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.

because Dem base is demanding that govt stay open and Treasury not default? @rickklein — John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) October 7, 2013

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.

@rickklein @JohnJHarwood that some of the worst false equivalence i have seen in a long time, Rs demand ransom, D’s ask for nothing — Dan Pfeiffer (@pfeiffer44) October 7, 2013

Polls thus far have indicated that Americans are more apt to blame the GOP for the shutdown than President Barack Obama and the Democrats.