Americans Not Blaming Obama For AIG: Poll

Americans are angry about AIG, and they want the government to stop the bailed-out firm's executives from getting bonuses. But according to a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll, they don't blame President Obama (or Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner) for the upsetting rewards.

Nearly half of those surveyed (46%) say AIG management is "most to blame for the fact that these bonuses were paid." Almost one in five (19%) finger Congress, while 8% blame Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and 7% say President Obama bears responsibility.

News articles in recent days have highlighted Geithner's role in the payouts. Most recently, the Wall Street Journal reported that aides to the Treasury Secretary worked with AIG on the issue for months. And members of Congress have argued that the White House is at least partially to blame. Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) told the press that the Treasury was to blame for allowing "excessive executive compensation." Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), asked about a loophole that allowed banks receiving bailout money to give bonuses, "This was a Senate -- I'm going to cut you off -- this was Senate/White House -- this is Senate-White House language."

Comments

[dems08]

Erin Burnett claims bailout recipient bonus tax "to some echo[es] the Russian and French Revolutions," asks: "[I]s America starting to look like Venezuela?"

Perpetuating falsehood, Wall Street Journal's Fund claimed "AIG bonuses ... were in the stimulus bill"

Wash. Post still reporting GOP attacks over bonuses while ignoring IG testimony implicating Bush administration

etc etc etc

[Marion Watts]

Is this the same Erin Burnett who, two weeks ago, on Real Time with Bill Maher, asserted that the US Government and the Obama Administration simply 'didn't know what to do about the financial crisis and didn't know how much money was actually involved'?

[montecarlo408]

Venezuela's condition was mostly implemented by Friedman, who sent his disciples down there after the coup in the 1970's.

[fictioneer]

Well, it wasn't his fault, so, Americans remain pretty intelligent. Compared to the media.

[dems08]

You think the msm is doing this because they're dumb?

They're doing this because they want President Obama to fail, because dems aren't devoted to the war mongers and big oil.

(see GE)

[southwindow]

did they also ask what percentage of the people knew who the treasury secretary was? Or what his job responsibilities include?

[nomobull]

if we didn't know before thanks to the media we do now. but mainly we know this mess didn't begin last week,last month or last year. and most important of all we are smart enough one man is not responsible which is what they are trying to sell us on.

[dems08]

Right on!

[joebloe]

Today's news is a boon for us who support President Obama and a boondoggle for those who wish to tear him down.

[Javida]

Yes we, his supporters, are relieved Obama's not being unfairly maligned in this AIG/bonus mess. But we can't ignore his appointment of Geithner who helped with the TARP bailout and was fully involved in Obama's stimulus package, including the bonus exemption. If Obama is to succeed as an honorable, upstanding president he has to take his licks. I cringed when he said Geithner is doing an "outstanding job" when he knew full well Geithner was behind the bonus debacle. I'd suggest that Pres. Obama not grandstand or pull a snow job on us. It looks pretty naive, patronizing and insincere on his part. And that's advice from a presidential campaign precinct captain, phone and door to door canvasser and financial supporter. Let's be transparent and honest and truly make the Obama presidency "change we can (truly) believe in."

[southwindow]

it seems 8% the country are confused about the executive branch and how it works- which isn't surprising considering what percentage of people can actually name the 3 branched of government.

[Hopeington]

And, doubly bad because they no longer teach civics or history in our schools.

[southwindow]

branches*

[JakeHanson]

Here's the "special" version for those who don't know:

http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/government/branches.html

[harriscrl3]

The American people GETS it too bad the media those on the left and the right DONT.

Carol

[Dystopic]

kinda puts the left wing media argument to bed doesn't it?

[Deja Peterson]

i don't blame him...he's only been in office for two months as of friday march 20th...

[mortrefuge]

Wow. The American people really are smarter than the trolls.

[southwindow]

"Nearly half (49%) of Americans think the president has the authority to suspend the Constitution."
http://www.infowars.com/nearly-half-of-americans-think-president-can-suspend-constitution/

[amistad]

Funny. If the poll had said something different you would be the first one to be using it against Obama...

[Dystopic]

Bush did.

one even minor attack and the constitution would have been suspended.

[JakeHanson]

That was a great article! It's right on...(scary.)

[truth2008]

The American people are not stupid, they know that Bushco and the repub party are responsible for this financial mess. No matter how much the repubs and corporate owned MSM scream and blame Obama, we know the truth. Hey MSM, give us the news, not your biased, twisted l.i.e.s, where was your outrage when Bush was destroying the economy and invading Iraq???

1st. Newspapers going down for spreading lies and trying to deceive the American people.

