7 liberal overreactions to the government shutdown

(Image credit: (Win McNamee/Getty Images))

last updated 8 January 2015

The government shutdown has furloughed 800,000 federal employees, shuttered national parks, and caused businesses to worry that the United States will default on its debt if this drags on past mid-October.

It has also inspired its fair share of hyperbole. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) invoked Nazi Germany to criticize Republicans who didn't want to shut down the government to delay or defund ObamaCare, a law Rep. John Fleming (R-La.) called "the most dangerous piece of legislation ever passed in Congress."

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1. Former Vice President Al Gore

"The only phrase that describes it is political terrorism. Nice global economy you get there. It'd be a shame if we had to destroy it. We have a list of demands. If you don't meet them all by our deadline, we'll blow up the global economy."

2. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa)

"It's dangerous. It's very dangerous. I believe, Mr. President, we are at one of the most dangerous points in our history right now: Every bit as dangerous as the breakup of the Union before the Civil War."

3. The Huffington Post's Sam Stein

4. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.)

"We continue to be willing to debate these issues in a calm and rational atmosphere. But the American people will not be extorted by Tea Party anarchists."

5. White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer

"What we're not for is negotiating with people with a bomb strapped to their chest — we're not going to do that."

6. MSNBC

7. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)

"But for many of them, I call them legislative arsonists. They're there to burn down what we should be building up in terms of investments and education and scientific research and all that it is that make our country great and competitive."

Sources: CNN, The Guardian, National Journal, Real Clear Politics, Slate

Keith Wagstaff is a staff writer at TheWeek.com covering politics and current events. He has previously written for such publications as TIME, Details, VICE, and the Village Voice.