The Hill News

Republicans holding up a debt ceiling compromise have an "unreal view of the world," according to the ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee.

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) accused some Republicans of being more concerned about an election loss than solving the debt crisis.

"I believe there are a substantial number of Republicans who are opposed to a huge debt and a further group of Republicans--this is very troubling--who understand why it's important to raise the debt limit, but are afraid of losing a primary to someone."

According to Frank, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), in trying to make a "responsible" deal, was "undercut" by Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and a large contingent of Republicans. Democrats have lately characterized a possible divide between Republican positions on the debt ceiling issue as an internal war between the two Republican leaders.

"I think there is a very real chance that t! he unrealistic view of many of these new right-wing Republicans and those who are intimidated by them could vote no [on raising the debt ceiling]," he said in an interview on Bloomberg Television. Frank's comment echoed complaints by other Democrats against the Tea Party Republicans and freshman members.

"They believe their own views that this is somehow all fake and that you can push a button and make a lot of these debts go away," he said of the debt ceiling deadline on Aug. 2. He called it a "fundamental misread" of the situation.

Frank cited Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, who spoke earlier Wednesday in a House Financial Services Committee hearing, for saying it would be a "calamity" to not raise the debt ceiling limit.

But he said he would take Republicans threatening to vote "no" in the vote "at their word," specifically naming Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.).

"I don't think they're kidding," Frank said.

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This story was updated at 4:35 p.m.