MSNBCās Joy Reid believes President Joe Bidenās administration make a āstrategic mistakeā in negotiations with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).
During an appearance on CBSā āThe Late Show with Stephen Colbertā on Tuesday, Reid said, āIf I had to give one big criticism to the administration, I think they made one big mistake. When youāre negotiating particularly with difficult parties like Joe Manchinā¦you donāt negotiate by saying, āLet me just give you everything you want, now can I get something?'ā
āThe one thing wanted was that infrastructure bill. You gave it to him. What makes you think you have leverage over him now? Heās already figured out how theyāre going to spend that money in West Virginia and what things are going to be named Manchin, āManchin Bridgeā ⦠Thereās nothing left to give him. He does not want Build Back Better, thatās clear,ā she continued.
Finally, she said, āThat was an administration mistake. The idea of negotiating with him by giving him everything he wants and then begging him to help you with the things he doesnāt care about, I think that was a strategic mistake.ā
Watch the video below:
Her comments come as Bidenās agenda is largely stalled in Congress.
Last year, Biden attempted to pass a nearly $2 trillion spending package along with the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill. Progressive Democrats wanted a commitment from Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) that they would vote for the spending package before the House passed the infrastructure bill.
However, in November, the House passed the infrastructure bill without a commitment from Sinema or Manchin.
The next month, Manchin sunk Democratsā hopes of passing the spending package when he revealed on Fox News that he would not vote for it.
Earlier this month, Manchin voted against Democratsā push to change the Senate filibuster so they could pass voting rights legislation with just 51 votes.
