Senator Capito: “Can’t we talk about something that makes me look good?”

Pinned to the top of the senator’s Twitter account is this statement on broadband from five months ago:

Since 2015, my #CapitoConnect plan has helped bring reliable broadband to WV.

And now, WV is set to receive funding through the bipartisan infrastructure law that will help continue efforts to bridge the #digitaldivide.

In order to meet our broadband needs, I need your help. pic.twitter.com/y4Z5Fy0rWc

— Shelley Moore Capito (@SenCapito) January 18, 2022

Below it, there was nothing about gun legislation or the Texas shooting. Online, I searched for Capito’s latest response; I found nothing since her “pivotal moment” statement a week ago:

“I think the fact that Senator Schumer, as the Democratic leader, did not just pull up a piece of legislation that had already been generated and put it out on the floor for a political statement tells you a lot,” she said.

“I think there’s a lot of ideas on the table. I think this is a pivotal moment. I do see it a bit differently this time as I did in the past, and I’m hopeful that we can reach some kind of consensus between the parties where we could move forward.”

Given the absence of any comments about gun legislation from the senator, my hunch is that Capito has not yet received her talking points from the Republican Party. (Congress has recessed for the week; the “pivotal moment” may soon pass. )

Joe Manchin

Last week, Senator Manchin said that he would do “anything I can” to move “common sense” gun legislation and he remains the key, as Vanity Fair has noted:

The future of American gun legislation rests on Joe Manchin's persistent belief that Republicans will simply come around.

I think if you read the fine print on Manchin’s statement, doing “anything” does not mean pitching the filibuster.

I remain pessimistic that meaningful gun legislation will pass.

More polling

Fom Vox:

If it were up to Americans, the country would have stricter gun laws https://t.co/jqkk0X5FKZ

— Vox (@voxdotcom) June 1, 2022