Democrats took the offensive in the battle for hearts and minds concerning the debt ceiling, taking their message to the people in a series of press events on May 24.
“This is a manufactured crisis, plain and simple,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in an afternoon briefing.
“And don’t take our word for it; just listen to members of the House Freedom Caucus. They’ve been very honest about this and are now openly—they’re saying the quiet thing out loud, referring to the full faith and credit of the United States as a hostage,” Jean-Pierre said
She displayed a quote from Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) saying that conservative Republicans don’t wish to “negotiate with our hostage.”…}