White House Lashes Out at Bankers

President Barack Obama and his economic team lashed out at Wall Street, with the president calling bankers “fat cats” who “don’t get it,” in a move that could escalate tensions with the nation’s biggest bankers ahead of a meeting with industry representatives.

Mr. Obama, speaking on the eve of Monday’s meeting with the heads of top banks at the White House, said he would try to persuade bankers to free up more credit to businesses, with the aim of helping boost job growth. But the president also expressed frustration with banks that the government has assisted.

“I did not run for office to be helping out a bunch of fat cat bankers on Wall Street,” Mr. Obama said in an interview to be broadcast on CBS’s “60 Minutes” program Sunday evening, according to excerpts made available ahead of the program.

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Posted in * Economics, Politics, Economy, Office of the President, Politics in General, President Barack Obama, Stock Market, The Banking System/Sector

6 comments on “White House Lashes Out at Bankers

  1. tgs says:

    “I did not run for office to be helping out a bunch of fat cat bankers on Wall Street.” – Oh yes he did and he is continuing to help them.

  2. Nikolaus says:

    Bwana doesn’t get it on so many fronts.

  3. Dave B says:

    The government failed to “regulate” Fannie and Freddie, forced banks to give loans to unqualified barrowers, now they want more power to regulate? Why don’t these foks just enforce the laws that are there?

  4. dwstroudmd+ says:

    Well, that comes as a surprise, Mr. President. And I don’t recall you being elected to run automobile companies by fiat, either, while we are at it. But, any crisis will do in a pinch. Sorta like Nobel Prizes, too.

  5. azusa says:

    #3:Slow down – he doesn’t the Nobel prize for Economics ’til NEXT year. & Physics the following year for defying gravity.

  6. Clueless says:

    And in 2012 he can win the Nobel in Geology for holding back the Tide like King Canute.