Obama has accused Republicans of hostage taking. Let’s be clear: I’m all for taking hostages. Both sides do it all the time. But one of the first things they teach you in Hostage Taking 101 is that you have to choose a hostage the other side cares about saving.Hence, Theissen argues for swapping the government shutdown hostage for the debt ceiling hostage. The former doesn't hurt the country enough, and people are blaming Republicans for it anyway. Not raising the debt ceiling, by contrast, now that will do some damage!
There's this weird trend whereby the media seems intent on characterizing Republican tactics in language far milder than do the Republicans themselves. So while the media is intent on "can't we all just get along" whines, Republicans are gleefully characterizing themselves a curled-mustached villains demanding we reverse the 2012 election lest they put two in the head of that pretty little economy of ours.
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Any given Republican will say something that it would be unfair for me to say represents the entire party. Eg Grover Norquist comparing the level of spending after sequestration cuts (which have affected programs like Meals on Wheels) to the Kennedy kids only getting one sixpack of beer. I don't think the majority of Republicans are as morally callous as Norquist about old people going hungry (though they probably think the seniors and shut-ins should be fed by private charity).
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