General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Is the (D) behind the name more important than the voting record? [View all]wildeyed
(11,243 posts)Manchin is a conservative Dem from a bright red state. He is the equivalent of finding cash on the sidewalk when it comes to the math of who controls the Senate. He represents very conservative voters who split their ticket to send him to Washington. If he decided to toe the Dem line, they would vote straight GOP.
Bernie Sanders is not a Democrat by choice. It's not like anyone forced him to not be a Democrat. He does caucus with the Democrats, which is great. He is from a state that seems to have a pretty strong independent streak and so his lack of party affiliation seems like a good fit for his constituents.
What you are suggesting is that conformity be the sole arbiter of 'belonging' in a party that seeks to unit huge geographical, cultural and religious divides. Sanders is right for his constituents BECAUSE he is independent. Manchin is right for his constituents too. Voting in a way that acknowledges their conservative preferences does not make him less of a Democrat.
There is not one flavor of Democrat. Because we have a two party system, the parties are a coalition of various causes and groups. It is not a single, defined flavor like you find in multi-party systems.
Trying to throw coalition members off Democratic Island because they do not maintain an acceptable level of purity for people who are not actual constituents always mystifies me. We cannot win big elections if we do that. We need ALL the coalition members.