Obama ‘stunned’ by millions in AIG bonuses In first late-night presidential spot

[kpete]

Source: MSNBC



LOS ANGELES - Barack Obama said Thursday evening that he was “stunned” to hear about the $165 million in bonuses that were paid to employees of troubled insurer AIG over the weekend, saying the payments raised serious moral and ethical problems.

Obama’s comments came in an interview on NBC’s “Tonight Show With Jay Leno.” NBC said Obama was the first sitting president to guest on a late-night talk show.

Obama said the AIG payments raised moral end ethical problems and promised that the administration would do everything it could to get them back. But he stressed that the bigger problem was the culture that allowed traders to claim them.

Obama used the visit as an opportunity to defend Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who has been sharply criticized for his handling of the AIG controversy. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., called for Geithner to resign Thursday afternoon.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29782234/

[mdmc]

1. God I love Obama

I hate the bailouts, rahm, Afgan thingy...
but I do LOVE OUR PRESIDENT!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. I think this was a good move by Obama

I'm sure his appearance has been heavily advertised, and so many will be watching. Obama's remarks will resonate with the public, I think, and his whole town hall moments make him much more accessible and more human than Bush ever was.

[AzDar]

3. I seriously hope this defense of Geithner doesn't turn into a 'heckuva job' moment for the Prez.

[Quiz Master]

4. He Really Is Brilliant...

Rather than hiding out and making it look like he's ashamed of a mistake, he goes on the attack and does something mildly historic and entertaining.

He's freaking ingenious and I think he'll ultimately win out over the bailout bums

[valerief]

7. What mistake? Bush's TARP mistake? nt

[WriteDown]

5. Captain Renault:

I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!

[NYC Liberal]

6. Late-night shows have a much more diverse audience (I assume, could be wrong)

So this is a good move for sure.

[sailor65]

8. "Events which I'm only being made aware of now"

Yup, sounds very familiar.

[notesdev]

10. I did not have sex with

that bailout

never mind the $100,000 I pocketed in checks from the bailees.

[sailor65]

9. "Events which I'm only being made aware of now"

Yup, sounds very familiar

[Ian David]

11. "Those Special Olympics medals have gotta be somewhere...

"Those Special Olympics medals have gotta be somewhere... Nope, they're not under here..."

[cliss]

12. Obama was stunned?

I have a little correction for him.

Obama was part of this plan quite a while ago. He knew about the bonuses.

The only "stunned" is the public's extreme reaction to the bonuses. And the fallout:smoke: