Obama on Wall Street protests: "frustration" over financial system

WASHINGTON–President Obama was asked at his Thursday press conference about the Wall Street protests: “Are you following this movement, and what would you say to its people that are attracted to it?”

Said Obama, Obviously I’ve heard of it. I’ve seen it on television. I think it expresses the frustrations that the American people feel that we had the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression, huge collateral damage all throughout the country, all across Main Street, and yet you’re still seeing some of the same folks who acted irresponsibly trying to fight efforts to crack down on abusive practices that got us into this problem in the first place.

So, yes, I think people are frustrated. And, you know, the — the protesters are giving voice to a more broadbased frustration about how our financial system works.