Joe Manchin: “I want to speak on these very strange days in Washington, in this Congress. This esteemed body's approval rating is at 9…”

“I want to speak on these very strange days in Washington, in this Congress. This esteemed body's approval rating is at 9 percent, and I am having a hard time finding the 9 percent. It seems to me that the only thing we are working hard on is whether we can get the approval rating to zero, and I think we seem to be going in that direction. We fight over political solutions that can't pass and, more importantly, won't solve this Nation's great problems. We fight for political points and mistakenly believe that the American people care who is up or down. But they don't. I didn't come to Washington for the purpose of playing games, taking names, or keeping score. That is not what I was sent here to do. That is not what the people of West Virginia want me to do. I came here to fix things and to be a part of the solution. I have not come here to worry about my next election or whether Republicans or Democrats are up or down. I came here to do what I could to improve life for the next generation. I, for one, am willing to sacrifice my next election so the next generation can win. And if that means losing, so be it. I rise today to speak about the next chapter of this sad state of affairs which the American people are forced to witness: whether we should extend and expand the payroll tax cut that will cost more than $240 billion in 1 year.…”