Obama blasts AIG bonuses, says 'I'll take responsibility'

He's darn tootin' he'll take responsibility for the AIG bonuses. After all, he signed into law the stimulus bill that contained Dodd's provision that these bonuses be paid. So he most definitely IS responsible for these bonuses, along with each and every Senator and Representative who voted in favor of the stimulus bill (whether they read it first, or not.)

Ya gotta love the quote, "The Buck Stops Here!" Yep, the AIG buck certainly did stop right in Obama's campaign pocket, or more accurately, over 100,000 of them!

Dodd Did IT

Despite his claim yesterday that he knew nothing about the provision in the stimulus bill that AIG bonuses be paid, Dodd has now admitted that HE INSERTED THE PROVISION INTO THE BILL.
Looks like it's time for another Congressional investigation...of Chris Dodd.

From another thread

Re: Obama: Block AIG bonuses
Originally Posted by Spidey's mom
http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/mar...ks-aig---time/


. . ."While the Senate was constructing the $787 billion stimulus last month, Dodd added an executive-compensation restriction to the bill. The provision, now called “the Dodd Amendment” by the Obama Administration provides an “exception for contractually obligated bonuses agreed on before Feb. 11, 2009” -- which exempts the very AIG bonuses Dodd and others are now seeking to tax.


Dodd’s original amendment did not include that exemption, and the Connecticut Senator denied inserting the provision.


“I can't point a finger at someone who was responsible for putting those dates in,” Dodd told FOX. “I can tell you this much, when my language left the senate, it did not include it. When it came back, it did.”



“Because of negotiations with the Treasury Department and the bill Conferees, several modifications were made,” Dodd Spokesperson Kate Szostak in a response to FOX Business. ...."

Today's news: "I'm the one who has led the fight against excessive executive compensation, often over the objections of many. I did not want to make any changes to my original Senate-passed amendment but I did so at the request of Administration officials, who gave us no indication that this was in any way related to AIG. Let me be clear - I was completely unaware of these AIG bonuses until I learned of them last week.

"Reports that I changed my position on this issue are simply untrue. I answered a question by CNN last night regarding whether or not a specific date was aimed at protecting AIG. When I saw that my comments had been misconstrued, I felt it was important to set the record straight - that this had nothing to do with AIG.

"Fortunately, we wrote this amendment in a way that allows the Treasury Department to go back and review these bonus contracts and seek to recover the money for taxpayers. Again, I have led the fight to curb excessive executive compensation, and will continue to do so."

State Republican chairman Christopher Healy responded, "This is a total whitewash, and it shows Senator Dodd lacks the courage of his convictions and that he didn't think through the impact of this disastrous rip-off of the taxpayers. Sen. Dodd is hiding behind a press release. It's time for Sen. Dodd to face the music and face the facts."


full article:http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_wat...is-dodd-3.html

OK, Stan, you have missed my point yet again. (Or have chosen to twist it to your liking.)

First of all, I don't hate anyone. Truly, not anyone. Not even Obama. I dislike his policies and distrust his motives.

Secondly, Obama is every bit as responsible as Dodd. Dodd put the language in the bill. Obama signed it. They share responsibility, along with every dolt who voted for that piece of legislation, whether nor not they actually read it.

ETA:

Stan, you say that you find Obama's actions pertaining to responsibility for the AIG bonuses "honorable." I respectfully disagree.

His taking responsibility should not be viewed as "honorable", "remarkable", or anything of the sort. It should be viewed as the bare minimum expectation.

An "honorable" man is capable of occasionally making boneheaded or dishonorable decisions or actions. When that happens (failing to read legislation, signing bad legislation into law), it should be the bare minimum expectation that he take responsibility for his error. That is what everyday citizens do in their personal and professional lives. (A professional nurse acknowledges his/her patient care errors.) Why do we view it as "honorable" or "remarkable" when an elected or appointed government official takes responsibility for his/her actions? Why do we not expect them to do so as a matter of course, as we expect of ordinary citizens, even children?

Secondly, tnt makes an important point. What does Obama mean by, The buck stops here?" Is he going to propose new legislation to "re-do" the ill-thought-out and unread stimulus bill? Is he going to forgo his own salary to return some much-needed money to the federal coffers? Is he going to return his campaign donation? What, exactly is he going to do?

His words ring very hollow, due to his track record in his short presidency. Remember how he was going to form a Cabinet free of lobbyists? Remember how he was going to choose people of integrity (except for a few tax cheats)? Remember how he was going to promote transparency by keeping a bill on his desk for 5 days of public comment prior to signing it into law? I bet you've forgotten some of those promises, because Obama already has.

Obama is a man of powerful words, but few actions to back them up.

He deserves our skepticism. He has earned it. If he wants us to see him as "honorable", he has a long way to go with appropriate actions, not pretty words.

I won't continue to debate your version of "hate". I won't allow you to put my thoughts, emotions or opinions into your words.

I have had a life experience that I have never shared on this BB (and never will) that has made my heart incapable of hate.

Do not, ever again, use that word in reference to me.

Presuming to "know" another poster's heart and soul is not a compromise.

I'm done.

I am so tired of the gotcha games that have been played. We have a mess on the world economic stage that has trickled down to main street. I was visiting with a friend yesterday and his business is half of what it should be at this time of year.

Viking, There would be no "gotcha games" if there weren't dishonest and dishonorable politicians and officials trying to cover-up their actions.

The Obama administration promised a "new transparency." That would have been easily and honorably accomplished by going to the American people and saying, "There are aspects of the stimulus bill that some Americans may find distasteful and objectionable, including bonuses for executives of bailed-out companies. Let us explain why we believe it is necessary to honor these bonuses..." Then the issue could have been debated out in the open with the full knowledge and participation of the American people.

That would be a new transparency that would set this administration apart from its predecessors and gain the trust of the American people. Unfortunately, it is not the path that Obama and his party have chosen.