WASHINGTON — Vice President Joe Biden yesterday condemned Tea Party Republicans for “acting like terrorists” during the debt fight, sources said.
Biden made the shocking statement during a closed-door meeting with House Democrats to try and whip up support for the debt-limit deal, according to the sources.
The vice president was reacting to an irate Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.), who said Democrats “have negotiated with terrorists,” Politico.com reported.
“This small group of terrorists have made it impossible to spend any money,” Doyle added.
Biden agreed, saying, “They have acted like terrorists,” the report said.
The over-the-top rhetoric hit a nerve with Republicans.
“With the president holding the American economy hostage, I would prefer to think of myself as a freedom fighter,” bristled Tea Party champion Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).
“The only people taking hostages around here are those who want to continue our path toward economic ruin.”
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus demanded an apology and said Biden “more than crossed a line.”
Biden later denied making the comment, insisting to CBS News, “I did not use the terrorism word.”
“What happened was there were some people who said they felt like they were being held hostage by terrorists. I never said that they were terrorists or weren’t terrorists, I just let them vent,” Biden said.
But Biden insisted that, despite Republican tactics, “We got a lot out or this deal,” Fox News said.
“I didn’t go to convince, I went to explain,” Biden said of the meetings.
The debt-ceiling agreement passed the House by a 269-161 margin — but with only 95 of 193 Democrats voting yes.