Resign or Commit Harry Caray!
March 24, 2009 by Phil Gerbyshak
Filed under Business
File this one in the “Senators are even dumber than they look” category.
Found in a Business Week article, Senator Chuck Grassley from Iowa said AIG leaders should resign…or kill themselves. Quoting Grassley: “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.” I won’t get into whether or not suicide is a responsible or irresponsible thing to do, as I’ve lost 2 uncles because of this, but one thing is for certain: I would NEVER recommend this to anyone, no matter what, and I am appalled Senator Grassley suggested this.
How would you feel if your manager told you, “Sorry Phil. You just cost us a big account. Here’s a pistol. Go shoot yourself in the head.” Is Harry Caray really the answer?
Sorry, wrong Harry Caray. :) I always make light of uncomfortable situations.
Instead of offering this solution, I’d recommend a recommitment to core management values. Start by thinking about what can be learned from the situation, and vow to NEVER do it again. And for heaven’s sake, PLEASE admit when you’ve made a mistake.
What can you learn from the AIG mess to help you be a better manager or a better employee?
Harry Caray courtesy of rpongsaj
Not in defense of the Senator, he was trying to make a point – ill worded none the less.
The root issue of the matter is that we have become a society of ego-centric, narcissistic, and greedy people who seek power and/or advantage over others or to be in the media spot-light. We are also a society that plays victim as a means to shirk responibility.
It doesn’t matter what position, the issues still are there – from peon to CEO. What is surely lacking is courage and leadership – true courage and true leadership.
The truly disgusting thing about the current situation is the pandering and hypocrisy of people like Senator Grassley who got us into this mess.
It is an outrage Senator Grassley, an elected official, was not somehow held more responsible for this statements.
I’m no Rush Limbaugh fan, but Mr. Limbaugh, a private citizen was vilified for suggesting he was rooting for President Obama’s policies to fail.
Senator Grassley pretty much got a pass for his “suggestion.”
Business executives should kill themselves? Really?
What’s left then for the legislators who forced interest rates below market levels, promoted massive subprime lending by FNMA and FreddieMac, and continue to promote the “too big to fail” doctrine while brazenly funding their pet projects and sticking us with the bill.
Oh, yeah … I guess we still have the drawing and quartering option.
A literalist reading of material inevitably gets all of us into trouble. I really enjoy a world with few literalists. Figurative language is a lot more fun, even when it’s a flip comment. Grassley’s comment strikes me as nothing more than amusing.
This from someone whose party has been in power for most of the last 30 years while the seeds were planted and plants nurtured—not that the other side is any better.
Just proves that if it reasons like an ass and talks like an ass it probably is an ass.
How sad, there’s no longer a way to subscribe to comments. Bummer:(
To be fair, this is not the first stupid comment of this type by a member of Congress in recent memory. Congressman Tom Lantos (Democrat, CA, now deceased) said the following in a Congressional hearing in June 1996 to Craig Livingstone, who resigned from the Clinton White House over the FBI “filegate” episode:
“With an infinitely more distinguished public record than yours, Admiral Boorda committed suicide when he may have committed a minor mistake,” Mr. Lantos said in his tongue-lashing, offering a stark reference to Jeremy M. Boorda, the Chief of Naval Operations, who killed himself over an imminent news report that he had worn medals to which he was not entitled. (NYT, June 27, 1996 http://bit.ly/3Spg9F)
Scott – I agree, ill-worded is the least of his concerns. Unfortunately, he did say it. The most many will hear is this sound bite. Don’t try to make a point with “Kill yourself” literal or just figuratively.
Exactly my point Mark! If you’re going to vilify talk radio, you have to do the same for the folks in power. It must be equal, not pick and choose.
Drawing and quartering would at least be worth watching! :)
Dan – Leaders can’t be flip. They must be careful with what they say. They are role models, whether they like it or not.
If we lived in a world where this wasn’t broadcast 50 million times, I’d agree. Say whatever you want. The senator said it for 1 of 2 reasons in my opinion: He meant it, or he wanted to make the front page of the paper. Both are deplorable.
Miki – You hit a home run with that one! Asses all around.
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