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A False Sense of Confidence

A False Sense of Confidence

MARCH 17, 2009

It was JUST TWO WEEKS AGO that the Administration said it was "confident" it knew how AIG was spending taxpayer dollars
 
THEN:



Press Secretary Briefing, March 2, 2009:
 
Jake Tapper, ABC: AIG, is the Administration confident that it, that it knows what happened to the tens of billions of dollars previously given to AIG?
 
Press Secretary Gibbs: Is it confident - I'm sorry?
 
Jake Tapper, ABC: That they know, that you guys know what happened to the previous billions before you hand over this next $30 billion?
 
Press Secretary Gibbs: Yes.
 
NOW:


 
Press Secretary Briefing, March 16, 2009:
 
Question: Did you guys first find out about these bonuses last week?

Press Secretary Gibbs: I think that's true, based on what I read in the newspaper...

Question:  But, Robert, to follow up on Jake's point, did Secretary Geithner make a mistake by not reviewing these contracts -- they're a year old -- before he cut a new check to AIG?  Why didn't he do that?

Press Secretary Gibbs: I would certainly ask the Treasury -- I'll ask the Treasury that.
 

Note: "The Real AIG Outrage," an Editorial by the Wall Street Journal.