Singer and Academy Award-nominated actress Bette Midler issued an apology Monday for a tweet aimed at Democratic West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin that insulted West Virginians as “poor, illiterate and strung out.”
“I apologize to the good people of WVA for my last outburst,” Midler tweeted after criticizing Manchin’s announcement Sunday that he would not support President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” bill, effectively killing the legislation.
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
“What #JoeManchin, who represents a population smaller than Brooklyn, has done to the rest of America … is horrible,” Midler wrote in the original tweet, adding that he had “sold us out.”
“He wants us all to be just like his state, West Virginia,” Midler continued. “Poor, illiterate and strung out.”
About 30 minutes later, Midler issued a brief apology for the tweet, directed at the “good people of WVA.”
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
“I’m just seeing red; #JoeManchin and his whole family are a criminal enterprise,” Midler wrote, asking whether he was “the best WV has to offer.” (RELATED: Rep. Pressley Accuses Sen. Manchin Of Showing ‘Contempt’ For The American People After Opposing Spending Bill)
“Surely there’s someone there who has the state’s interests at heart, not his own!”
Other left-wing celebrities, politicians and pundits expressed disdain for Manchin’s decision over social media.
“I don’t remember marking my presidential ballot for Joe Manchin,” filmmaker Rob Reiner tweeted Sunday night, stating he would “deny US democracy” if he killed voting rights legislation.
I don’t remember marking my presidential ballot for Joe Manchin. He’s single handedly denying Americans Evironmental Protection, Pre-K, Child Care, Affordable Prescription Drugs. If he kills Voting Rights, he will deny US Democracy.
— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) December 19, 2021
Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin stated that “democracy is hanging by as thread” and couldn’t “think of anyone more destructive” than Manchin.
If Manchin is no on both BBB and voting, Biden is done. Democracy is hanging by a thread. Hard to think of anyone more destructive
— Jennifer ‘pro-voting’ Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) December 19, 2021
Joe Manchin says he “can’t” support the Build Back Better plan. Translation: they guy representing the second poorest state in the country while driving a Maserati SUV is not willing to help his constituents.
— George Hahn (@georgehahn) December 19, 2021
History is going to record @Sen_JoeManchin’s singlehanded betrayal, not of party but of country. The damage he is personally doing to our nation and its people cannot be measured.
— John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) December 19, 2021
We can’t count on Joe Manchin to vote for universal pre-K for New York families. We have to make it happen in Albany. pic.twitter.com/QA1JhIRfT8
— Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio) December 20, 2021
Democrats are seeking to push the legislation forward regardless of Manchin’s statements, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announcing a vote on the act.