David Axelrod On Occupy Wall Street: GOP Doesn't Understand Protests, America's Anger

WASHINGTON (AP/The Huffington Post) -- A senior political adviser to President Barack Obama is charging that the Republicans seeking the presidency don't understand the American public's pent-up anger over corporate excesses.

David Axelrod tells ABC's "This Week" that the American people "want a financial system that works on the level. They want to get a fair shake."

He appeared Sunday, a day after scores of demonstrators protesting corporate business practices were arrested in New York's Times Square in a confrontation with police.

Axelrod faulted Republicans who have been pushing in Congress to soften or repeal the landmark legislation Obama pushed through last year, tightening regulation of business practices.

Axelrod said he doesn't believe "any American is impressed" when hearing GOP presidential candidates who want to "roll back Wall St. reform."

Nearly all of the major Republican presidential contenders have weighed in on the Occupy Wall Street movement. Some, such as Herman Cain and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), say protesters should be directing their anger at the Obama administration rather than big banks and corporations.

Appearing Sunday morning on "Fox News Sunday," House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said it was wrong to blame Wall Street for America's economic problems, and criticized political leaders who have embraced the movement.

"Where I am most concerned is we have elected leaders in this town who are frankly joining in the effort to blame others rather than focus on the policies that have brought about the current situation," he said.

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Check out the reactions of the 2012 Republican presidential candidates, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden reactions to the growing Occupy Wall Street movement:

 

Comments

[NuclearWar]

07:14 PM on 10/19/2011

Nice try ,Axerrod, in trying to ingratiate yourself to the Wall Street Movement. The GOP understands who these people are. ...they are your left wing base that you must appeal to in the next election.
The real problem is the Policy excesses of the Obama administration that has resulted in an economic freefall. People will vote on their wallets next November and not on whether a corporate jet gets taxed more. US Corporate taxes are 35% which is the highest and most punishing rate in the world. No wonder they flee this country for cheaper ways to stay in business.

[Muse1876]

05:37 PM on 10/27/2011

If we as Americans continue to buy the cheap items made over-seas, we will continue to see jobs go over-seas.

[1tourist]

02:14 PM on 10/19/2011

On the question of who the elected officials work for, we should be able to draw a conclusion by their actions. One hint is the supreme court decision allowing special interests to contribute any amount to buy their representation. This money is then spent on ads that become truth by virtue of being repeated enough, After cheering for letting the uninsured die at a Republican debate, yesterday they were cheering for blaming the unemployed for being unemployed. It is their contention that people choose to be uninsured and unemployed. Once, while working as an independent contractor, between jobs, I actually spent every cent of my earnings on health insurance. Do they just not get it?

[peanutsintexas]

01:44 PM on 10/19/2011

David Axelrod doesn't understand that under his guidance, President Barack Hussein Obama was the largest recipient of Wall Street donations BY FAR in the last election and that we know this.

What I love about it though is while it helped him win the White House the first time, Wall Street and independent voters won't be fooled again. You can only lie and connive for so long and Obama's time has come and ended. Thank goodness we have only 16 months until we can get a real leader in the White House.

[GDWhiteman]

11:45 AM on 10/18/2011

Eric Cantor wants to "focus on the policies that have brought about the current situation". How about we start with the GOP policy of saying "NO" to everything in hopes of bringing down Obama no matter how much collateral damage it causes. Apparently the GOP fails to realize that if the protestors had jobs and a fair shake from a reasonably regulated financial industry, they'd be too busy to hang out on Wall Street - "problem" solved!

[Dick Stone]

11:24 PM on 10/17/2011

The President nor any of his advisors, nor any one else in the DNC, spends any time working on any real solutions or solving any of their own problems, they just spend all of their time and efforts complaining about the GOP. That is just how the roll.

[crabbyj67]

02:18 AM on 10/18/2011

That's true...if you refuse to accept facts or reality.

[John L Myers IV]

12:27 PM on 10/19/2011

Hey! Show DICK some respect!

He's welcome to his delusions. :(

[dmlee1]

05:38 PM on 10/19/2011

It's Bush's fault, it's Congress' fault, it's right wing radio's fault, it's everyones fault except the guy many of us voted for. We can't even say he's caused any of this without being admonished by the sheep on the extreme left. He had a majority congress when he was elected, why couldn't he deliver then?. At what point was I wrong for voting for him?. Am I allowed to even contemplate that?. Are there no facts that support his doing a horrible job?

