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Narrative Alert: Dems, Media Blame Republicans for “Sabotaging” Economy

Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2023
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by Shane Harris
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117 Comments

AMAC Exclusive – By Shane Harris

With the country’s financial forecast looking increasingly grim, Democrats and their media allies are engaged in a scheme to use the looming debt ceiling battle to accuse Republicans of “holding the economy hostage” and blame the GOP for any negative economic headlines in the months ahead.

The left’s new messaging strategy, which is reminiscent of another attempt to use every weapon in their cultural arsenal to engineer a narrative of Joe Biden as a “moderate” hero, as covered in AMAC Newsline’s first installment of the ‘Narrative Alert’ series, was on full display during President Biden’s State of the Union Address last week. In between gross mischaracterizations of his own record, the president alleged that Republicans “say if we don’t cut Social Security and Medicare, they’ll let America default on its debt for the first time in our history.”

The accusation, which directly contradicted prior public statements from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, led to loud condemnations from the Republican side of the chamber during the speech and widespread pushback following Biden’s remarks. Notably, some congressional Republicans have even supported legislation exempting entitlements from the debt ceiling. 

But even though the president’s assertion was demonstrably false, the exchange between Biden and congressional Republicans ultimately succeeded in thrusting the debt ceiling debate into the national spotlight – and put Democrats in a position to claim that Republicans are “holding the economy hostage.”

The facts, however, paint a quite different story. Over the past two years, Democrats’ reckless spending spree has led to 40-year high inflation, a turbulent stock market, and a stagnated economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal government spent $6.5 trillion in FY 2022 alone – much of it on new far-left government programs and policies – causing the national debt to balloon to more than $31 trillion.

It is this spending that has directly led to the current debt ceiling crisis. The debt ceiling, or the total amount of money that the federal government is allowed to borrow, is a limit set by Congress, and has been raised 78 times since 1960. The government technically blew past the debt ceiling on January 19, but the Treasury Department is able to use what it calls “extraordinary measures” to temporarily finance the nation’s debts. Those methods are expected to extend the deadline to raise the debt ceiling until at least early June.

If Congress does not vote to increase the borrowing limit by that time, the U.S. will default on its debt – something that has never occurred before – sending shockwaves throughout the entire global economy.

House Republicans have argued that any debt ceiling increase should be accompanied by cuts in federal spending to ease inflation and help reverse some of the economic damage from the past two years. “Nobody in America wants us to blindly just raise the debt ceiling again if we don’t get structural reforms around here” Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) told reporters recently. Republican leaders have argued that voters sent a GOP majority to Washington precisely to reign in federal spending and avoid such high-stakes debt-limit showdowns in the future.

But President Biden has stubbornly refused any and all negotiations, repeatedly spurring compromise offers from McCarthy. Instead, the administration and congressional Democrats have continued to intentionally stoke panic over a potential default. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, for example, made the media rounds one day ahead of Biden’s State of the Union to warn that “economic and financial catastrophe” are just around the corner. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer similarly said that “things could blow up” and accused Republicans of “hostage taking” and “brinkmanship.”

The media, for their part, have dutifully towed the party line. NPR, Reuters, USA Today, The Washington Post, and the LA Times all released stories parroting Schumer’s accusation of Republican “brinkmanship.” The Atlantic, NBC News, and The Hill published pieces defending Biden’s decision not to negotiate with Republicans, which all incredibly accused Republicans, not the president, of being unreasonable.

Many mainstream outlets are even rewriting the history of a similar debt ceiling standoff in 2011 between congressional Republicans and President Barack Obama – when Joe Biden himself led negotiations for the administration as vice president. That battle led to $2 trillion in spending cuts and averted a full-on economic backslide. However, Obama’s stubborn refusal to work with Republicans resulted in market turmoil – something that the media has since blamed solely on Republicans.

The clear aim of resurrecting the 2011 debt limit battle is to set the stage to once again blame Republicans for any economic downturn in the months ahead. With many economists predicting a rough year for the stock market and potentially a deep and prolonged recession, Democrats need a scapegoat – particularly heading into a pivotal general election year in 2024. Even though it is liberal fiscal policies which have sent the economy into a tailspin, the media narrative will be that Republican efforts to save the economy from complete collapse are the real problem.

Expect to hear more allegations about Republican “brinkmanship” and “holding the economy hostage” as the deadline to raise the debt ceiling approaches this summer. Once again, Biden and his Democrat allies have found themselves desperate to escape blame for a crisis of their own making.

