Jon Meacham: Manchin Should Answer What’s the Point of Having This Much Power

EXCERPT:

MANCHIN: "Yeah, I think one question you have to have, that Senator Manchin has to answer is, what’s the legacy? What’s the point of having this much power, this much attention at what is unquestionably an inflection point for American institutions? And that’s not overstated, right? I mean, January 6th, we almost lost the country. We almost lost the Constitution, right? The confederates didn’t get into the capitol during the Civil War, but they did in 2021. Right? As close as they got was Ft. Stevens out near Silver Spring during the Civil War. But not this time. And, you know, I hate to be totally in character here, but we can’t forget what happened. And, so if you’re a United States senator, if that’s where you’re going in your political career, then if you’re Senator Manchin, you have to decide, what do you want that legacy to be? What do you want us to think about when we look at your portrait? It’s a great test to use with politicians, because they can’t imagine a world where we’re not looking at their portrait. It's kind of helpful for that one."