Obama: Don't Call Me Anti-Business

President Barack Obama answers questions on jobs and the economy during a town hall-style gathering hosted by CNBC, Monday, Sept. 20, 2010, at the Newseum in Washington.

/ AP

President Obama today stressed that he is not "extremist" or "anti-business" despite the perceptions of some in the business community.

The president was repeatedly questioned during an hour-long CNBC town-hall style forum focused on jobs about why he appears to have lost the backing of many in the business community, who have complained of being vilified by a president who once deemed Wall Street bankers "fat cats" while urging passage of financial reform legislation.

He said the complaints that he is "beating up on Wall Street" have been a source of frustration.

The president was asked specifically about a critical (and questionable) cover story in Forbes magazine and comments by Wall Street billionaire Steven Schwarzman, who suggesting the administration's tax proposals are reminiscent of Hitler invading Poland.

"If you're making $1 billion a year after a very bad financial crisis where 8 million people lost their jobs and small businesses can't get loans, then I think that you shouldn't be feeling put upon," the president said.

He then directly addressed Schwarzman's comment.

"A big source of frustration, this quote that you just said, this was me acting like Hitler going into Poland, had to do with a proposal to change a rule called carried interest, which basically allows hedge fund managers to get taxed at 15 percent on their income," he said. "Now, everybody else is getting taxed at, you know, a lot more. The secretary of the hedge fund is probably being taxed at 25 percent, 28 percent, right? And these folks are making -- getting taxed at 15 percent."

"The notion that somehow me saying maybe you should be taxed more like your secretary, when you're pulling home $1 billion or $100 million a year, I don't think is me being extremist or being anti-business," he added.

Mr. Obama said he knows and went to school with many hedge fund managers, adding that he respects "their business acumen." But he also stressed that many are among the highest-earning Americans and suggested they had little to complain about compared to average Americans.

"I have been amused over the last couple years, this sense of somehow me beating up on Wall Street," he said. "I think most folks on Main Street feel like they got beat up on."

He also said the criticism that he is too hard on Wall Street is far from universal.

"There's a big chunk of the country that thinks that I have been too soft on Wall Street," he argued. "That's probably the majority, not the minority."

Earlier in the interview, the president was asked if "it's possible that because of your style or the unusual things about your background -- your racial heritage, where you grew up, Ivy League education -- that the fearful voters who are about to go to the polls in November think, 'Yes, I hear him, he may get it intellectually, but he doesn't feel what I'm feeling.'"

He responded that his background didn't really matter in light of the state of the economy.

"Well, you know, here's my suspicion," he said. "I think that, when the unemployment rate is still high and people are having a tough time, it doesn't matter if I was green, it doesn't matter if I was purple."

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Brian Montopoli is a political reporter for CBSNews.com. You can read more of his posts here. Follow Hotsheet on Facebook and Twitter.

[rightbehind]

People with businesses at the retail level need customers with money in their pockets. One CEO that makes 16 thousand dollars an hour doesn't do them any good. I see some of the most ridiculous post here that cling to a proven failed ideology that produces wealth for the few and poverty for the masses. Republican conservative ideology has robbed us all. Stockholders have been robbed of dividends and worse our children's futures have been robbed to line the pockets of the few and the greedy. Just as a manufacturing facility depends on distributors those distributors depend on customers. Hopefully the sane will prevail this coming election.

[stormerF3]

Just because I want to raise Taxes on your hard earned money I am not against business,and the more people you have working for you and the larger you are the more you are going to be taxed.Sounds more like the Democratic Platform to me. Tax,Tax,Tax, Spend,and spend,than borrow.

[jschmidt27]

Obmama's understanding of business consists of 'shut up and pay the taxes'. He has no understanding of business, meeting a payroll, and paying the bills. He does hate business.

[RobAla]

The health care bill is very anti-business. Cap and trade is anti-business. Prior to President Obama, it was unheard of for a sitting President to personally fire a CEO of a corporation (GM). Increasing taxes on people making $250,000 is anti-small business. On and on - this President has not been been helpful to business - and we wonder why so many people are out of work? Who does he think hires people?

I have never seen such ridiculous arrogance by a President.