Shane Harris is a writer and political consultant from Southwest Ohio. You can follow him on Twitter @Shane_Harris_.

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anna hubert
anna hubert
1 year ago

There is no economy to be destroyed it’s an organized chaos

DanM
DanM
1 year ago

Socialists cause the problems then tell us how they are going to fix them. They just need mo’ money. They need to spend mo’ money for 87000 mo’ IRS agents and call it the inflation reduction act. Now they need mo’ money to Refund the law enforcement that have not already quit because of them.

Robin Walter Boyd
Robin Walter Boyd
1 year ago

Today’s Progressive Democrats are good at blaming others when they are the ones to blame for their own actions.

Marta
Marta
1 year ago

I would not have expected anything else. The Dems know that they are in deep with the American people, with no way back. Now, they resort to the Stalinist principle: Descredit the opponent, at any cost, even if nobody believes them. The sad thing is that the few that buy into the doctrine are the ones that speak the loudest, i.e. AOC, so they give the impression that the majority agrees with them.

Jackie
Jackie
1 year ago

Democrats ALWAYS destroy the economy!! And if the government, regardless of who is in the White House, can’t get control of its spending, this country is doomed to a serious failure – mostly thanks to Democrats spending though!!! What happened to the federal government having any kind of budget? Why do they continue to spend more than they have and why do they insist on taking care of the rest of the world’s issues before they take care of their own?? Our federal government is so lost in its bureaucratic crap that it’s now in a very deep hole and we are expected to bail them out!! Well, I’m all for getting rid of all of the old farts in Washington, getting rid of the lobbyist everywhere, getting rid of insider trading type deals in Washington, getting rid of politicians who lie all of the time!!! I’m extremely disappointed in our government and the things they have allowed to happen and the things they forced to happen!!!

LivingtheDream
LivingtheDream
1 year ago

Agree to raise debt ceiling only after Biden and Mexico reinstate remain in Mexico policy.

DrScottD
DrScottD
1 year ago

Yellon is yelling but should be laying off the biggest fattest bloated government in history. This insanity of throwing fake money deeper into the holes that Congress and the Executive branches have poured out, with almost No real accountability, will collapse our country.
For decades now we have pressed for a balanced budget amendment to force the idiots of DC to fiscal responsibility.
The only way now is Article V convention of the States to do just that.
Okay, so some people want term limits too.
Either way, that time has come. If it’s not too late, we must restrain the unlimited DC spending NOW.

Moonpup
Moonpup
1 year ago

“repeatedly spurring compromise offers from McCarthy” or repeatedly “spurning”?

RaisinCane
RaisinCane
1 year ago

Anyone but the narrowest of minds knows this narrative is BS.

tempus
tempus
1 year ago

If we get a real budget cut, there is no need to raise the debt ceiling. Let’s adopt Obama’s last budget; if it was good enough for him, it is good enough for us. Better yet, return to constitutional government; then about 90 percent of the federal government would vanish.

Robert Zuccaro
Robert Zuccaro
1 year ago

Democrats caused all this from two years of “science”: Call me a conspiracy theory nut but I’m betting the economic lockdown was less about saving Americans from dying from COVID and more about derailing the Trump economy and saving Democrat power in the 2020 election.

Theresa Coughlin
Theresa Coughlin
1 year ago

Why does anyone listen to these people? they have ZERO credibility.

Melinda
Melinda
1 year ago

How can we ever have a true history of events given most media’s twisted version of anything that happens? I’ve read that liberal TV outlets are losing viewers, but not sure about newspapers, altho many people don’t read them anymore. I’ve been reading the Epoch Times for a couple of years, and they seem to have a more conservative, positive view.

Rik
Rik
1 year ago

Jackass Joe really earned his nickname! . . . He will go down in American history as the WORST PRESIDENT EVER! . . . And it couldn’t happen to a bigger Jackass!

Woody
Woody
1 year ago

The republicans need to tell the Democrats to
cut their own budget if they want the debt ceiling
raised. Our country is in serious financial trouble,
what’s it going to take to reverse this trend ? May
as well start here and now putting the Dems on
notice that they’ll have to cut the budget if they
want the debt ceiling raised. 1/3 of our federal
taxes go toward the debt . We need a debt reduction plan that can be forced on the Dems .
As long as the Republicans are operating in the best interest of the American people, we will be
ok. There are more conservatives than liberals,
so get in there and get sluggin ‘

Mike S
Mike S
1 year ago

The Dems are all about staying in power and continuing deficit spending to satisfy pet liberal projects. They could care less if the debt burden is forced upon our children since they’ll be long gone. They envision a world economy and a new world order where American pride and individual freedoms are a thing of the past. Conservatives are in the way of that vision. They are willing to lie and cheat using their devious friends in the media to advance their philosophies. Our future is at risk.

