Washington Joe Loves Obamacare

WASHINGTON, June 19 -- The National Republican Senatorial Committee issued the following news release:

There are two different Joe Manchins. On one hand you have West Virginia Joe who poses as a nonpartisan man of the people. But when he makes his way to the Capitol, West Virginia Joe transforms into Washington Joe, a millionaire political insider whose loyalty lies with the liberal Democrat elite.

When he's in the Mountain State, he doesn't like to talk about it, but Washington Joe has been a big fan of Obamacare from the start. And now, as premiums soar and insurers continue to drop out of the marketplace, Washington Joe has joined with his fellow Senate Democrats to fight to keep former President Obama's signature health care law in place.

* In 2010, just before Obamacare was signed into law, Washington Joe said that if he had been in Congress at the time, he would have voted for the bill.

* But when it became clear just how unpopular Obamacare was in West Virginia, Washington Joe backtracked, saying he wouldn't have voted for it.

* At a meeting of liberal activists earlier this year, Washington Joe vowed to fight against efforts to repeal Obamacare.

* Obamacare has been a disaster for West Virginia, with insurance premiums increasing by an average of 169 percent over the last four years.

"Obamacare has failed West Virginia families, but Washington Joe Manchin has decided to stand with his liberal friends to fight against efforts to fix our broken health care system," said NRSC Spokesman Bob Salera. "Washington Joe has been a supporter of Obamacare from Day One, and as a loyal D.C. Democrat it should come as no surprise he's choosing his party bosses over West Virginia voters."