'This is about an internal civil war going on in the Republican Party,' she says. | AP Photo DNC chair to GOP: 'Embrace sanity'

Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said Friday that Republicans need to “embrace sanity” in the debate over funding the government.

“This is about an internal civil war going on in the Republican Party where clearly the Tea Party has won,” the Florida congresswoman told CNN. “They are hurdling us toward government shutdown and economic crisis. It is unconscionable, irresponsible and entirely avoidable. The ball is firmly in the Republicans' court. They need to embrace sanity.”


The interview came shortly after the House voted to pass a continuing resolution that would fund the government while defunding Obamacare — a bill Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said will not pass the Senate and President Obama has said he would veto. Wasserman Schultz criticized Republicans for applauding after the vote passed, saying it was “all politics.”

( Also on POLITICO: Senate turns to CR that defunds Obamacare)

“The Republicans continue to rigidly adhere to dogma and ideology,” she said. “They are slavishly bowing at the altar of the Tea Party and that’s what this is about. The speaker needs to lead. They need to stop having the tail wag the dog and they need to go see the wizard, grow some courage and stop thinking about remaining in power and think about what’s best for the American people and our economy.”