No one likes Joe Biden. Democrats are even pissed off at Joe Biden. Now, it seems Biden is “running out of patience” with communist Joe Manchin who pretends to be a moderate.
Tensions are boiling over as discussions about finishing Democrats’ $1.7 trillion domestic spending bill drag on between President Joe Biden and Sen. Joe Manchin.
The legislation looks increasingly likely to stall over the impending holiday break, prompting Biden himself to bemoan the slow pace. And Manchin (D-W.Va.) grew frustrated on Wednesday when questioned about whether he opposes a provision in the bill to extend the expanded child tax credit, deeming those queries “bullshit” and denying that he wants to end the $300 monthly check many families receive for children.
That provision expires this month and Democrats had hoped it would drive a year-end deal. Instead, Biden and Manchin don’t appear particularly close to clinching anything and Manchin has suggested pulling the child tax credit from the bill, according to a source briefed on the conversations. Publicly, Manchin himself said he does not oppose the tax credit.
“The talks between [Biden] and Manchin have been going very poorly. They are far apart,” the source said.
Though Manchin and Biden developed a warm rapport this year and collaborated on several prominent pieces of legislation, the plodding pace of the talks between the two Joes threatens is straining their friendly relationship. Frustration among White House aides with Manchin is high and growing. And while Biden likes Manchin personally, he too has grown tired of the elongated talks and will soon push him to make a decision and support the legislation, according to two White House sources.