'This is how the elite feel about normal Americans': Bette Midler, 76, draws the ire of conservatives AND liberals after branding people in West Virginia 'poor, illiterate and strung out' during attack on Manchin
Bette Midler has come under fire from both conservatives and liberals after she tweeted that Senator Joe Manchin ‘wants us all to be just like his state, West Virginia…poor, illiterate, and strung out.’
The First Wives Club actress infuriated thousands with her snobbish missive, which said: 'What #JoeManchin, who represents a population smaller than Brooklyn, has done to the rest of America, who wants to move forward, not backward, like his state, is horrible.
'He sold us out.
'He wants us all to be just like his state, West Virginia.
'Poor, illiterate and strung out.'
Criticism for Midler's high-handed comments quickly poured in from both conservatives and liberals.
Mike Schlossberg, a Democratic state legislator from Pennsylvania, criticized Midler, tweeting: 'Respectfully: This isn't helping. "I AM SMARTER THAN YOU SO AGREE WITH ME" has never convinced anyone. Ever.'
Another Twitter user wrote to Midler: 'You suck as a person.'
Bette Midler (left) has come under fire from both conservatives and liberals after she tweeted that Senator Joe Manchin (right) ‘wants us all to be just like his state, West Virginia…poor, illiterate, and strung out.’
Midler tweeted: 'What #JoeManchin, who represents a population smaller than Brooklyn, has done to the rest of America, who wants to move forward, not backward, like his state, is horrible. He sold us out. He wants us all to be just like his state, West Virginia. Poor, illiterate and strung out.'
One Twitter user commented: 'Do you feel good tweeting this from your mansion in LA?'
Another Twitter user wrote: 'This is just a simple reminder of how the "elite" feel about normal Americans.
'She isn't the only one but rather a representative of many.
'Remember this when you think about voting blue next time around.'
'Just stop...when was the last time that you were here?' another Twitter user wrote.
'How many people have you met from WV? Enough with the stereotypes.
'I am glad that he voted against this massive spending bill, and so are the majority of the WV people.'
A Twitter user who identified herself as Jane Donovan wrote: 'Bette, that's not fair. West Virginia is full of good people who work hard and take care of each other.
'Dealing in stereotypes doesn't help.'
Another angry Twitter user wrote: 'I have lived in WV my entire life. I have two college degrees and a well-paying job.
Mike Schlossberg, a Democratic state legislator from Pennsylvania, criticized Midler, tweeting: 'Respectfully: This isn't helping. "I AM SMARTER THAN YOU SO AGREE WITH ME" has never convinced anyone. Ever.'
A Twitter user who identified herself as Jane Donovan wrote: 'Bette, that's not fair. West Virginia is full of good people who work hard and take care of each other. Dealing in stereotypes doesn't help.'
'My husband owns a successful small business. We are homeowners and don't use drugs.
'Bette is using politics as an excuse to be hateful.'
Midler, the Oscar-nominated actress and acclaimed singer-songwriter, later apologized for the tweet, which she attributes to ‘seeing red’ over Manchin’s decision not to support President Joe Biden’s social spending plan, with that opposition effectively killing the huge bill.
'I apologize to the good people of WVA for my last outburst,' the prominent Democratic Party supporter tweeted on Monday.
'I'm just seeing red; #JoeManchin and his whole family are a criminal enterprise.
'Is he really the best WV has to offer its own citizens?
'Surely there's someone there who has the state's interests at heart, not his own!'
Manchin, the centrist Democrat, represents West Virginia, a deep-red state that voted overwhelmingly for Biden’s opponent, former President Donald Trump, in the last presidential election.
The senator has come under intense pressure from progressive Democrats for announcing he would vote down Biden’s Build Back Better plan - a $2trillion spending proposal that would seek to address climate change and other key issues.
Another Twitter user wrote to Midler: 'You suck as a person.'
One Twitter user commented: 'Do you feel good tweeting this from your mansion in LA?'
One Twitter user wrote: 'Majority of my family is from WV and each and everyone of them has a higher level of education than you'
'Just stop...when was the last time that you were here?' another Twitter user wrote. 'How many people have you met from WV? Enough with the stereotypes. I am glad that he voted against this massive spending bill, and so are the majority of the WV people.'
Another Twitter user wrote: 'This is just a simple reminder of how the "elite" feel about normal Americans. She isn't the only one but rather a representative of many. Remember this when you think about voting blue next time around.'
This Twitter user said it was 'hard to stomach a comment that appears to attack a category of human beings'
Midler, the Oscar-nominated actress and acclaimed singer-songwriter, apologized for the tweet, which she attributes to ‘seeing red’ over Manchin’s decision not to support President Joe Biden’s social spending plan
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