On Thursday, CNN host Poppy Harlow hilariously fact-checked and schooled Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) on the looming debt ceiling issue. The interaction exposed a growing disconnect between the far-left political stance and the voice of the American majority.
During the interview, Harlow cited a recent CNN poll, stating, “60% of Americans say Congress should only raise the debt ceiling if it comes with spending cuts at the same time, and that includes 58% of independents. Is your position out of step now, Congresswoman, with the majority of the American people?”
Jayapal responded by deflecting from the poll’s core finding. She suggested that if the poll had asked if people would rather cut spending by reducing tax breaks for the wealthiest or cutting their own healthcare and education, the results would lean more towards the former.
However, she conveniently sidestepped the fact that the poll specifically queried about raising the debt ceiling in conjunction with spending cuts.
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To her argument, Harlow retorted, “This is the exact question that was asked of voters. What should Congress do on the debt ceiling? Raise only if spending cut? 60%. Raise no matter what? 24%. Not raise? Let U.S. default. 15%. These are what they are saying to this critical question.”
Jayapal attempted to argue, “No I understand, but Poppy you can’t take tax cuts out of spending,” however, Harlow held her ground on the issue, underlining the fact that the public sentiment is in favor of tying spending cuts with raising the debt ceiling.
The exchange underlines a key point that seems lost on the far left: The American public needs fiscal responsibility from its leaders. The message from the public appears clear, but whether it will influence the decisions of politicians like Jayapal remains to be seen.
Republicans have grown extremely tiresome trying to negotiate with Democrats over the concerning debt ceiling situation.
In an interview on Tuesday, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) criticized the Biden administration slamming their handling of the ongoing debt ceiling debacle as well, a common trend as of late. The Senator referred to the decision-makers in the White House as “20-something and 30-something little Marxists” and expressed serious concerns over the potential of a default on the national debt.
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The Senator went further, criticizing the Biden administration for its alleged reliance on young, radical staff who he argues lack the experience and understanding to fully comprehend the implications of a debt default.In addition to his concerns about the decision-makers in the White House, Cruz expressed frustration at the apparent lack of communication between the President and Republican Senators.
“When the Senate is in session, every Republican Senator, we have lunch together, we sit around and talk about how virtually none of us have spoken to the President even once. He doesn’t talk to Republican Senators and that’s weird,” Cruz shared.
He pointed out that President Biden, a former Senator himself, is known by many of the current Republican Senators, some of whom even worked with him in the past. According to Cruz, Biden’s seeming reluctance to engage with these Senators marks a significant departure from his predecessor, Donald Trump, with whom Cruz says he spoke to every week, sometimes every day.