifies him from serving as a leader of the resistance party,” she said.

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