Conventional wisdom can often be misleading and at times dangerous if we believe in it too strongly.

Take for example West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin. He is constantly marketed as the Democrats’ most moderate Senator. There is a grain of truth to this. Manchin has publicly stated that he opposes ending the filibuster and has also poured cold water on $2,000 stimulus checks. But that’s where the moderation ends.

Manchin is now saying that the Senate should entertain the idea of expelling Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) by using the 14th Amendment over their recent decision to challenge the Electoral College results.

On PBS’s Firing Line, Manchin said the Senate should look into the option after right-wing activists stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Manchin is of the opinion that President Donald Trump and Senators like Hawley and Cruz “incited” these demonstrators.

“That should be a consideration,” Manchin stated. “He understands that. Ted’s a very bright individual, and I get along fine with Ted, but what he did was totally outside of the realm of our responsibilities or our privileges.”

According to the 14th Amendment, no elected official “shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.”

Hyped up leftist pundits believe that the 14th amendment is applicable to Cruz and Hawley due to how they allegedly “incited” the riot by talking about electoral fraud and pointing out electoral irregularities.

“I’m totally convinced it was done because of political reasons. This was all politically motivated. This was calculated,” declared Manchin. “I believe that all my colleagues truly made a decision that was politically best for them and expedient for them. It was not what they believed to be true or false.”

Unquestionably, Manchin is an establishment hack through and through. He may have reasonable views on gun policy, in part due to West Virginia’s strong gun culture, but Manchin is still a member of the D.C. swamp. His recent statements demonstrate this. Republican nationalists should relieve him of the burden of holding public office in 2024.