Senator Joe Manchin, West Virginia Democrat, Calls Obama's Climate Change Speech 'War On America' (VIDEO)

Democratic Senator Calls Climate Initiatives 'War On America'

Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) took to the airwaves Wednesday to voice his displeasure with the broadly worded climate change speech delivered by President Barack Obama at Georgetown University on Tuesday.

Manchin, who has represented the Mountain State since 2010, spoke several times following the speech to declare his unhappiness with the planned regulations, especially Obama's plan to limit carbon emissions by weaning the U.S. off of coal, an important industry in West Virginia.

On Tuesday evening Manchin told Fox host Bret Baier that the proposals were "irresponsible." The new White House initiatives, he said, will kill jobs and won't effectively clean up the environment.

"Why do you want to shoot yourself in both feet and then try to run the marathon tomorrow?" Manchin remarked during the interview.

The next day, he told a receptive pair of "Fox & Friends" hosts that the proposed policies are a "war on America."

"It’s just ridiculous. I should not have to be sitting here as a U.S. Senator, fighting my own president and fighting my own government," Manchin said. "That’s ridiculous. I want to work with them. I’ve reached out. I will continue to reach out, but I need a partner here. I don’t need an adversary. I need a partner and an advocate.”

This is not the first time Manchin has broken party lines to oppose environmental policies. In 2011, Manchin was the only Democratic co-sponsor on a bill that would advance a GOP effort to restrict the Environmental Protection Agency.

(Hat tip, Raw Story)

Before You Go

A Bumpier Ride?

Connect The Dots On Climate Change

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot