Republican ‘Gaslighting’ Working on the Debt-ceiling Debate, TV Commentator Says
More Americans would spread blame evenly in case of federal default, new poll says
Republican efforts to place blame on President Biden and the Democrats for the ongoing debate over raising the federal debt ceiling appears to be working, according to a prominent TV political host and commentator, citing a new public opinion poll.
Further, MSNBC's Alex Wagner also cited a new ad put up by a political action committee aligned with House Republicans which is aimed at vulnerable Democrats.
The federal government has hit its cap on paying its bills, and the extraordinary measures which Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has been using in the meantime will run out as early as June 1.
If that happens, the federal government would go into default, triggering a global economic meltdown.
Although Congress has raised the debt limit dozens of times under presidents of both parties for decades — including several times under Republican Donald Trump — this time House Republicans led by Speaker Kevin McCarthy are insisting on draconian cuts to federal spending in exchange for a debt ceiling increase.
Biden and most Democrats have said that they will not negotiate for a debt-ceiling increase, that using the chance of economic calamity should not be used as a political weapon.
However, Republicans appear to be getting the upper hand in this fight — at least in the court of public opinion, Wagner reported during her nightly program Tuesday.
Wagner mentioned the new ad put up by American Action Network, targeting congressional Democrats like Reps Mary Peltola, of Alaska; Jared Golden, of Maine; Marcy Kaptur, of Ohio and more.
“That ad, which was made by the House Republican-aligned American Action Network, is part of the group’s new six-figure ad buy, and it's running commercials like those in the districts of 11 vulnerable House Democrats,” Wagner said. “And I know, to anyone who’s been following the debt ceiling fights over the past decade, that ad feels like madness. It feels like you have been plunged into opposite land.
“But, the GOP gaslighting seems to be working,” she added. “This is a new poll from Morning Consult and Politico, it shows that most voters — 37 percent — would blame both parties equally if the U.S. defaulted on its national debt. Only 24 percent of voters would blame Republicans for a crisis that is literally manufactured by Republicans. And 30 percent of voters would blame Democrats.”
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