USA Today/Gallup Poll: Americans don't blame Obama for AIG bonuses

[Thrill]

There's a lot of blame to go around when it comes to the $165 million in bonuses paid to executives at AIG, the insurance giant that has gotten $170 billion in federal aid. A new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll shows that Americans hold AIG management itself most responsible.

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.

The poll of 2,019 adults was taken Saturday and Sunday. Half the sample -- 1,002 respondents -- were asked about the blame game. Some were reached on landlines, some on cellphones. The margin of error: +/- 3 percentage points.

For more results, including responses to questions about the handling of the AIG bailout, check back at USATODAY.com this evening and see editions of USA TODAY.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2009/03/64506229/1

LOL take that Congress. The people even blame Congress more than Geithner.

[Cant trust em]

1. Ironically, many here disagree. NT

[SunsetDreams]

2. not many, just a few who are screaming it.

[Drunken Irishman]

3. Pretty remarkable how out of touch DU proves itself again.

It makes me laugh.

[Cant trust em]

8. I'm having trouble hanging in here today.

Hell, maybe I am a moderate afterall.

[customerserviceguy]

13. On the other hand

it could be the general public sampled in this poll that do not know about the provision in the stimulus bill, or even that Geithner was trained in the Goldman Sachs school of theft. They know about Turbo Tax Tim, but only because Leno and Letterman make jokes about it.

At least the people who watch Jon Stewart get their news in a bit more depth.

[Pirate Smile]

9. It's bizarre.

[Uzybone]

4. Some folks here will be disappointed

oh well. America is ahead of them.

[Thrill]

5. Just watch how the tune changes from people in Congress now

when it comes to people attacking Obama and Geitner on this

[Median Democrat]

6. Media Matters Notes Media's Effort To Falsely Suggest That Recovery Bill Created Right To Bonuses

As noted by Media Matters, this is a false characterization. The bonuses in question were contractually awarded last year. The Stimulus bill actually limited executive compensation, which is something that most Republicans opposed. The false controversy being directed at Dodd and the White House is that the stimulus bill did not retroactively nullify these bonus contracts. As noted by Media Matters:

http://mediamatters.org/items/200903200003?f=h_latest

/snip

NBC, ABC, Fox News advance false GOP accusation that recovery bill created right for AIG to pay bonuses
Summary: Discussing the House vote to levy a 90-percent tax on executive bonuses, NBC, ABC, and Fox News all advanced the false Republican allegation that by passing the recovery bill, Democrats created the right for AIG to pay bonuses. In fact, the bill did not create the right for AIG -- or any company -- to pay bonuses; rather, it restricted the ability of companies receiving TARP money to award bonuses in the future.

Discussing the March 19 House vote to levy a 90-percent tax on executive bonuses paid to companies owing more than $5 billion in loans to the government, NBC, ABC, and Fox News all advanced the false Republican accusation that by passing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Democrats created the right for AIG to pay bonuses. In fact, as Media Matters for America documented, the recovery bill did not create the right for AIG -- or any company -- to pay bonuses. Rather, AIG reportedly disclosed that it had entered into agreements to pay these bonuses more than a year ago, the Bush Treasury department approved of the AIG bailout with this agreement in place, and the relevant provision in the recovery act, which was based on an amendment by Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), actually restricted the ability of companies receiving money from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to award bonuses in the future.

In the absence of the recovery bill, AIG's ability to pay the bonuses would not have been limited. Indeed, if Republicans had succeeded in defeating the bill, the clause restricting the ability of troubled companies to award bonuses in the future would not have been enacted at the time.

/snip

This explains why despite their alleged outrage, Republicans are among the strongest opponents to the proposal to tax the AIG bonuses.

[OHdem10]

7. Obama has so far been able to keep the people with him.

The Public sees the Democratic Party (Dems on the Hill) as a different
entity.

A recent poll shows the GOP and Democrats on equal par. They
would as soon vote for a Republican as a Democrat. The Democrats
had better get themselves organized and on the same page. Having
two Democratic Parties in one does not inspire confidence.They had
best get themselves some Democrats on TV promoting the Democratic
Position. Oh, I forgot, they cannot do this. They do not agree.