Will Smith
Will Smith
1 year ago

This is the dems plan in the first place they don’t care what happens to America they want the dollar to collapse so that China can take over the dollar because the dems have sold out America including the president. This has been the plan all along, and what kills me we are letting them get away with it. This has been one Cluster Muck after another every since Biden has come in to office , when he should have been taken out after Afghanistan blunder. My question is when is something gonna be done about this junk when our great nation collapse or when world War 3 starts do to the stupidity, and no commen since of the Biden administration. This should have never been taken this far period .

Alan
Alan
1 year ago

It is sad but the American people have been hurt by both parties as it relates to our National Debt. At this point we are in a very difficult spot between irresponsible spending and collapsing the US and Global economy. If the debt ceiling is not raised and there is a default the Country will quickly become bankrupt and US citizens will lose Trillions of their net worth as the dollar collapses.

Tom
Tom
1 year ago

Duckin’ Femonrats. ????

Don
Don
1 year ago

Go over those over priced docs and pick out the pork.

Joe
Joe
1 year ago

Democrats own it, so we ALL have to live with it. Media only reports what THEY want us to believe..

James H
James H
1 year ago

The GOP needs to call out their lies and make sure blame rests where it should. Cut all discretionary spending! Virtually all of it is spent on un-American projects and entities. The GOP cannot continue to let the Lying Left set the narrative. Get tough. Help America!

Letts Brandon
Letts Brandon
1 year ago

In reality the problem began when many Republicans did not support our president and then allowed globalist Marxist to take over our country with a fraudulent election.

LauraC
LauraC
1 year ago

We can’t be surprised at them yelling TRUMP at the tops of their voices every time they do something stupid. OBama did the same with Bush for eight years and it seemed to work for them, so why wouldn’t they try it again. If the Republicans don’t put their collective feet down about budget cuts and get a handle on graft, corruption and fraud, we can expect more and more inflation and incompetence to come. They must also insist on getting rid of the incompetent people not doing heir jobs like Buttedgeedge and the man dressed like a woman who steals luggage and the press sec who is a constant embarrassment and Millie who is a shame of a general. Where is the government in Ohio where people are in terrible danger? What’s with the whole “we’re shooting stuff down but have no idea what it is we’re shooting down” NORAD and Air Force. They look like a clown show and that did not happen under TRUMP.
We really need some competent leadership.

teresa Ann d'alessandro
teresa Ann d'alessandro
1 year ago

as usual sick mentality – more like mental illness – they actually belive their lies

johnh
johnh
1 year ago

I admit that I am what many of you call a RINO, but I have my own opinions & do not bend to 100% of how the party wants you to vote. Both parties are responsible for our National Debt & I would like to throw out some common sense (and scary facts) to our debt issue. The American Main Street Initiative says: the OBAMA, TRUMP & BIDEN administrations compiled more debt (adjusted for inflation) than all previous Presidents combined. Look back at National Debt during the WWII years & how the Democrats & Republicans backed this debt & paid it down because that is what Americans do. What part of spending more money than you have do not both parties understand?????????????

David Millikan
David Millikan
1 year ago

Hilarious. The Economy SUCKS because of DICTATOR Beijing biden and the Fascist liberals.
The Economy was GREAT with PRESIDENT TRUMP and TAX CUTS including eliminating USELESS Regulations.
Not to mention we were ENERGY INDEPENDENT and NUMBER 1 in the World.
Gasoline was less than $2/gal. and Diesel was under $3/gal.
There was FOOD and SUPPLIES too.
Inflation was at 1.7% with PRESIDENT TRUMP.
INFLATION is OVER 25% (REAL Number) and CONTINUES TO CLIMB with DICTATOR Beijing biden and WILL CONTINUE TO CLIMB thanks to his and Fascist liberals INFLATION INCREASE ACT.
So as usual. The FAKE news, Fascist liberals, and DICTATOR Beijing biden blame everybody else for the Sabotage of our economy that THEY CREATED.
Remember, the Stock Market DROPPED 200 points the day after DICTATOR Beijing biden’s address because WE ALL KNOW HE IS LYING.
When PRESIDENT TRUMP did his Nation Address the Stock Market
JUMPED UP 600 points the next day.
With PRESIDENT TRUMP we had money.
With DICTATOR Beijing biden we have NO MONEY.
So as we see with REAL FACTS.
DICTATOR Beijing biden, Fascist liberals, and FAKE news are the TRUE SABOTEURS of our economy.
So here’s my message to them…GROW UP and TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MESS YOU CREATED AND QUIT BLAMING EVERYBODY ELSE FOR IT.
THIS IS YOUR MESS.