[mtrem]

08:19 AM on 10/18/2011

Please...talk about the pot calling the kettle black...what about the Jobs bill that every Republican voted against? Did you forget about that?

[Gretz]

12:49 PM on 10/18/2011

What Jobs bill? A moronic tax and spend bill by any other name is still a moronic tax and spend bill.

[dmlee1]

05:43 PM on 10/19/2011

No. We just read the bill. You didn't. He can't even get all the democrats to vote for it. What does that tell you?.. Is there any point at which you can say he has failed?. Didn't he run based on his ability to bring people together?, I voted for him because I thought he could and now I am not even allowed to consider he has not delivered without being called names. He is a failure as president. He's a great guy with a big heart. Wrong profession. He needs to lead from the bully pulpit of TV, he'll get more done. Time to move on.

[MyFatCat]

10:48 PM on 10/17/2011

If Romney thinks class warfare is dangerous, why is he supporting it?

[Veganie]

05:49 PM on 10/17/2011

It's only fair to hold intoxicated or disillusioned millionaire CEO's to similar standards of responsibility that we impose on criminals.

[sfizi]

05:38 PM on 10/17/2011

Gop doesn't understand much of anything , just collect the paycheck thats's about it

[Charlotte Sewall]

08:16 PM on 10/17/2011

bs.......the goverment collects everyones.

[Scent]

07:04 AM on 10/18/2011

Not everyone's - the ones with the REAL bigt paychecks get a tax free card.

[Robert Adams]

05:31 PM on 10/17/2011

The fact that Fox "News" is trying so hard to discredit OWS means they are on the right track. The fact that Fox "News" builds up the Teabaggers as patriots, means that the Teaparty is anything but patriots. If you listen to Fox at all, they call people who agree "Great Americans", it's sort of like patting your dog on the head for making poopies outdoors.

[cobry4949]

05:25 PM on 10/17/2011

Marine Sergeant/Military Veteran Scolds, Shames NYPD For Beating Unarmed Protesters
http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/681748/marine_sergeant_military_veteran_scolds%2C_shames_nypd_for_beating_unarmed_protesters/

[Charles W Noble]

03:29 PM on 10/17/2011

Axelrod is right GOP doesn't understand it or perhaps pretend they don't. But the sadder part is that I don't think you or your boss does either. There is not one person from your administration that has been supportive. Your administration also bailed out plenty of companies and has stood by while those same banks foreclosed, unnecessarily, on many families. This is not just a republican problem and I'm tired of the good politicians always doing the triangle and pretending they side with you because they smell the momentum changing. The Democrats are also a party of pro-1%ers.

[bldr1bob]

05:38 PM on 10/17/2011

This is straight out of the 60s. The coming demonstrations are going to be for Free Love, Legalize Marijuana, Free Drugs Fo All, Free Medical Clinics, and remember don't trust anyone over thirty!

[giftsthatpurr]

05:44 PM on 10/17/2011

Not! - - What's more, in the 60's the civil rights marches and demonstrations accomplished desegregation. Your ridicule is lacking in knowledge - just more hate.

[giftsthatpurr]

08:06 PM on 10/17/2011

Perhaps you could try to concentrate on what GOOD they are trying to achieve (for all of us) and suspend ridicule for awhile. There are always opportunists in every movement, but the OWS movement has many caring, intelligent peole involved. There are OWS demonstrators ALL OVER THE WORLD. (There is even one in my city.) This movement IS NOT straight out of YOUR 60s. We are facing great economic failure, and I am glad the protesters are calling attention to it. I hope they can stay strong. (By the way, during the civil rights marches I was told to "lighten up"; that condescension doesn't go over too well when people are dedicated or serious.) To be fair, druggies and rebels took advantage of some of what went on in the 60s, so people forget what was accomplished. I would request that you not forget - since you were there. Thank you.

[giftsthatpurr]

05:42 PM on 10/17/2011

This is not a political party against party demonstration - it is a protest against corporate welfare and those in gov't that support it. The protesters want that changed!

[caprawalie]

03:22 PM on 10/17/2011

Does he?

[Charles W Noble]

03:36 PM on 10/17/2011

exactly. When it comes to party affiliation by income, there really isn't much difference between republicans and democrats. The 1%ers can come from either party. In the end, they are not loyal to parties but outcomes for their wallet.

[Giverny]

04:05 PM on 10/17/2011

That would be why OWS has occurred.

