Grassley, AIG, suicide

[mirmartinez]

Sen. Grassley says AIG executives should resign or commit suicide
By NIGEL DUARA Associated Press Writer
6:20 AM CDT, March 17, 2009


In this May 22, 2008 file photo, Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington. Grassley suggested on Monday March 16, 2009 that AIG executives should take a Japanese approach toward accepting responsibility for the collapse of the insurance giant by resigning or killing themselves. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) (J. Scott Applewhite, AP / May 22, 2008)

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley suggested that AIG executives should accept responsibility for the collapse of the insurance giant by resigning or killing themselves.

The Republican lawmaker's harsh comments came during an interview Monday with Cedar Rapids, Iowa, radio station WMT. They echo remarks he has made in the past about corporate executives and public apologies, but went further in suggesting suicide.

"I suggest, you know, obviously, maybe they ought to be removed," Grassley said. "But I would suggest the first thing that would make me feel a little bit better toward them if they'd follow the Japanese example and come before the American people and take that deep bow and say, I'm sorry, and then either do one of two things: resign or go commit suicide.

"And in the case of the Japanese, they usually commit suicide before they make any apology."

Japanese executives often take responsibility for scandals within their companies by issuing public apologies on camera and stepping down. It is rare, however, that business executives have gone so far as to take their lives. In feudal Japan, ritual suicide was considered an honorable death under the samurai warrior ethic.

Grassley spokesman Casey Mills said the senator isn't calling for AIG executives to kill themselves, but said those who accept tax dollars and spend them on travel and bonuses do so irresponsibly.

"Senator Grassley has said for some time now that generally speaking, executives who make a mess of their companies should apologize, as Japanese executives do," Mills said. "He says the Japanese might even go so far as to commit suicide but he doesn't want U.S. executives to do that."

The senator's remarks added to a chorus of public outrage over the disclosure that AIG intends to pay its executives $165 million in bonuses after taking billions in federal bailout money. President Barack Obama on Monday lambasted the insurance giant for "recklessness and greed" and pledged to try to block payment of the bonuses.

Well that is one way to deal with the bonuses

 

[DawnCt1]

Well that is one way to deal with the bonuses

It was tasteless, no doubt reflects the sentiment of many taxpayers, but uncalled for.

 

[PeterPan09]

I'm ticked off at the unmitigated greed, but I don't want anyone dead! Yikes.

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

Senator Grassley is a good guy and I admired him all the years I lived in Iowa. The point he is making is that AIG and other companies like them need to TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS. Do NOT read more in to it than necessary.

Personally, I am very pissed off at AIG for abusing the help they received.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

You know, if our government hadn't bailed out AIG in the first place, when it went bankrupt it would have had the ability to break the contracts of all these fat cats and re-organize itself into a leaner, more competitive company.

But no, we told the fat cats, keep doin' whatcha doin', and when they did all of a sudden we, the american people, are crying foul.

We SAW how they did business and we STILL gave them the money, what else should we expect?

Now they're going to sue, and there goes more money...

 

[hegsag]

The point he is making is that AIG and other companies like them need to TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS. Do NOT read more in to it than necessary.

Personally, I am very pissed off at AIG for abusing the help they received.

Yep, I agree & feel the same as you....

 

[Heidict]

Do NOT read more in to it than necessary.

No need to read into anything. He said "resign or go commit suicide." Kinda hard to misinterpret that.

Personally, I think he spoke without thinking and is now just back peddling, twisting what he said so that it doesn't look as bad as it does.

 

[Tony-NJ]

We SAW how they did business and we STILL gave them the money, what else should we expect?

Now they're going to sue, and there goes more money...

If I remmeber correctly - we gave them money 2X!

 

[minnie61650]

The Bush administration and congress should have had strings attached when they gave the finanical institutions the original first half of the bailout money.
Thank goodness President Bush attached strings when he loaned the monies to GM and Chrysler in the form of a bridge loan.

