Obama Braces for a Backlash Over Wall Street Bailouts

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is increasingly concerned about a populist backlash against banks and Wall Street, worried that anger at financial institutions could also end up being directed at Congress and the White House and could complicatence H. Summers on “This Week” called new bonuses at A.I.G. outrageous.

A.I.G. Lists Which Banks It Paid With U.S. Bailout The administration’s sharp rebuke of the American International Group on Sunday for handing out $165 million in executive bonuses.

Lawrence H. Summers, director of the president’s National Economic Council, described it as “outrageous” on “This Week” on ABC — marks the latest effort by the White House to distance itself from abuses that could feed potentially disruptive public anger.ministration is increasingly concerned about a populist backlash against banks and Wall Street, worried that anger at financial institutions could also end up being directed at Congress and the White House and could complicate:Is President Obama at risk of becoming another target of a backlash against Wall Street?The administration’s sharp rebuke of the American International Group on Sunday for handing out $165 million in executive bonuses — Lawrence H. Summers, director of the president’s National Economic Council, described it as “outrageous” on “This Week” on ABC — marks the latest effort by the White House to distance itself from abuses that could feed potentially disruptive public anger....