[LoHaze]

03:12 PM on 10/17/2011

Nice spin Axelrod. Do the protesters know Wall Street heavily supported Obama for President? Do they know mega-rich celebs support Obama? Do they know that many of the pro OWS politicians like Pelosi are mega rich types themselves? Apparently not...
It's a game changer - the mega rich are now the Democratic elite. The regular working people support less taxes - like the Republicans. Cut the waste and the perks to the politicians - that would help the middle class! Do MIchael Moore and Yoko Ono give their billions to the struggling masses or just give lip service? Get a brain in your head protesters and figure out who exactly you are protesting and what you want them to do!

[Giverny]

04:16 PM on 10/17/2011

You don't even have a clue what they are about at OWS. You pick out one or two errant protestors to use as dictum. They are not against free market capitalism. They are angry at the corruption and greed. We bail them out and they add more fees to accounts. They rubber stamp foreclosures. They caused this mess to begin with. They aren't who you have them pigeon-holed as.

[LoHaze]

04:25 PM on 10/17/2011

Then don't you think it would be a good idea for them to have a specific person/entity they are targeting rather than generic "Wall Street" - many of which support the much admired President Obama?

[LoHaze]

03:47 PM on 10/27/2011

OWS is not one group - it's anarchists, communists, wannabe hippies, SEIU and other unions, Soros, etc. along with regular people fed up with the middle class being squeezed by banks and corporations. However a lot of the reason the banks and corporations rip people off is because of government regulations. The sub-prime housing scandal happened because banks were ordered to give loans to poor minorities. That is one example, there are MANY. Frankly many Tea Party and OWS protesters have similar complaints - the middle class is disappearing - one side blames the gov, the other side blames business. It's actually BOTH working together!

[giftsthatpurr]

05:46 PM on 10/17/2011

Wall Street heavily supported McCain and fluff head too. Pay attention - the OWS is not about political parties!

[bldr1bob]

06:22 PM on 10/17/2011

Obama's has received more from Wall Street in less than 3 years than Bush & Clinton received in 8.

[TwasBrillig]

02:59 PM on 10/17/2011

Guess what, Mr. Axelrod,

President Obama doesn't understand Occupy Wall Street, or America's anger either.

It's about more than just Wall Street. It's about how Washington D.C., including President Obama and the rest of the worthless Democrats are just as corrupt as the Wall Streeters. It's about how we ended up with a personal mandate, and no public option. It's about how GE pays no corporate taxes, but Jeffrey Immelt is advising President Obama on job creation. It's about how obscenely profitable oil companies are still receiving billions in tax breaks. It's about how companies are still off-shoring jobs and profits. And, it's about how all of this is suborned by a pathetic group of politicians in Washington, who are bought and paid for by the 1%'ers.

Obama is not going to co-opt the Occupy Wall Street movement for the same reason he allowed the Tea Party to harness America's populist angst two years ago. Obama doesn't get it! In fact, President Obama is so pathetic at time when America needs more from him, he makes FDR roll over in his grave.

[giftsthatpurr]

05:52 PM on 10/17/2011

Time out TwasBrillig - - - I can agree with most of what you have posted, but you are way to harsh on our POTUS - - it has taken decades to get the way it is, and NO one man can do it all overnight. If ANY president were to OPENLY challenge the kingmakers he would not last a millisecond. Play fair!

[giftsthatpurr]

05:53 PM on 10/17/2011

typo - meant to say TOO harsh.

[TwasBrillig]

07:33 PM on 10/17/2011

My post doesn't blame all of those problems on President Obama. The list of issues is there to demonstrate that there are more reasons than Wall Street abuses to be mad about.

But when President Obama sums up the OWS movement by saying Americans are angry “over abusive practices by the financial sector.” he completely ignores Washington, and his own complicity in the problem. Either the President doesn't get it, or he knows full well Washington's role in the problem, but he prefers to conflate the issues, leading to more confusion.

President Obama seems to be getting his financial advice from the Wall Streeters, while marginalizing anyone who tries to represent the middle class interests, like Elizabeth Warren. It's not too harsh to point out where President Obama has betrayed the middle class for the interests of the powerful. The best example I can think of is the personal mandate, and no public option. But there are other examples, like the recently passed free-trade agreements.

Your comment about the President's inability to challenge the kingmakers, only illustrates how pathetic Obama truly is. Who is the leader of the free world? What would a strong President and champion of the middle class, like FDR, think about Obama's impotence, which you just pointed out?

It's time for people to stop apologizing for Obama's weakness and incompetence.

[StopMakingSense2]

02:26 PM on 10/17/2011

Why should this be any different than all the other things rubepublicans don't understand? If ignorance is bliss they should be happier than they are..