Manchin's Messaging on Background Checks

With the U.S. Congress in recess, West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin has been using a likely focus group tested soundbite to explain his support for Chuck Schumer's attempt to require background checks on private firearm transfers.  In both Roll Call and National Journal, there are stories about how he responds with a rhetorical question that the uninformed can simply shake their head in agreement.  In Roll Call:

And he reiterated a line on guns he used repeatedly at the state fair and likely has been well-honed in his time at home since the spring: “Don’t you want to know if a person is a criminal or a crazy person or a terrorist?” Many in the group nod.

And in National Journal:

Manchin said to the crowd. "Do you think it's unreasonable if you went to a gun show or online that there'd be a background check? That's all we're talking about."

Manchin should know that was not all Manchin/Schumer/Toomey would do.  He even repeated the false statement to the crowd in that meeting covered by National Journal that the amendment would have expanded gun rights.  According to Dave Kopel, the amendment was a "bonanza of gun control."  

Unlike Pat Toomey, who has moved on, Manchin continues to push the gun control proposal.  Will he pay a price in his home state?  Comments like this:

"Hey, I'm Joe, you know me."

...leads one to the conclusion that he thinks in the end, he can talk his way out of his votes when it's time for reelection. Time will tell.  He is not up for reelection until 2018.  That's a long time for voters to remember.