White House Aide Pushes Back Against Reporter's 'False Equivalence' On Debt Limit, Shutdown

A tweet Monday from ABC's Rick Klein regarding the government shutdown and looming debt limit fight got the attention of a White House aide, who said the reporter was engaging in the "worst false equivalence" he's seen "in a long time."

During an extended back-and-forth with CNBC's John Harwood, Klein said "both sides" are "doing right by their bases" in the standoff that's currently embroiling Washington.

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Klein's perspective drew the ire of White House adviser Dan Pfeiffer, who indicated that the GOP is demanding a "ransom" while Democrats simply want the debt limit raised with no strings attached and a clean continuing resolution to re-open the shuttered government.

Rick Klein ✔@rickklein

@JohnJHarwood both sides doing right by their bases. and they voted for very different policies, obviously.

Dan Pfeiffer ✔ @pfeiffer44

@rickklein @JohnJHarwood that some of the worst false equivalence i have seen in a long time, Rs demand ransom, D's ask for nothing
7:11 AM - 7 Oct 2013

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