Bill Clinton says he would suspend the filibuster to protect voting rights from GOP attacks

Former President Bill Clinton joined Late Night With Seth Meyers Wednesday, where he revealed what side he’s on in the battle among Democrats over the filibuster. While many are in support of getting rid of it in the interest of protecting voting rights, some, like Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, is staunchly against it. Senate Republicans recently stopped the prospect of even debating the For the People Act, only strengthening the calls to end the filibuster so Democrats can pass the voting rights legislation.

“I understand the president’s reluctant to get rid of it altogether,” Clinton said, “and I sympathize with Joe Manchin, who’s is trying to, you know, stand up for the right thing and represent people that voted more than 2 to1 for President Trump. But I think when it comes to preserving democracy, you know, I would suspend the filibuster because I think it's essential.”

Video Transcript

BILL CLINTON: It was used in the civil rights era to try to kill civil rights bills. It's now been used to try to prevent a repeat of 2020 when we had the enormous voter participation.

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KYLIE MAR: Former President Bill Clinton joined "Late Night With Seth Meyers" Wednesday, where he weighed in on the prospect of getting rid of the filibuster. Many in the Democratic Party want to get rid of the filibuster in the interest of protecting voting rights, but Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia is staunchly against the idea. While he expressed sympathy for the position Manchin is in, if it were up to Clinton, he would suspend it.

BILL CLINTON: I sympathize with Joe Manchin who's trying to stand up for the right thing and represent people that voted more than 2 to 1 for President Trump. But I think when it comes to preserving democracy, you know, I would suspend the filibuster because I think it's essential.

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KYLIE MAR: Clinton also addressed the voting laws being passed around the country by Republican state legislatures making voting more restrictive.

BILL CLINTON: I don't think that we should be in the business of going backwards and trying to drive down voting rights. I think we need to expand it. And I think that every time we've done it before, it's made us a better country. It made us a stronger country.

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KYLIE MAR: Clinton specifically called out Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who recently said he's 100% focused on stopping President Biden's agenda.

BILL CLINTON: And it'll do both parties good to have to get out and compete for all these new voters. So these guys are trying to take us back decades in voting access-- the people that Senator McConnell represents.