The End of An Era: No More Roe
Long a thorn in the sides of Democrats, West Virginia's Manchin backs abortion rights bill
Sen Joe Manchin has spent the last year-and-half seemingly trying to look for every which way to frustrate the agendas — and hopes — of his fellow Democrats.
From federal spending, to filibuster reform, Manchin time and again would frustrate his colleagues in the razor-thin Democratic majority.
So one could be forgiven to think that Friday's decision by the US Supreme Court to overturn Roe v Wade, and upend nearly a half century of a guaranteed national right to an abortion would be tailor made for the senator from deep-red West Virginia to do it again, by siding with abortion opponents.
But, you'd be wrong.
Because the senator who is probably the most conservative Democrat in the chamber is explicitly backing legislation which would codify into federal law those rights granted women under the landmark 1973 ruling and which were snuffed out by Friday's new decision.
“As a Catholic, I was raised pro-life and will always consider myself pro-life. But I have come to accept that my definition of pro-life may not be someone else's definition of pro-life. I believe that exceptions should be made in instances of rape, incest and when the life of the mother is in jeopardy,” Manchin said in a statement he released Friday. “But let me be clear, I support legislation that would codify the rights Roe v Wade previously protected. I am hopeful Democrats and Republicans will come together to put forward a piece of legislation that would do just that.”
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