Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin shut down a recent claim made by President Joe Biden that other countries were to blame for high gas prices in the United States.
Biden, who spent the early days of his presidency destroying America’s energy independence established by former President Trump, attempted to divert blame for high fuel prices away from himself and his administration by saying that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was responsible for high gas prices in the United States.
Manchin, countered the president’s lie by saying that the U.S. has the capability to fix the problem and all the Biden administration has to do is give the greenlight.
Manchin made the remarks during an interview during an interview with Fox News anchor Bret Baier when he was asked by Baier who was to blame for gas prices being so high. Baier noted that Biden has blamed OPEC for the high prices.
Baier said, “All right, so, on the gas prices, gas prices at the pump, who’s to blame? President Biden says OPEC is to blame. Others say climate policies have changed the dynamic. What do you say?”
“Well, I say that we can basically do more for ourself. We have been energy independent for the first time in 67 years,” Manchin said. “Why can’t we do more? Why can’t we produce more? We have got plenty of natural gas. My state, beautiful state of West Virginia, has an ocean of natural gas under it. If they just let us build a pipeline, we could get the product to market.”
“And why don’t we do more drilling, and why don’t we do more basically production in the United States?” Manchin continued. “I’m not depending on OPEC. I’m not depending on other countries for my energy anymore. We know how to do it. We have the technology. We should be resilient, relying on ourselves.”
When asked if Biden was wrong in his views, Manchin responded by laughing and saying, “I have a difference of opinion.”
Manchin also spoke during his interview about what the Vriginia GOP landslide and close New Jersey elections mean for the future of the Democratic party.
Republican Glenn Youngkin defeated former Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe in what was widely seen as a referendum on President Biden’s policies. In New Jersey, the Democratic governor, Phil Murphy, is projected to win by a miniscule margin against Republican Jack Ciattarelli after votes came in for the Democrat in an overnight manner similar to what occurred during the 2020 presidential election.
Democrats should pay more heed to the immediate needs of the American people, such as rising gas prices and infrastructure, according to Manchin.
Baier asked whether the Democratic Party left Manchin, who is generally considered a moderate.
“I’m a West Virginia Democrat, but I don’t know. I don’t know where maybe I belong at times, but I believe I’m fiscally responsible and socially compassionate. And you know what? I have a lot of Democrats who feel the same as I do. I have a lot of Republicans feel the same as I do.”
Manchin added that he respectfully disagrees with the progressive Democratic wing’s guiding philosophy. “This is a shame when we start this war of words … We can have a difference of opinion – the rhetoric around here has gotten so harsh and so toxic that you can’t agree to disagree anymore. You can’t sit down and say, ‘OK, I disagree with you.”
Author: Thomas Reeps
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