Manchin Correct To Oppose President | Wheeling Intelligencer/News-Register

U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin was right to join a few fellow Democrats in voting against President Barack Obama on the proposed Keystone XL?Pipeline, even though they were involved in a losing cause.

Obama had vetoed a bill intended to clear the way for the pipeline, which the White House has blocked for six years. That set up attempts to override his veto.

Though 62 senators voted to do so Tuesday, their initiative fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to overcome a veto. Most Democrats were among the 37 senators voting against the measure.

It was to be expected that senators such as Shelley Capito, R-W.Va.; and Rob Portman, R-Ohio; would vote against the president. But Obama and his minions on Capitol Hill have made party loyalty a priority, meaning that it took courage for a Democrat senator to vote in favor of an override.

Manchin has been critical of Obama many times. His primary concern seems to be the White House's refusal to adopt a rational energy policy.

In voting against Obama on the pipeline, Manchin was part of an unsuccessful effort - but, like Capito and Portman, he did what was right for his constituents.

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