Perino Defends AIG Bonuses: They Are ‘Middle Class People’ Who ‘Are Expecting To Get This Bonus’

[Canuckistanian]

Reports over the weekend that bailed-out insurance giant AIG will be paying $165 million in bonuses to executives “in the same business unit that brought the company to the brink of collapse last year” have sparked bipartisan outrage. Even ultra-conservative Bill Kristol expressed his anger in a column yesterday, asking rhetorically, “If capitalism is to survive, shouldn’t the Republican party, the party that defends democratic capitalism, be particularly vehement in denouncing its excesses? Isn’t this a pretty spectacular one?”

However, it seems that Dana Perino, former President Bush’s press secretary, didn’t receive the memo. On C-Span’s Washington Journal on Sunday, Perino defended the bonuses:

PERINO: And the people who are working there that are middle-class people, are expecting to get this bonus. If they do not get it, maybe they won’t be motivated enough to try to help the company turn around and getting the company to turn around and be more profitable is important for all of us.

It appears that Perino either doesn’t know who is set to receive the bonuses or is unaware what it means to be “middle class” (i.e. those American households that generally make between $40,000 and $70,000 per year). In fact, while as of Sunday, it was unclear what the salary range is for the executives who are set to get the bonuses, as The New York Times reported at the time, some of them will receive more than $3 million in bonuses alone.

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/03/17/perino-defends-aig/

[jimshoes]

1. Why are we still hearing from this twit

Go away already.

[Atman]

10. She's a Loyal Republican, that's why.

They're still given all the airtime they want. The GOP Corporate Media needs all them on the front lines right now.

.

[bdamomma]

16. they are cockroaches running around again where is the insecticide.

[muntrv]

2. It's TAXPAYER money that's funding these bonuses, dumb fuck!

[indepat]

11. Maybe even something beyond dumb fuck?

:P

[ladym55]

3. Dana appears to be a tat out of touch ...

Just sayin'.

[OhioChick]

4. "Middle Class People" are expecting the bonuses?

Which version of "middle class" are they referring to.....ours or theirs?

[Canuckistanian]

12. Exactly. A few million per year? That's "middle-class" to her

To be REALLY well off in her world, I guess you have to make over 10 mil per year.

[Igel]

17. We hear of the 73 who got $1 million or more in their "bonuses".

Oddly, the lowest bonus check, IIRC, was $1k. 73 got > $1 million, but there was a total of about 400 employees who got bonuses. What happened to the other 325? Chopped liver?

Now, keep in mind that there's an argument made around here, a sound argument, that middle class if you work in some sections of the country is far more than $70k. Purchasing parity power is different in different parts of the country. What you can do with $70k in some areas is maybe $120k in others. That would be *my* definition of middle class, a sliding scale.

Now, look at the actual quote:

"And the people who are working there that are middle-class people, are expecting to get this bonus. If they do not get it ...".

It's not saying everybody getting the bonuses are middle class. He's limiting his discussion to those who *are* middle class, and I have no reason to assume that his definition is markedly different from mine. That might be 1 person, it might be 200. I have no way of knowing. Just that what's said isn't unreasonable unless you restrict your knowledge to just what triggers outrage.

[marmar]

5. Why does she keep talking? It's not even her job anymore.....

..... Dana, a foolish man keeps talking, but never is he heard.

[OhioChick]

8. Why are any from the old admin still talking?

I wish they'd all just shut the hell up, already.

[Berry Cool]

6. This ditz doesn't live in the real world.

Then again, what would she know about the real world? She married a businessman 18 years her senior who deals in medical products. She probably need never work again a day in her own life if she doesn't want to. She can't be expected to know what "middle class" is.

[Deja Q]

7. What a dipshit. Then who fucking cares if they lack motivation?

The rest of us see jobs going offshore so what the flying fuck is OUR motivation?

[GoesTo11]

9. Remember $5 million / year is rich

[Canuckistanian]

20. Wasn't that McCain's definition? n/t

[GinaMaria]

13. Many people I know are not getting bonuses or raises

they are lucky they have jobs. Some people have cut their hours so their co-workers would not be laid off. Middle Class my Ass. Doesn't sound like he's ever met the middle class.

AIG Bonuses are not a burden the taxpayer should bear. This is AIGs contractual obligation not ours. They can take out a loan, liquidate assets or go to court. Why look to us with their greedy hands out expecting us to cough up personal wealth for their execs?

Why would Perino trust the people who destroyed AIG to turn the company around? Seriously, are republicants on drugs?

[flyarm]

14. and it is middle class Americans losing their jobs and health care and pensions!!!!!!!!

and truth ..the bonus's seem to me to be a defelction..from the billions going to foreign banks that gambled ..yes gambled with AIG..how many 165 million does it take to make a billion?? and yet billions of our tax dollars are going to foreign banks..where is the true outrage of that????????

want to see what a billion and a trillion looks like??????

http://www.pagetutor.com/trillion/index.html

this is what we owe China!!

[tritsofme]

15. Honey, you're not on George Bush's payroll anymore

You don't have to show up and cover for them on tv.

Take a rest, sit at home and relax.

[Kansas Wyatt]

19. That's what I just thinking....

Isn't it time for her to just STFU now?

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

18. This is prime for Keith's worst person

hope he sees this.

[Canuckistanian]

22. Or for TDS

I'd love to hear Jon Stewart's opinion.

[Liberal Veteran]

21. I had no idea the rich had their own tier system.

So there is an upper class rich, a middle class rich, and a lower class rich and those of us who don't matter in the eyes of the republican elite.

[Supersedeas]

23. taxpayer funded Patriotism -- the GOP Crony solution to all our woes