Inside the Manchin-Sanders feud that is making Democrats nervous about Biden’s agenda

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Because once they do, the California Democrat suggested, it would almost certainly satisfy the moderate and liberal wings of the Democratic caucus, which have been battling for months over the size, scope and details of the plan.

But Biden, according to multiple sources at the virtual meeting, told progressive House Democrats that he has been in politics for a long time – and bringing them together in the same room would almost be like “homicide.” The group laughed, as Biden then made a joke about stepping into the boxing ring with Khanna himself.

The previously unreported exchange underscores the grim reality for Capitol Hill Democrats: The two men – Sanders and Manchin – are separated by billions of dollars on their price tags, have far different ideas on the policies needed, are in disagree on the scope of the new social programs in the proposal and are diametrically opposed about a central pillar of the package: the fight against climate change.

And more and more, the quarrel became public.

“I cannot speak for Mr Manchin. I am not a psychologist,” Sanders recently told CNN, when asked about Manchin’s criticism of the economic package.

Getting them to agree is essential for Democrats to pass the most ambitious social policy bill since the New Deal, because all 50 senators in their caucus must agree. And the public disputes between Sanders – a Vermont independent who is a self-proclaimed Democratic socialist and believes in a far-reaching federal government, and Manchin, a West Virginia conservative who in recent days has pushed back a “rights society” – – aroused growing concern in the ranks.

“I just think it’s about putting them in the same room,” Senator Jon Tester said Thursday. When asked if he was concerned about their disagreements, the Montana Democrat bluntly replied, “Yes.”

Moderate Democrats have been betrayed by their own party

They strongly differed on the strategy. Manchin berated House Democrats for delaying the $ 1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill that was passed by the Senate in August, while Sanders was instrumental in rallying progressives from the House to withhold support for this plan until moderates support the larger social spending program.

Democrats say the fact that the two sign a single package might be enough to convince moderate Democrats in the House – many of whom draw inspiration from both Manchin and Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema – and the Progressive wing House, which fell largely in line with Sanders’ candidacy for president in 2020.

Many more Congressional Democrats align themselves with Sanders’ views than Manchin’s, so frustration grows over the West Virginia Democrat – both for his refusal to undermine the obstruction in order to ‘raising the national debt ceiling and its reluctance to divulge much about its negotiations on the broader economic package.

Neither Manchin nor Sinema addressed their caucus at a lunch meeting Thursday where they discussed their plans to move Biden’s agenda.

And Democrats say it’s not unusual.

“Off the charts,” a Democratic senator asked CNN on Thursday about caucus frustration with Manchin, saying many senators privately complained that the West Virginia Democrat was taking his public positions for the sake of “publicity.” “.

Biden himself appeared enraged at both Manchin and Sinema, according to Democratic lawmakers who spoke to him. The president told Progressives this week that he had spent many hours with the two senators “and they are not moving,” two sources said. Biden even claimed that Sinema did not always respond to calls from the White House, the sources added.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the president’s private remarks.

But getting Sanders – who pushed the $ 3.5 trillion proposal – and Manchin, who reiterated on Wednesday that $ 1.5 trillion was his first line after flirting with a higher number in an exchange with CNN earlier this week , compromise seems more difficult day by day.

Sanders scheduled a last-minute press conference on Wednesday to go point-by-point over his concerns about Manchin, who earlier today told reporters: “I don’t think we should turn our society into a society of rights. I think we should always be a compassionate and rewarding society. “

Sanders then criticized Manchin for using “vague phraseology”. Then he took his review up a notch.

“So my concern with Mr Manchin is not so much what his views are – I don’t agree with them – but it’s that it’s wrong, it’s really not fair, that one or two people think they should be able to stop what the 48 members of the Democratic caucus want, what the American people want, what the President of the United States wants, “Sanders said.

He added: “So Senator Manchin has the right to fight for his point of view, not only has the right to be heard, he has the right to obtain compromises. He is a member of the Senate. But two people do not have the right to sabotage what 48 want, and what the president of the United States wants, to me that is wrong.

Manchin played down the dispute with Sanders on Thursday.

“We know each other,” Manchin told CNN, when asked about his colleague’s criticism. “I’m not taking anything personal.”

Few, however, have a clear idea of how the two can resolve their differences. Although they interact one-on-one in the Senate, there are rarely meetings with just two of them. They are both part of the leadership team of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and their disagreements often take place behind closed doors, according to senators.

“I just think it’s better to have leaders in the room with them, to try to bridge their differences,” Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, said Thursday after caucus lunch.

How Democrats Could Cut $ 3.5 Trillion Spending Plan

Asked about the leadership meetings, Durbin said, “In a polite and civil manner, they don’t agree. But I think it’s constructive. This conversation needs to happen for both of you.”

Manchin shared his differences directly with Biden, met him behind closed doors Thursday, and even wrote his demands in July to Schumer, calling for means tests and “safeguards” for many new social programs , spending limits on existing programs and limiting the corporate tax rate to 25%.

Still, it was Sanders who pushed for more extensive plans on the child tax credit, universal pre-K and tuition-free community college as well as aggressive incentives to reduce gas emissions at greenhouse effect, which would have a direct impact on the coal industry in West Virginia.

Democrats say they hope the two reach a deal. But no one knows exactly how.

“I can’t say it completely,” said Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia, when asked how to align the two on the package. “But I have no doubts that we will get it.”

CNN’s Ted Barrett, Betsy Klein and Morgan Rimmer contributed to this report.

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