WATCH: Bernie Sanders Slams Joe Manchin For “Sabotage” — & Says He Should Not Be Treated As Serious

Joe Manchin (R-WV) has developed a reputation for voting with Republicans against the agendas of the Biden Administration. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) says that this should not be treated as something that happens “abruptly” or as a surprise, but that it’s time to recognize Manchin’s modus operandi as one of sabotage, and to stop treating him as though any negotiations in which he engages are “serious.”

Appearing on ABC‘s This Week, Sanders cut off host Martha Raddatz when she referred to Manchin’s recent rejection of climate legislation as “abrupt.” “He didn’t ‘abruptly’ do anything,” Sanders declared, going on to describe Manchin’s role as one of intentional sabotage, and to discuss the West Virginia politician’s donors.

Bernie Sanders unloads on Manchin: "He didn't abruptly do anything. He has sabotaged the president's agenda…you have people like Manchin, Sinema to a lesser degree, who are intentionally sabotaging the president's agenda, what the American people want…nothing new about this." pic.twitter.com/mnpp3lOoz4

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 17, 2022

“He didn’t ‘abruptly’ do anything. He sabotaged the president’s agenda…People like Manchin, [Kyrsten] Sinema to a lesser degree, who are intentionally sabotaging the president’s agenda, what the American people want…the problem was that we continued to talk to Manchin like he was serious. He was not. This is a guy who is a major recipient of fossil fuel money, a guy who has received campaign contributions from 25 Republican billionaires.”

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CDC Hints at Better Times Ahead As Cases Continue to Drop

As NPR reported last week, President Joe Biden has said that he will now move forward with executive actions on climate protections, after Manchin told Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) that he will not support any bill that addresses climate provisions.

Biden has asked Senate Democrats to instead focus on reaching an agreement that would address health care costs and access.