Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is making national news for something he's been saying for a while — that executives who've mismanaged American companies and required taxpayer bailout should apologize publicly, like the Japanese.
Grassley from September 30, 2008: Grassley suggests that these people who led their corporations to the brink of financial ruin follow the Japanese example and take responsibility for their mistakes."Come before the American people and bow their head as the Japanese corporate executives do, those that don't commit suicide in Japan, and apologize," Grassley says. Grassley adds that he wishes he could legislate something that would force these people to do just that.
Grassley from March 16, 2009: "I suggest, you know, obviously, maybe they ought to be removed," Grassley said during an interview with WMT Radio. "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."
Grassley from March 17, 2009: :"What I'm expressing here obviously is not that I want people to commit suicide, that's not my notion," Grassley said during a telephone news conference with radio reporters. "I do feel very strongly that we have not had statements of apology, statements of remorse, statements of contrition on the part of CEOs."
UPDATE: Grassley went on MSNBC this morning. Read First Read's take.
UPDATE II: Grassley posted this tweet yesterday: Today was big TV day. Evrybody took me seriously that I wanted AIG mangment to commit suicide Inteligent journalist can't recgnize rhetoric
About O.Kay Henderson
Kay is a founding member of the Radio Iowa network newsroom. In 1994, she became the network’s news director. She’s a featured reporter and commentator on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press,” and the 2002 recipient of the Shelley Award.
Well, I see this as pathetic,which is another reason why I thought the bailout was ridiculous. Obvious these folks can’t manage their business in responsible ways or they wouldn’t be on the downfall. But this is no different than the government (house and senate) having a different level of health coverage than US citizens. (which is why I think our healthcare has not been ‘fixed’.
And (House and Senate) giving themselves automatic raises every year. I wish I could be guaranteed a percentage each year, but since I work in healthcare, I have to rely on my hard work making money for the hospital before I can get a raise. Wow, no kidding, somebody making me accountable for my work……weird concept.