Del
Del
1 year ago

Democrats are good for nothing EXCEPT lying. That is their forte.

Hal-
Hal-
1 year ago

Surprise, surprise!!! Who would have throught the DemocRats would blame the Republicans for the present financial mess. Answer: Dyed-in-the-wool DemocRots, idiots, Commie sympat hizers, hate mongers, libtards, etc. That is standard OP in the DemocRot Party. Hmm … when you have rigged elections, expect the dishonesty and the worst.

JamesP.
JamesP.
1 year ago

All I can say is that I was doing better under Trump. Baby formula was available..merchandise was flowing freely…in and outgoing commercial flights flowed freely…can we say that now?

Mike
Mike
1 year ago
  • Its sad to see our country becoming a Socialistic State. Socialism leads to Communism rule 1increase Dept to an unsustainable level. 2 Education take control of what we read and what children learn in school. 3 Gun Control Remove the ability to defend ourselves. 4 Religion remove the belief in God from government so we only believe that in the Government.5 Class Warfare Divide the people into wealthy poor eliminate the middle class. This is Democrats agenda.
jocko
jocko
1 year ago

DEPORT ALL liberals AND illegals AND THE ONCE HONORABLE fbi, STAT, TO MAGA

tika
tika
1 year ago

this is what happens when you give control of your mind over to to the state. you have no mind of your own.

mytake
mytake
1 year ago

Ridiculous and idiotic. Try it all you want you lying, evil bunch of control freaks. Anyone with any sense at all will not go for this line of bull….!

Rex
Rex
1 year ago

These people can narrate all they want. I’ve watched our economy not just sabotaged but destroyed by the dems in the house, senate and the White House and they did it in short order, after Biden was installed. Now they have the gall to say any effort to curtail the binge spending economic sabotage. democrat newspeak.

Mary
Mary
1 year ago

These people need to learn how to budget just like everyone else. I’m tired of their reckless spending and glad someone is trying to rein them in.
I saw a news article yesterday in which Yellen said social security recipients will feel the pinch first if they don’t raise the debt ceiling. Why is it social security is always the first thing to çut? Why not cut some of the reckless spending on other non essential programs first?

NewDay
NewDay
1 year ago

The Dems cannot fix the problems we are facing because to do so would mean abandoning their radical plans for energy and boarders and green new “deals” which are all sing holes for trillions of dollars. They have no choice but to blame any one else.Borrowing even more trillions to keep the government afloat is a terrible idea, it’s like putting more people into a sinking raft.

Irv C
Irv C
1 year ago

It’s sad that many from the left believe this but not surprising. Ignorance is a bad thing. At least this Republican Congress speaks up over lies from the left.

Sandra
Sandra
1 year ago

Anything the Democrats blame someone else for is known to all to be something they are doing themselves. That has been proven over and over again. Just rplace the word Republicans with Democrats and you’ll know the truth about the situation.

Philip Hammersley
Philip Hammersley
1 year ago

DIMMs accept blame for NOTHING and will take credit for anything even tangentially related to their program! The death of soldiers in the failed Afghanistan withdrawal, the loss of $82 billion in military equipment, the high inflation rate, failing schools and infrastructure, having to beg other countries for oil, and the endless billions going to a corrupt European nation. Just the start of DIMM failures!

phoenix
phoenix
1 year ago

Well since no one listens to them, it does not matter

Hal-
Hal-
1 year ago

Given that the majority of Media is patently pro DemocRat Party, what other claim could be expected from those sources. The only real conclusion is that the DemocRats acknowledge the economy is “screwed up” …. and they predictably blame others before the heat gets full blown. We can only hope the Republicans and non-partisans put a stop to the DemocRat’s rigging future election???

John Bass
John Bass
1 year ago

This is the first article I didn’t need to read to comment on. The title told me everything I needed to know.

It’s common practice for the far left dems to blame everyone, especially the Republicans for things they themselves do. So why not blame the Republicans for the horrible economy we have, it only makes sense to do so.