I am very happy that President Obama had the presence of mind to attach strings for any addition bailout monies.

It seems like Citi Bank and Bank of America are doing better now and do not want additonial bail out monies now that strings were attached.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

No need to read into anything. He said "resign or go commit suicide." Kinda hard to misinterpret that.

Personally, I think he spoke without thinking and is now just back peddling, twisting what he said so that it doesn't look as bad as it does.

Believe what you want. He said the same thing a few months ago and no one gave a crap about it then. Why now?

 

[DawnCt1]

No need to read into anything. He said "resign or go commit suicide." Kinda hard to misinterpret that.

Personally, I think he spoke without thinking and is now just back peddling, twisting what he said so that it doesn't look as bad as it does.

I don't think he meant it literally. Its the same as saying "Kill yourself", when they express angry feelings. They don't mean it literally. Its considered an insult.

 

[Kim&Chris]

Senator Grassley is a good guy and I admired him all the years I lived in Iowa. The point he is making is that AIG and other companies like them need to TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS. Do NOT read more in to it than necessary.

Personally, I am very pissed off at AIG for abusing the help they received.

I agree. I seriously doubt he is advising anyone that they should kill themselves. I just think he got caught up in the anger, frustration and emotion that the taxpayers are experiencing, and said some unfortunate things.

 

[Imzadi]

Two people committed suicide after the Bernie Madeoff fraud was uncovered. One person lost more than $1 billion of his clients' investments to Bernard Madoff's fraud. The second one was so distraught over losing his family's savings, he killed himself.

Both of these people who committed suicide were UNWITTING VICTIMS.

But, the AIG execs are still willingly taking the money after they bankrupted their own company and know that taxpayers dollars are funding their bonuses.

Do you know, the people who were responsible for making and selling the tainted baby formula in China and knowingly putting lead based paints on toys were executed?

Those AIG execs have it so lucky.

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

Gotta love Grassley.

Honestly, even though I dislike his politics, I've always thought he was one of the more caring people in government. But, then he makes a ridiculous statement like this and my respect trickles away. Tact, tact, tact....He was in defininte need of some.

 

[SteveInBrooklyn]

THe Senator makes a good point, but in a manner that is offensive to some people (but not to me.) If the executives had a sense of shame, they wouldn't take bonuses. INstead they have a sense of entitlement, they think that the country owes them something. Typical.

 

[4nana]

No doubt we are all PO'd and can read between the lines what Grassley meant, but a statement like that is totally unaceptable . Many are suffering in these difficult economic times, however no one needs to suggest this act of desperation.

 

[Patch'sD]

This Suicide reference was unacceptable, As was the comment on the Republican Cobal thread that someone thought that Dick Cheney was dead was wishfull thinking was unacceptable, However there were no complaints about that

 

[minnie61650]

No doubt we are all PO'd and can read between the lines what Grassley meant, but a statement like that is totally unaceptable . Many are suffering in these difficult economic times, however no one needs to suggest this act of desperation.

I agree. It reminds me of the Madoff Investors who have Committed Suicide .

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

Gotta love Grassley.

Honestly, even though I dislike his politics, I've always thought he was one of the more caring people in government. But, then he makes a ridiculous statement like this and my respect trickles away. Tact, tact, tact....He was in defininte need of some.

My thoughts EXACTLY with Harkin except for the caring part. All he cares about is himself.

 

[Heidict]

Believe what you want. He said the same thing a few months ago and no one gave a crap about it then. Why now?

I would have no idea. It's the first time I have heard anything about it.

I don't think he meant it literally. Its the same as saying "Kill yourself", when they express angry feelings. They don't mean it literally. Its considered an insult.

Ummm, I have never said "Kill yourself" to anyone. I can't fathom why someone would say that to anyone. Anger or not I don't find it humorous to kid about death, especially suicide. It doesn't sound like an insult, it sounds like something a deranged person would say.