Actress Bette Midler, a frequent and fierce critic of Republicans on her Twitter account, called out Sen. Joe Manchin Joe ManchinBiden administration advances two large-scale solar projects in California Nuclear power has no business case and could make climate change worse On The Money — Biden's plea: Don't count out Build Back Better MORE (D-W.Va.) on Monday, while also criticizing his home state of West Virginia.
Midler said Manchin "sold us out," apparently in reference to his blocking Democrats' social and climate spending package, and added he wanted the rest of the country to be like West Virginia: "Poor, illiterate and strung out."
The "Hocus Pocus" actress said the "rest of America" just "wants to move forward, not backward, like his state."
What #JoeManchin, who represents a population smaller than Brooklyn, has done to the rest of America, who wants to move forward, not backward, like his state, is horrible. He sold us out. He wants us all to be just like his state, West Virginia. Poor, illiterate and strung out. — bettemidler (@BetteMidler) December 20, 2021
The 76-year-old actress's remarks drew criticism on Twitter, and Midler later tweeted an apology for generalizing about the people of West Virginia, though she continued to call out Manchin, asking "Is he really the best [West Virginia] has to offer its own citizens?"
I apologize to the good people of WVA for my last outburst. I’m just seeing red; #JoeManchin and his whole family are a criminal enterprise. Is he really the best WV has to offer its own citizens? Surely there’s someone there who has the state’s interests at heart, not his own! — bettemidler (@BetteMidler) December 20, 2021
Manchin has been criticized for his continued financial involvement in Enersystems Inc., a coal brokerage firm which he founded in the 1980s and handed control of to his son in 2000. The senator still owns millions worth of stock in the firm and earns annual dividends.
Last year, Midler criticized Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellCollins open to negotiating overhaul of child tax credit set to expire Republican senator texted Joe Manchin about joining GOP Bette Midler says Manchin wants US to be like West Virginia: 'Poor, illiterate and strung out' MORE (R-Ky.) using an image of McConnell listing Kentucky's low national rankings in things like education, employment, and economic opportunity.
airwaves_anonymous on December 22nd, 2021 at 03:11 UTC »
I think people in this comment chain also need to realize that part of why West Virginia stays stuck in an economic depression is that the young and motivated residents promptly leave the state when they can. There isn't much being offered for anyone's benefit there. Plenty of people try to stay and make something of it, but it is ludicrous to expect future generations to "build the change" when your neighbors already have the social resources you seek.
That's why it stays conservative; the only people remaining are ones that never leave.
For the record, I voted Mountain Party in every local election.
-Signed another disgruntled former West Virginian
Generalissimo_II on December 21st, 2021 at 23:02 UTC »
I may be poor and illiterate, I may be strung out, but
SpectreInfinite on December 21st, 2021 at 19:15 UTC »
Not that I agree with her but I always thinks it's funny when someone on the left says something that's even remotely non-PC and everyone comes out of the woodwork to tell them how horrible they are, how the entire democratic party is a failure because of their comment and how they're never going to win an election again.. Yet conservatives can openly spread racist, anti LGBT, and terroristic talking points and it's business as usual. Love how even the standards are.