Manchin rallies Democratic party
U.S. Sen Joe Manchin of West Virginia pledged his support to Fayette County Democrats and encouraged them to be leaders at the party’s annual dinner Thursday.
Hundreds of county Democratic supporters and candidates in the upcoming election packed the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8543 social hall to hear Manchin, D-W.Va. speak.
Born in the mining town of Farmington, W.Va., Manchin was elected to the House of Delegates in 1982 and went on to serve in the state Senate before becoming his state’s 34th governor in 2005.
He served as governor until November 2010 when he won a special election to fill the seat left by the death of longtime U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd.
After recalling longtime friendships with several audience members, Manchin said elected officials don’t have to agree or vote alike all the time. He said they have to be willing to compromise and to serve.
“If you can’t change your mind, you can’t change anything,” Manchin said.
He said Democrats and Republicans share in the blame for political stalemates in Washington and people are questioning the House and Senate’s ability to govern, but it is difficult to convince people to run for office and work for change.
“I want to apologize for what’s going on in Washington right now. Both Democrats and Republicans are wrong,” Manchin said. “People are losing faith in our ability to govern. The hardest thing to do is to get people in the game.”
Elected officials have to be take stands on issues, he said.
“People willing to put their names on the line and take criticism” are needed to serve the public in a free society, Manchin said.
He said too many people have an “entitlement mentality.” They think the government owes them something and do not try to service their hometowns, states or country, he said.
However, people want to work and the government has to make sure they have opportunities, Manchin said.
“A leader is a dealer in hope,” Manchin said. “Leadership is earned.”
He also shared his opinion against continued military involvement in Afghanistan.
“The War on Terror is turning into a war of occupation,” Manchin said. “Afghanistan doesn’t appreciate what we’re doing. We’ll build a school, they’ll blow it up. We build a road, they burn it.”