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

[aercolini]

He's doing a great job, but people should blame him for the AIG bonuses. His adminstration was responsible for removing the restriction on these bonuses in the stimulus package and he shares part of that blame. It doesn't mean he's a horrible president or a bad person. The sooner Americans stop blindly following political parties and leaders like sports teams that need to cheered on at all costs, the less alienating poltics will be and the easier it will be to have substantive debate.

[ndolomar]

Ahhhh, still? For aercolini and anyone else who needs a history lesson: the AIG bailout happened on Bush's watch -- not during Obama's administration, unless, of course, his administration began back in September 2008, prior to the election..­.? House and Senate GOP were the most vocal opponents of bonus-limiting language, despite efforts to have it added. Bush said he'd fight it -- remember? The same GOP house member decrying the bonuses fought to keep them -- remember? The GOP and the corporate media are doing their best to conflate the stimulus package with the bailout in an effort to make it unpopular (because it's quite "socialist," by conservative standards). So, the best way to do that is to make the gullible, quickly forgetting, American public think that Obama somehow was in office in September 2008, and that Paulson, Bush and Bernake either never existed, or didn't authorize the things put into place that indeed were put into place because Paulson, Bush and Bernake authorized them. The lesson: Bush, Bernake, Paulson -- repeat it, if you must. I know it's hard to wake up after eight years, but let's not actively remain ignorant.

[rbchilds]

I think you need to review your history. The AIG bonuses were paid during the current administrations watch. The stipulations that the bonuses be paid we actions of the current administration. TARP 1 was passed by the last administration. This last payment to AIG was from that money, but overseen by the current administration, otherwise why would there be such an uproar and in-party blaming on who removed the stipulations.

[southwindow]

THANK YOU

[dryrock]

A little fact checking is in order here. The Treasury Department, under Bush in 2008, constructed the AIG bailout - not Congress and not Obama (who was not even in office at the time) - so the bonuses are on the head of Treasury and then President Bush.

Why are people so often confusing the 2008 AIG rescue by Treasury with the recent TARP bail-out by Congress - or are they just the same people who want to revise history?

[Javida]

Geithner, Geithner, Geither is the bridge from the 2008 TARP to the Obama stimulus/bonus fiasco. Let's be real. Obama is not squeaky clean thanks to his Treasury Secretary, Geithner.

[AlState]

I love and support my President. Shame on those who don't. The election is over and the people have spoken (Thank God). We all know President Obama inherited this mess. He needs time to fix it. I love his composure and appreciate having a President with a beautiful smile.

[Yermammy]

What color is YOUR unicorn? Mine's purple with blue stripes! Don't ya think Mr. beautiful smiles needs to abandon Dick Cheney's policies and secrecy? Don't you think our beloved should be pursuing war crimes against these criminals? Or does justice and the rule of law make your unicorn cry?

[conniedogs]

Smiles can be very deceiving.

[southwindow]

wait are you britney spears 6 years ago talking about bush?

[Crissy Patters]

I'm not surprised that most of America understand, regardless of what the media portrays, that the President and Geithner are not responsible for this idiocy.

[peppermint]

Oh what a relief that Bam and Spock are not to blame. For a minute I thought they were in charge. At least for the next 4 years they can dump it on Pres. Bush.

[nomobull]

no point resort to name calling

[CheshireCat2]

This is encouraging to see. However, I wouldn't start chilling the champagne just yet.

[wltdnfaded]

Oh, I've got it chilling. I just won't uncork it until I see the economy a year from now. Hope it won't be flat by then. Chances look that that it won't :)

[CheshireCat2]

He-ll, I'd be happy if it lasted throughout the summer. Let's see what the quarterly reports bring.

[Highwind]

It really isn't a surprise to me. The media always overreacts. That's why Obama isn't getting rid of Geithner.

[poco767c]

But Fox said......­.......