2nd. MSM has lost all credibility, and enabled Bushco for years, now they scream b.l.o.o.d.y m.u.r.d.e.r at the Obama administration who has only been in office for two months. Hopefully they will go down next.

We the people trust President Obama, and no amount of deceptive media will change that!

[southwindow]

they aren't stupid, just profoundly ignorant
“Actually, the Annenberg Foundation took some polls: only a third of Americans can even name the three branches of government, much less say what they do.”-Justice Sandra Day O’Connor

[amistad]

like you, perhaps?

[Renee27]

Headline: Frank Rich: Has A 'Katrina Moment' Arrived?

...sigh, much of the media is still out of touch with the public.

[Deja Peterson]

extremely

[Hopeington]

Most, but not all, are spinning around in their little pundit teacup ride and have no clue what the rest of us are thinking.

[Javida]

pundit teacup ride -- too cute! and very accurate.

[Javida]

well, not quite a "Katrina Moment," but you can't help a little deja vu with that infamous 'Brownie's doing a great job' comment of Bush when folks were crying out for help in NOLA and Brownie was on his email suit shopping for restaurant attire was it?

[Yermammy]

I don't blame him for this economy as he inherited it from a War Criminal. If the last president was willing to lie us into an illegal war, wiretap without warrant and torture, there's no reason he didn't poison the economic well on his way out the door. Absolutely none.
What me and millions of other people ARE getting mad about is not ordering Eric Holder as Attorney General to investigate Bush's (et alia) crimes. England is coming out with the truth and the U.N. is wondering when we're going to honor our agreement in the Conference on Torture treaty (signed by Ronald Reagan, no less).
If President Obama doesn't get ahead of the REAL SOON, he's going to be judged complicit with aiding and abetting War Criminals guilty of War Crimes (aggressive wars) and Crimes against Humanity (torture). THAT'S what we're not happy with.

[amistad]

Did you not read the article?

[Yermammy]

Do you ever use your brain much? This economy is a great distraction for the crimes this country's been through for the last eight years. And with the easily distracted (that'd be YOU), it's working swimmingly. You, with your inanity, are not amusing. I suggest you open your eyes and see what's really going on.

[luvVB]

DUH?

LOL they blame GW BUSH and the GOP.

[Tugar]

EVERYONE IN AMERICA KNOW AIG, ETC., DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN LAST MONTH....

This situation and other financial problems here in America have been unfolding for years now. So, anyone with a brain knows it didn't just happen after President Obama became president.

But if we all hang on just a little while longer in support of his leadership, I believe he will straighten this spider's web of a mess out. Housing prices should never have become so high in the first place. But people are actually beginning to buy again now, and people are being hired again all over the country. The Repubs keep saying the jobs are only temporary, because they are backed by the gov't. Well any fool knows this. But, the temporary hireings will eventually be taken over by the local gov'ts once the economy picks up, which is the way things are suppose to work anyway.
So, as the older generations would say, "Give it a little time, things will work out."

[sandals]

Boo HOO to the conservatives, nice way to try to divide the country, the American People have this
President's back and the media, and the conservatives have failed to make this an Obama problem, because of Geithner.
I am also a fan of Dennis Kucinich, he pulls no punches and the Party Officials don't like him, but I do,
and I think I matter more than the Party Leaders.

[nogimmicks]

Obama is a smooth salesman for the bankers, just like Tony Blair was for the Iraq war. His job is to look cool, smile a lot and project confidence. It distracts people when large sums of money are being carefully extracted from their pockets.

[research]

He's playing the part, But I have not given up on Obama yet. I still hope he goes FDR on these banksters. STOP SWAPS.
http://www.portfolio.com/views/columns/wall-street/2008/10/15/Credit-Derivatives-Role-in-Crash

[Altruth]

The American people are Not stupid. President Obama has a good heart and the majority of Americans believe he is doing a Great Job. THE MARKET IS UP 500 POINTS TODAY, Our Great President is doing his job. What is the No nothing, Do nothing Party of NO think of that!

[Altruth]

correction:

The American people are Not stupid. President Obama has a good heart and the majority of Americans believe he is doing a Great Job. THE MARKET IS UP 500 POINTS TODAY, Our Great President is doing his job. What is the KNOW nothing, Do nothing Party of NO think of that!

[Drjimmy72296]

How many jobs did that 500 points create? How many foreclosures did it stop? The Dow is not an accurate measure of the economy's health. If you go by the Dow, George Bush was a huge success.

[southwindow]

the market also fell upon his election and previous attempts to fix the economy- were they right then?

[conniedogs]

So you know the intent of his heart.....I wonder how many people on this thread were polled.

[conniedogs]

Yep