This poll discussed on TV last week had best make them wake up
and smell the coffee.

[rvablue]

11. Sorry, OHDdem, but you're wrong

recent polling shows that the Congressional Dems approval rating is much, much higher than for the Congressional Repubs.

Check out Kos...he has some great numbers/graphs up late last week.

[NYC Liberal]

12. One poll, 20 months before the next election, on a generic ballot choice

means the Democrats are in trouble? Did you forget a :sarcasm: tag?

[OHdem10]

14. I was not being sarcastic, just repeating commentary of people like Ron Brownstein

[Occam Bandage]

10. You mean DU is full of fringey screechers few agree with? Good to know.

[Reterr]

26. Yes unlike the super smart American public that has it all figured out

Remind me again what % of this country believes in creationism, ghosts, etc.?

http://www.religioustolerance.org/ev_publi.htm
Oh thats right, this is the country where 45% accepted creationism in 2004.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_popular_opinion_on_invasion_of_Iraq
And what was it, only 75% of us who thought invading Iraq was a great idea in 2003.
Anything that had the support of 75% of the brilliant American public (which only voted Bush in twice) had to work right? Wow, that turned out REALLY well. I wasn't a member here at the time, but from what I have heard such as they are, most of these "fringey loons" here had the sense not to think that war was a good idea. In fact, I believe many were even protesting it.

What a stupid thing to use as a metric of anything. " This or that is popular". For now....with a public which repeated opinion polls show is not that well informed. We like invading countries..we just don't know how to find 'em on a map :eyes:.

Edit: Btw, I agree that they shouldn't blame Obama for the AIG mess, but the fact that a large % of country believes something is not an indication that it is accurate. DU may be fringey, but a large % of the American public has been fucking moronic for the last 8 years. I would pick DU over a large % of the American public. And anyway, using opinion polls to prove or disprove anything is fucking stupid.

Aside: as a scientist/engineer I find opinion polls about the American public's scientific views the most depressing ones. Of course DU doesn't do science very well either...

[Occam Bandage]

27. There is a crucial difference between politics and science.

Science is about what is objective reality. Public opinion only serves to show how educated the public is. Politics is about creating and promoting subjective interpretations of reality. Public opinion is extraordinarily important. Saying, "eh, whatever, people are dumb" is a surefire ticket to the minority.

[FrenchieCat]

15. Poor media foiled again! They can't ever seem to get bullshit to stick!

Wonder why? Like nobody trusts those assholes at this point? :shrug:

Now, they are back the drawing board, I guess!
Wonder what's next? The dog?

[nichomachus]

16. Please, not AIG -- it's now AIU Holdings

They're changing their name to try to confuse the public.

[zulchzulu]

17. If anyone thought Obama was to blame for AIG bonuses, they are as dumb as a pile of ratshit

How on Earth could anyone assume that unless they also just hate Obama because of other filthy reasons...

[firedupdem]

18. Regular people aren't stupid. Those lucky enough to have jobs

know that you're not blamed for much of shit 2 months into your job. Especially a job that requires you to fix a fuck up years in the making!

[girl gone mad]

19. Will they be upset that he's stepping in to protect those bonuses?

Three quarters of Americans oppose the bonuses and want the government to claw them back.

How will they feel now that Obama is running interference to keep that from happening?

[GarbagemanLB]

20. Obama is interfering, really? He has said he is going to veto the legislation?

[girl gone mad]

21. He's working with the senate to water it down..

and sending out his legal adviser to claim the current legislation is unconstitutional.

[Thrill]

25. I doubt the majority of Americans like the idea of Taxing

these bonuses.

[Arkana]

22. Is he the new Teflon President?

[Phx_Dem]

23. And they don't blame Geithner either much to the dismay of many here.

[creeksneakers2]

24. Was GW Bush offered as a choice in this poll?

If not, he should have been. Paulson too.

[Clio the Leo]

28. And that makes the MSM's talk of Obama's "bad week" last week...

... all the more laughable!