[abbe91]

Prior to President Bush, it was unheard of a government bank bailout.

[abbe91]

The same lie again and again ... the $200,000/$250,000 figure is for individuals and households, not businesses.

[rightbehind]

If you own a business like myself you need lots of customers with money in their pockets not 1 CEO customer that makes 16 thousand dollars an hour. We have been robbed by republican ideology.

[stormerF3]

right,.. if you owned a small business,you would go broke,paying out un-employment to your employees,no one can make a living at a koolaid stand.

[leonardhortick]

47% of the partnerships effected by carried interest are real estate and most are small buisness. The general partner had to put up money to front all the front end costs. If the deal is succesful he gets his money back through a loan. The loan does not compensate him for the risk but he gets the general partners interest which does. He did this because of the rules in place which allowed for capital gains. Therefore to not grandfather in the old deals is grossly unfair to small business and Obama is selling the change in carried interest tax by telling people billionaires have no capital at risk. No wonder I am not voting Democratic these days as I have done for so many years in the past.

[stn_sage]

Yeah! Obama has some rightful indignation on this issue!

While conducting two wars, while the ultra-wealthy were still receiving their tax cuts; he and the Dems passed some WHOAFUL legislation, NOT for the benefit of 'the people'(the masses), but for the benefit of BIG BUSINESS---to lock in their profits and protect them from liability!

So, Obama has a reason to remind these 'ingrates'!

[tsigili]

He isn't really anti-business.....he is anti-citizen.

He is anti-business abuse.

[Simifanene]

The Republican Corporate Puppetiers Masters are hurting our country in their diabolical ties to their Rebuplican Puppets, the Bush ones left and the Tea Potters. All are intertwined, with big Oil Baron Corporations that endanger the well being of all Americans. How? By not hiring. Why? To help Obama and the peoples party to fail. Why? To have their Republican Puppets relected.
It's a pitiful shame. These Oil Baron Corporations, led by the biggest one, Haliburton, don't want pay there share of taxes and will not hire desperate citizens looking for work to live the American Dream. Why? They don't care for you or I. It's only their bottom line that counts, even at the suffering of you or I.
I say to our President if they won't hire then tax the hell out of them and use those taxes to create jobs. They have the money but our holding out on hiring until they get their Republican Puppets back in office dancing to their tunes.
We can't let their scare tactics and job refusals work. It's hurting our country. We must all come and out an vote again as we did in Nov of 08. The mexicans, the blacks, the hindus, the Muslums, the Chinise and upper middle class must stand as one against a party that is as much American as the Taliban are. Their values include torture, invasion and the over taxing of the upper and lower middle class. Tax the rich to the limit Obama, to pay for their two DigiNet Vietnams and economic ruin they maid under Bush. Raise their taxes sky high, 25% more and then even lower ours by 5%. That would increase our revenue's by more income tax to the treasury and more spending by the upper and middle class. It's time to make a bold tax move. Create 5 million government jobs that start with a year to two years of training. We need nurses, home care helpers, help with disable and many more jobs that we now import workers for. Make the rich pay for it now and the next election is ours. The upper middle class making $250,000 a year would all receive a 5% actual decrease in Bushes plan and the one making more than $250,000 would be taxed additionally starting at 5% at $250,000 and 10% at a %500,000, and 25% at $1,000,000 and above a year. Our wars paid for, jobs paid for, the deficeit lowered. It's the Patriotic thing to do for the middle class and middle upper class, the vast majority, the 75% of Americans who have been taxed to the point of hurting their family. The rich will still live a great, luxurious life as they patriotically pay for the two DigiNet Wars that are draining our economy. If the oil Baron and all Corporate Barons refuse to hire out of political greed then tax them a one time war tax of 10% on all of their assets. That will save America and the vast majority of citizens who are now hurting will be revived. USA Obama USA

[stormerF3]

yea simple,.. the Big corporations are really killing us with all the jobs they provide and benefits they pay. Only problem is they expect you to work for your pay,and not just whine about the government not handing you a check for your vote.

[RobAla]

The group that knows best whether President Obama is "Anti-Business" would be those in business. If they see him as "Anti-Business", then he is. Plan and simple.