Joe Manchin, whose opposition to Neera Tanden's nomination as White House budget director stemmed largely from her partisan tweets, told me the situation was different with Colin Kahl, the Pentagon policy chief nominee, who also came under sharp criticism over his past tweets.
Manchin says that Kahl's tweets weren't as "pointed" at specific individuals and senators and were focused much more about policy.
"Tanden's was much more prolific than that -- and pointed," he told me. "It wasn't about policy, it was more about a person. There is a difference."
"Tanden's was much more prolific than that -- and pointed," he told me. "It wasn't about policy, it was more about a person. There is a difference."
Still, Manchin said supporting Kahl was "not an easy decision" and said that he had "many phone calls" with the nominee -- and also spoke with Lloyd Austin and Bob Gates. He didn't speak with Biden. He said he made his decision to support the nomination on Wednesday morning.
Manchin said he has a "different oversight opinion on Iran" than Kahl but agreed on other matters, such as on Syria.
Manchin said he tends to lean towards being deferential to a President to make his choices on appointments.
Manchin said he tends to lean towards being deferential to a President to make his choices on appointments.
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