Obama: ".....between you and the pitchforks.”

[katty]

more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/20871.html

The bankers struggled to make themselves clear to the president of the United States.

Arrayed around a long mahogany table in the White House state dining room last week, the CEOs of the most powerful financial institutions in the world offered several explanations for paying high salaries to their employees — and, by extension, to themselves.

“These are complicated companies,” one CEO said. Offered another: “We’re competing for talent on an international market.”

But President Barack Obama wasn’t in a mood to hear them out. He stopped the conversation and offered a blunt reminder of the public’s reaction to such explanations. “Be careful how you make those statements, gentlemen. The public isn’t buying that.”

“My administration,” the president added, “is the only thing between you and the pitchforks.”

[DJ13]

1. "....only thing between you and the pitchforks.”

Which paints his administration as in cahoots with Wall Street.

He and his economic team need to stop worrying so much about the welfare of the bankers and start considering that the publics anger is justified.

[jkshaw]

2. " ... in cahoots with Wall Street." ??

Hogwash. The president sees what's going on out there and the bankers don't.

[DJ13]

5. "....which PAINTS his administration as in....."

It does paint him in that light.

Look around at the posts critical of Gethner and Summers here on DU.

Obama has painted himself as a defender of the banks instead of trying to right the injustice they've perpetrated on the average citizen.

He brings that judgment on by his own inactions.

[jkshaw]

3. " ... in cahoots with Wall Street." ??

Hogwash. The president sees what's going on out there and the bankers don't.

[yurbud]

8. yeah, I wish he had done that scene from UNTOUCHABLES...

DeNiro walks behind each of his henchmen at a big dinner table, and stops behind one and beats his brains in with a baseball bat. That's what wall street needs.

[drexel dave]

4. Didn't anyone ever read Socrates?

The experts are not nearly as expert as they think they are.

This whole idea that there are these uber smart talented people who we must throw giant dollars at for their super talents is utter bullshit.

I could find lots of good street smart bookies or drug-dealers who would have ran these companies with a profit, not into the ground.

[HuckleB]

6. Good job, Mr. President!

[burning rain]

7. This is one time I'd like the president to step aside.

WELL to the side.

[alarimer]

9. Personally I think these people need to see some actual pitchforks.

Neither the banksters nor Obama have really felt the wrath of Americans on this.

In France the government is actually afraid of the people because they get out and cause massive shutdowns. While Americans just shrug. Of course here massive protests are met with police brutality and agents provocateurs fomenting violence.

[Vidar]

10. All you have to do is take a step to the side Mr. President--

or you can just continue to collaborate with the thieves.