Hostage Negotiator On Fiscal Cliff: If This Was A Real Negotiation 'There'd Be A Victim And A Body Count'

The deadline is fast approaching in the fiscal cliff negotiations, and as both sides hold America hostage, what must happen next to avoid a crisis? Who better to ask than professional hostage negotiator Brad Barker? The Halo Corporation negotiator joined HuffPost Live Friday to give his professional opinion on the fiscal cliff situation.

"In a true hostage situation," Barker told host Abby Huntsman, "with what is happening right now, unfortunately there'd be a victim and a body count."

Barker stressed the need for active communication, as "clearly neither of the parties is listening to each other", and just have "a round locked and loaded in their brain of what they're going to fire off next." Asked if the negotiations will soon reach a crisis point, Barker said we're already there.

The conversation also featured security consultant David Kennedy, charm expert Jordan Harbinger, and Bob Adams, Capitol Hill Liaison for TheTeaParty.net.

WATCH THE FULL SEGMENT ON HUFFPOST LIVE.