Democrat Joe Manchin Takes "Dead Aim" at Health Care, Cap-and-Trade

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, a Democrat locked in a tight Senate race against Republican John Raese, said on Fox News this morning that he would support the full repeal of health care reform if it couldn't be fixed.

"'Obamacare,' as it's been called, is far too reaching," Manchin said in an interview on "Fox & Friends." "It's overreaching. It needs to have a lot of it repealed...If you can't fix that, repeal the whole thing."

Manchin, who said he was "totally behind" health care reform in 2009, has been steadily walking back his support for the legislation in recent weeks as polls show his race to be far closer than Democrats initially expected. (CBS News is currently calling the race a toss up.)

In an apparent effort to distance himself from Washington Democrats, the governor also issued an ad in which he literally shoots at the controversial cap and trade legislation. (Watch at left.)

Manchin touts his NRA endorsement in the spot and promises not only to repeal "the bad parts of Obamacare" but also to "take dead aim at the cap and trade bill." Manchin then demonstrates his dedication to the latter by picking up a rifle and shooting a hole through a copy of the bill.

Mr. Obama suffers from poor approval ratings in West Virginia, which he lost by a wide margin in the 2008 elections - and many believe Manchin is doing everything he can to disassociate himself from the President.

"It's dead wrong in Washington," Manchin said this morning on Fox. "Democrats and Republicans are both wrong. They're putting their party and themselves ahead of their country. That's not what I intend to do."

Manchin further emphasized that he was not running on Mr. Obama's record. Raese has run a number of ads designed to tie Machin to the president and his party.

"My name's on the ballot," Manchin said. "The bottom line is, my opponent should be running against me."

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Lucy Madison is a political reporter for CBSNews.com. You can read more of her posts here. Follow Hotsheet on Facebook and Twitter.

[RobAla]

I know that Manchin was not in Washington during the past 2 years. However, he is a member of a party which has taken the nation off the deep end. Until this year, I have never voted a straight party ticket. However, I am finding difficulty in bringing myself to vote for any Democrat this year. Where are all the Democrats running on their record of the health care bill and cap and trade??? Running away from it. Sorry, you are way too late. You should have done the right thing when you had the opportunity. Now, we want to give someone else the opportunity to do what is right.

[GunsInTheSky]

by GunsInTheSky October 11, 2010 2:37 PM EDT
BTW, 2010 is going to be the warmest year on record. For the deniers out there our temps have not peaked. Since you cannot stand behind your failed "peak" theories, why don't you want to help with a solution?
Reply to this comment by Lifeson2112 October 11, 2010 2:54 PM EDT
Why do you fail to mention the record cold the Southern hemisphere experienced?
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Ummm, I'm talking GLOBAL temps...2010 will be the warmest on record. Will a some areas not have record temps in 2010? Sure. Why do think your comment (not saying I think your comments are accurate) is material? Is this the new denier spin?????..."every where has to have record warm temps before I will recognize that there is a real problem." You deserve better from yourself from this.

[Lifeson2112]

http://www.surfacestations.org/odd_sites.htm
=====
Check this site out and you'll see where quite a bit of your warming is coming from. You are being lied to. Why is there so much money to be made in this whole scheme? The Chicago Climate Exchange is one example that just screams corruption and swindling. These people want money and power. It has zero to do with any warming. Look at where the temperature measurments are coming from. No wonder it looks hotter.

[wheresmyjob]

Hey Idiots everything we have on record is insignifigant to the point of ridicule...we are at a rare warm period betweeen two ice ages....do your research

[GunsInTheSky]

by chevyhotrod October 11, 2010 2:50 PM EDT
Liberals want to charge you for air and plant food.
-------
Are you one of those conservatives that doesn't understand the concept of having too much of a good thing? If not, suck on a oxygen tank for several hours and see what breathing in 100% oxygen will do to you. Under your simple view of the world, it should help you a lot.

[GunsInTheSky]

by chevyhotrod October 11, 2010 2:52 PM EDT
I am curious, how is it screwing the average American to be responsible for their own healthcare and not relying on their neighbor to support them? ------------------------------------ Even if you don't like helping those in need (I guess you never needed help...good for you), you should still see how this new law helps you from the all-to-common practices of insurance companies. Also, by default all non-insured have the backing of the america tax payers. You want those that can afford health insurance to pay for this themselves, yes?

[Lifeson2112]

The new Obamacare bill is really helping me out. Our employer just informed us of the coming increases in the cost of our coverage due to provisions in the bill. Yeah, the President really helped me out alright. And I'm going to return the favor by doing everything I can do get his sorry a$$ fired next presidential election.

[catmomtx]

Oh, please. Your employer is just preying on your gullible butt because they know you will be very eager to blame the President for something that hasn't even happened yet. Who did you blame last year when your premiums went up? Health insurance companies are doing their best now , while they can to make money off of you because after the provisions of health care are really in affect they will have a difficult time gouging you. Your employer is hoping you will get mad at Obama rather than questioning them on why they are allowing this. Get a clue.

[jimbom121]

Few people realize that Mr. Republican Ronald Reagan actually implemented cap & trade in the 1980's to combat acid rain the northeast. Its a shame that people and industry can not recognize that we can't keep doing things the way we do.

[GunsInTheSky]

Conservatives are very anti-environment today, even to the point of running away from free market ideas.

[patocc123]

Thats why the EPA was created by a Republican Administration and all those damn hunters who are secretly wanting all the trees cut down so they can obstruct their views when hunting.

[GunsInTheSky]

BTW, 2010 is going to be the warmest year on record. For the deniers out there our temps have not peaked. Since you cannot stand behind your failed "peak" theories, why don't you want to help with a solution?

[Lifeson2112]

Why do you fail to mention the record cold the Southern hemisphere experienced?

[patocc123]

And last Winter was one of the coldest with record breaking cold. Even though global warming is real and is still up to debate in mans involvement, comments like your are narrow sighted with short memories.

[rightbehind]

I wish an independent would run against him. He's a republicrat.

[GunsInTheSky]

Which part of the new law should be repealed? The consumer protection part? The covering kids in college part? The part that requires all Americans to be responsible for their health insurance if they can afford it part? Has any politician that is against this new law actually taken a SPECIFIC stand? I haven't seen one.

[jimbom121]

Nope...just screw the average american even more.