AIG Chief Says Bailed-Out Firm Does Better In 'Red' States

AIG chief says bailed-out firm does better in 'red' states

"American International Group's mortgage insurer does more business in Republican-leaning states, where it signs up more reliable customers than those in 'more liberal' areas, AIG chief executive Robert Benmosche said. 'All of the states where we're a leader, where we're the No. 1 insurer, are red states. All of the states where we're at the bottom are blue states,' Benmosche said Tuesday at a conference in Washington. 'Part of what we found out is that our model is about culture and it's about the attitude in the public. And what we find is where there's more of a tendency for people to be more liberal, more that the government is responsible for what happens to me.'"

"Rep. Melvin Watt (D-NC) criticized Benmosche's remarks. "Even if he thought it was true, it's hard for me to believe that somebody who is feasting at the federal trough would say it," Watt said."

Digby says: "If you are buying a house in a Blue State the president of AIG doesn't want your business. He thinks you are a parasite." and includes "a nice table showing how much money each state gets back for each dollar it sends to the federal government."