It started with the repeal of every policy Trump put in place…Republicans fault. Next, the attack on the oil industry…Republicans fault. Then the tearing down and opening up of the southern boarder…again, Republicans fault. All of these and more, including just about every decision this administration has made has had a direct impact to the well-being of this nations economy…still, it’s the Republicans fault.

Someone go ahead, tell me I should have read the article.

Elaine
Elaine
1 year ago

When will we be able to have a responsible and logical thinking representative or senator, who takes their oath of office seriously.
They are stuck into a toddler’s mentality of more, more. Spend more $ than what is available.
They think raising the tax rate will solve the problem, so raise their percentage rate, to be the highest if they fail to balance the spending with the income.
Living on a fixed income, we are forced to cut our expenses to match our income, age is not a desirable applicant for the job.

Samson
Samson
1 year ago

All you have to do is take one look at any Democrat run city or state and it is all the proof you need to see that everything they touch they destroy. All the big Democrats cities are sewers.

George Washington's Admirer
George Washington's Admirer
1 year ago

You live to be a Senior Citizen; and what do you get to witness? President George Washington’s Statue ripped down with claps and cheers from the demons/communists. (And, on the major communist networks!) You witness a blind mandate which destroys the airline industry; (all without approval from the legislature!) Nobody wants to take a plane or go anywhere! You witness an 800% increase in the violence and crime in this country; (would it have anything to do with the democrats demonizing the police departments or defunding them?) Who wants to visit any of the major or minor cities with the proliferation of pickpockets and murders everywhere? This has been a major hamper on the economy. Now, you’ve waited all your life to travel and cannot; because of the damnable democrats/communists/Marxists? Who has destroyed the economy? What audacity of the worse kind! President George Washington rolls around in his grave; as the demons get ready to sandblast Mount Rushmore in their Self Righteous Indignation!

Sharon Reynolds
Sharon Reynolds
1 year ago

Sounds about right. The dems blame the GOP for every disaster they create, amazing.

Ann S
Ann S
1 year ago

America is on the precipice of going bankrupt and Brandon is telling fairy tales again. The big bad wolf, the Republican Party, is taking away his cash register to appease his base. Vote buying is expensive.

PaulE
PaulE
1 year ago

Anyone, with even a rudimentary understanding of basic economics. fully understands that the policies implemented by Team Biden and the Democrats over the last two years caused the overwhelming majority of the damage to our economy. Of course, neither Biden nor the Democrats will accept responsibility for what they have done, as at least half the country is dumb enough to completely buy the lies Team Biden and the Democrats are telling. An ignorant population is vitally important to Socialists being able to get their legislative and societal changes enacted into law. In virtually country after country that has preceded us down this path towards becoming a socialist nation, the most ignorant, least educated and frankly dumb percentage of the population has always led the way to helping the Socialists gain and expand their power until the country itself became a socialist he!!hole. The promise of a “free lunch” and endlessly flowing government provided goodies is very attractive to people who are usually very envious of what others have but lack either the skills or the personal drive to attain the same themselves. So, we are repeating the same pattern here in our own country at present.

Let us not forget that some of the most destructive and transformative legislation enacted over the last 2 years was done with the willing assist of Mitch McConnell and his merry band of 18 or 19 Senate RINOs, who raced across the aisle to ensure passage of several of the spending bills that have caused so much damage to this nation in so little time.

As for the debt ceiling, I expect it will play out exactly as it has in the past. The Democrats will refuse to negotiate on anything, knowing full well the MSM will push the well-worn narrative that Republicans are holding the country hostage and that the world will come to end, if the nasty, evil Republicans don’t simply give the Democrats everything they want without any conditions. In other words, the Republicans have to surrender unconditionally, or we are doomed. The closer we come to June 5th, the louder and more persistent that message will be echoed by the entire MSM.

This is of course just more lies and distortions but remember, half the country is dumb enough to buy every word of it. Even Mitch McConnell will join with congressional Democrats starting in March or April, to urge the House Republicans to just fold and give in. That’s just who McConnell is. So, faced with the results of 6 month media blitz painting the House Republicans as destroyers of everything and pushing both grandma and grandpa over the cliff into oblivion, McCarthy will end up folding at midnight on June 5th.

Gabe Hanzeli
Gabe Hanzeli
1 year ago

Why is it that the democrats lie about everything. I am so tired of the constant 100% percent of the time lying. Further why do so many people support the democrats knowing that the democrats constantly lie.

You know how you know man made global warming is a lie? Because the democrats are pushing it.

very single thing the democrat support is a lie.

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