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Once a Farmer....
03/17/09 6:47 PM EDT
By SUSAN FERRECHIO
Chief Congressional Correspondent
Sen. Charles Grassley tried to clarify his statement suggesting executives of the American International Group commit suicide in the wake of revelations that they handed out $165 million in bonuses even after receiving a heft government bailout.
But Grassley's explanation left the Republican Leadership even more red-faced when the the Iowa farmer used colorful barnyard terminology to describe bailout recipients.
Grassley told reporters "From my standpoint, it's irresponsible for corporations to give bonuses, at this time, when there's sucking the tit of the taxpayer."
Snickers and winces ensued, and then Grassley continued, saying he did not necessarily advocate suicide, but "that corporate America needs an ethic like they have in Japan where corporate executives take responsibility for what they're doing, and apologize to the people of Japan. We don't have that in this country and we ought to have it. Corporation executives that run their corporation into the ground should not be rewarded for doing that."
In a radio interview on Monday, Grassley said he would feel better if the executives would follow the lead of the Japanese and apologize to the American people "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."
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