[Kache]

There were demonstrations planned at banks in 104 cities last Thursday - no one showed up. There were bus tours arranged to haul people to AIG executives homes in Conn this last weekend - 40 participants and 80 media people showed up.

If AIG had called them "retetion incentives" instead of bonuses no one would have batted an eye.

[lincheryl]

I would call them transitional severance packages and made them much smaller.

[ndolomar]

Had they called them what they are: approximately 1% of the TARP funds given to AIG, not only the media -- but GOP foul-callers -- would have nothing to use for distracting the American public from what actually went on behind the scenes between AIG, Countrywide, Lehman Bros. et al. Just like they did with the stimulus bill, the GOP are wadding their underclothes about 1% of a budget/funding because they're hoping the public is gullible enough to buy into their noise -- to make the Obama stimulus (versus the Bush-Pauls­on-Bernake AIG bailout) look ominous. Seems like at least 7% of the population actually forgot what happened in September 2008. Try looking at online archives of news sites -- it's all there (until it conveniently "disappears").

[Javida]

Thankfully, then, they were called "bonuses" if that's what it took to wake people up. I'd call it "trash cash" as it served no benefit whatsoever to right the economy. Just money thrown away. I don't see it as conservatives-media vs Obama per se. I see this bonus matter far bigger than that. Yes, the conservatives are attempting to hijack the outrage of the public to bring down Obama. But it won't work as the outrage is not about vengenance against Obama, it's about misuse and abuse of tax monies sacrificed by hardworking Americans. Our outrage is that this bonus money be returned to right a huge wrong. Regardless of how the media or the pubs attempt to misuse the outrage, the American people are smarter than to fall prey to their machinations for their own self-centered purposes. We just want our money back, fair and square!!

[Jenjohnson]

The right wing nuts have lost again.... I can imagine them now.. hopping up and down..hitt­ing their heads and stamping their feets in frustratio­n.. shaking their blog trolls for failing to perform once more....

. What can they possibly do to smear the president and cause people to turn against him... aaaagh.

[schicklett3]

Our president inherited this entire mess. Period.
He's trying to fix the mess the republicans left.....a­nd all you naysaying nitwits need to back off and stop yer bitchn.
Enough already!

[suburbanmom]

Amen to that!!

[Dewtrell]

The mainstream media, the Republicans, Blue Dog Dems, the Black Caucus have NO IDEA who they are dealing with when it comes to Obama. The people TRUST him and the usual Washington bickering is not going to bring this guys down.

I thought he was done after Jeremiah Wright but what happened afterwards told me that this man is so above everyone - there's a connection he has with the people that Regan nor Clinton actually had - they tried and had some success but Obama is on a whole different level.

[x4faith]

You NAILED it! Also I think Paul Krugman is BITTER about something. And I feel he's doing his DAMNEST to make sure President Obama knows and feels it! I've not see such negative reporting on a weekly baises in my life! It only makes...No­, it forces me to view Krugman in a negative way. I support out President regardless. None of us have the information before us needed to make a decision on ANY of these issues. That is why I'm sick and tired of the pundits telling 'me' what 'I' think or is going to think and or feel a year from now. I'm the majority of Amercia is standing up to let them know that they DON'T KNOW and to stop trying to make us think that they know us better than we know ourselves.­...PLEASE CONTINUE TO STAND UP FOR AMERICA BY CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR PRESIDENT.­..BARACK OBAMA!

[Three Four Five]

Financial Terrorism and Recouping the Bonus Payouts

http://voteforamerica.net/ editorials/ Comments.a­spx?Articl­eId=256&Ar­ticleName=­Squashing+­Fiscal+Abu­se

[Coinyer101]

that 7-8% are out in force,here, and they are the same old tro//s.

[Puffin16]

The economy is starting to turn around and Americans love Obama. Join us, GOPers, it's not too late.

[JakeMontero]

They shouldn't be blaming the President.

[vesaversa1]

d@M TYPE O it's been a very long day . I think the president have done a great job.