Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W. Va.) said Tuesday that he would be willing to "step outside" with a Republican congressman who said he wanted to duel any men standing in the way of an Obamacare repeal.
Rep. Blake Farenthold (R., Texas) said Monday it was "absolutely repugnant" that some Senate Republicans were not keeping a promise to repeal Obamacare, singling out some "female senators from the northeast."
"If it was a guy from south Texas, I might ask him to step outside and settle this Aaron Burr style," Farenthold said, referring to the 1804 duel where Burr killed Alexander Hamilton. His remarks were widely criticized.
After CNN's "New Day" host Alisyn Camerota played the clip of Farenthold's remarks, she asked Manchin if it was indeed the fault of female senators. Among the Republicans who have expressed worry about repealing Obamacare without a firm replacement is Manchin's colleague, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R., W. Va.).
"I'd be OK to step outside with him, if he wants to take all my people in West Virginia and throw them out in the cold," Manchin said. "I'm glad that Shelly understands our constituent base the same as I do."
Manchin went on to say Obamacare needed fixes but that he opposes the Republican repeal measure.