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Billionaire Investor Carl Icahn, Icahn Enterprises chairman, on the campaign attacks that compare him to Mitt Romney.
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Decades now at least last year his hedge fund gaining 35%.
In an otherwise flat year for the markets on might also when -- -- -- This prestigious corporate raider came in and went after intransigent managements -- save the companies and workers.
But -- let the facts and the way Carl -- sort of on the phone right now probably to have you would have made -- us.
Well what what we which what are we talking about corporate theft and currency dad Carl where you have essentially been.
Thrown in with Lucifer on this one your reaction to that.
Well I I don't.
I -- really haven't thought about it a great deal I heard about it and I just don't understand what.
What they're really saying I mean over over the last twenty years -- built up.
1012 companies that we still on it and we have we must have 80000 people -- -- and so I I just.
Think they've been have -- they have a completely backwards I think they -- that probably there economy is.
But added so that the management's for the most part of the that for the most part you have no corporate confidence.
And these companies dysfunctional -- and and the way you do read the reason we make money we bought -- -- Really terribly managed companies for the most part and and we get.
If something accomplished on the board level and and we've done it -- many occasions.
And -- lets face -- -- country has a real problem we can't compete.
Can you think Republicans -- have a real -- because on this issue.
A free markets this kind of an ounce of -- anymore but but but that there inconsistent there's some in the party are saying.
Visited the is that what you do -- private capital and how you try to create jobs -- his is one thing.
And then another part of part it says it's a bad thing and and and Republicans are not speaking.
I would say voice.
I I you know something.
The -- I can't understand what -- messages I mean I I think Obama's been a poor president has said this.
Because I don't think socialism works at an any contact with you don't have consent of the reason -- make a lot of money at work day and night.
And I go -- and -- and I say we gets twelve companies.
And all of them are successful will we big and successful and we create jobs but it it it in the sort of government run things are I mean it has -- interest rates Fannie Mae -- we had no gauges secret.
That paid.
And at advised that I -- that is that quintessential example of how bad.
A bit ago a government run entity.
And and and look at the matter of people that would put out -- work.
By -- by companies like that so I don't quite understand that -- what they're doing.
But if if if it's been geared -- the become the Republican dominate could you.
Supported.
No I I think I I do I do just look at the record but he's not going to be cut about.
So like I just don't think there's any chance of and I don't think he it would have any chance of beating Obama if he did.
I I just don't think people trust -- I mean it's -- assumptions -- Do you think that that Romney has responded adequately I'd get the impression right now he's he's senses he's on a -- that is governor Romney he doesn't want to directly answer these charges.
He thinks that a matter which way he does he -- sort of engages a fight on an issue that he thinks PR wise is unwinnable.
How would do well whatever is what are the charges that he's put a lot of people out of work and that's the that's that's -- the work -- but I mean if you look at the economy.
It.
Markets have thousands of -- sort of Begin -- Walsh right now I would have been people are being it's laid off but it it was it all the banks were in what they're.
What -- raiders -- or whatever you wanna call.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Unemployment thing except millions of millions of -- his people unemployed and I and I think it's endemic and I just.
88 -- -- you -- you blame it on on a couple of people feel blame it on the -- that this with the Spanish banks did that beautiful you blame it on the -- -- credit which really political.
But I think the Newt Gingrich or -- -- supported -- Mandelson has one of the -- the big casino operator.
It was a -- said should apologize to.
Well I don't I don't know debate saying my name and it or are they senator I think senator Joseph and they soon dance and -- Well Michelle would -- there was somebody else an -- yet I -- is there's some.
They also do Lucifer.
No object yeah just on our corporate raiders in the past and that -- -- -- -- I'd just much bigger points you don't Susan's -- is what.
Message this ends on a date we got news of a poll -- -- in the Wall Street Journal counselor.
Where there is some.
Heightened anxiety between the the economic classes and and that that.
That's that's real that people are increasingly distrustful.
Of of those with money particularly those with a lot of money and whether it's this ahead feeding into that where the president trying to exploit that.
That it's open season on guys like you.
The you don't like -- I sort of sympathize with what some of the statements being made I I have to tell you -- -- that it away and I haven't really thought about it.
I'd -- really have to say that.
It he.
It was overdone you don't Wall Street -- did the whole the -- 2008 crisis.
As -- the government I -- stating may aid in was tremendously responsible.
But also the derivative.
Thing boom boom was responsible.
But what you really analyze the -- the real respect I think I've always -- that -- would that the real responsibility.
I mean -- -- baby itself simplistic.
You don't have a democracy corporation so I think the democratic process.
Is the best what you can have I mean.
They -- closest maybe it is producers expect great but it's the best thing the other had so he is he issue usually is.
Bay Area and look compensated for -- -- and I've made all this money.
By going in and -- one of the few guys it would stand up and a proxy fight.
Get some of these guys out you have the wrong people running these companies it's just the simple truth for the most part.
And therefore you can't compete and they afford you lay people lost over the years -- -- -- -- fat nobody is watching this thing and you know a lot of -- The Lagos a guy like people do if if you say we do -- it -- Over the top management I mean we we he -- going after they did it a lot of these companies have been so successful is when we get on the board.
Change some of the match the top level you -- -- it's not if if you could do that -- -- of these companies large and the problem -- The actual government -- protect these guys -- worst.
They've spent so much money with chamber of commerce and and what have you and -- saved for years but.
But nobody is gonna listen to -- -- I don't matter how you get that across but it it's very difficult to.
And beyond I and I should receive before the irony here is these companies of this -- -- -- you know I think by the bad guys -- -- These companies are wrong wrong by the public -- EIB.
I don't but I really don't observe all Republicans at this point I don't understand what to do an ability after Romney who's gonna get the nomination.
I don't understand what that -- for I mean -- they're they're just pretty got a blueprint for Obama.
Well you invested a very good point that these of the there's -- -- armed by the public on buy some of these unions are better than to resume participation and investment.
In these companies including Bain Capital rescue companies including companies you -- -- -- yourself and turned around.
So there is a bit of -- irony there but they don't have time to the details of -- irony -- just leave it at that.
