The Big Question for March 20th: Should Geithner go?

The Big Question is a feature where influential lawmakers, pundits and interest group leaders give their answers to a question that’s driving discussion in news circles around the country.

Some responses are gathered via e-mail, while others are gathered in person via tape recorder.

Today’s Big Question is:

Should Geithner go?

See responses below from Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif.), Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), Connie Mackey, Dean Baker, Dr. Larry J. Sabato, and Dr. Herbert London.

Read the last Big Question here.

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Ma) said:

No. I think he’s doing a very good job. I thought his Mortgage Foreclosure Plan was excellent.

Rep. John Campbell (R-Ca) said:

I’m not ready to call for his resignation.  I think the problem is that we have’nt seen a plan and that’s what we need.  What we have is a crisis of confidence.  If he was to leave now, the confidence of the American people would plummet and there would be even more disarray. Read the full response here.

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) said:

No. Like the President said last night on Jay Leno, Geithner has a lot on his plate.  He’s got economy problems, foreclosure problems and world prolems. Read the full response here.

Connie Mackey, President of the FRCAction PAC, said:

Timothy Geithner should resign quicker than you can say “heck of a job Brownie.” His mere confirmation after being exposed as a tax cheat was a travesty, does the President and the Senate believe that they are above the laws they inflict on us common people? Now the Democrats in Congress express false outrage over the bonuses despite all of them voting for the stimulus bill that guaranteed AIG executives would get their bonuses… Read the full response here.

Dean Baker, Co-Director at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, said:

It’s pretty obvious that the financial bailout has not gone well thus far. Clearly the administration has to take it in a different direction.

The goal cannot be to placate Wall Street and leave the status quo in place. Read the full response here.

Larry Sabato, Director of the Center for Politics, said:

The timing is wrong. It’s too soon, and not that much would be gained by Geithner’s departure now. In fact, a resignation would contribute to an air of crisis. Just imagine the screaming headlines on TV. Read the full response here.

Dr. Herbert London, President of the Hudson Institute, said:

Yes. In my judgemnt he seems incapable of adopting a policy to stablize the banking industry, has not established a context for regulatory reform, hasn’t found the appropriate staff associates and seems like a deer caught in the headlights when he is on TV.