Bette Midler Apologizes To 'Poor, Illiterate & Strung Out' People Of WV After Joe Manchin Outburst

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- New York Daily News, Dec. 20, 2021. - Ed.

She’s sorry for dissing you — from a distance. Singer Bette Midler apologized to the people of West Virginia after firing off a frustrated tweet aimed at Democratic senator Joe Manchin, who continues to block President Biden’s infrastructure plan in Congress. What Joe Manchin, 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,” the “From a Distance” singer tweeted Monday. “He sold us out. He wants us all to be just like his state, West Virginia. Poor, illiterate and strung out.”

Manchin caught many progressives off-guard over the weekend when he announced he would not support the Build Back Better plan in the Senate, weeks after it been passed in the House of Representatives. “I cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation,” he told Fox News on Sunday. “I can’t get there.” According to U.S News & World Report, West Virginia ranks 47th in the nation in health care, 45th in education, & dead last in infrastructure. Still, some of Midler’s fans on social media took issue with the Divine Miss M’s sweeping generalization of folks in the Mountain State.

“As a West Virginian, I can assure you we’re not all poor, illiterate, and strung out,” tweeted one user named Josh Coffield. “I’m actually a ‘healthcare hero.’ So maybe think twice before you lump everyone into one basket. In fact, come and visit. See all we have to offer.” Twitter user Bonnie Shannon, who says she’s also one of Manchin’s constituents, claims she share’s Midler’s disappointment with Machin. But she said she also can read, has money, isn’t hooked on meth, and notes that polls show that most of her neighbors want clean air and improved infrastructure.

“I’m from WV. I’m not illiterate, poor or strung out! I’m very upset with Manchin!” she tweeted. “Many are struggling and they keep voting against their own best interest. Over 68% of WV support the BBB! If more understood what is in the BBB that number would be higher.”.. Midler took back the tweet. “I apologize to the good people of WVA for my last outburst. I’m just seeing red,” she tweeted. “Joe Manchin 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!”...

https://www.nydailynews.com/snyde/ny-bette-midler-joe-manchin-poor-illiterate-strung-out-20211220-os2qui2ijzdntjfnxqa5uy75fq-story.html