9.24.2007

Former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan speaks extensively to Maria Bartiromo - CNBC News Releases - CNBC.com

Former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan speaks extensively to Maria Bartiromo - CNBC News Releases - CNBC.com:

"MARIA BARTIROMO: All of these important economic events you are overseeing the most important institution, and leading things. And then not only are you dealing with these crises, but then you've got to convey what's going on to people. That means Congress, the president, the media, the public. So what? You come up with Green speak.

ALAN GREENSPAN: Otherwise known as known as Fed speak.

MARIA BARTIROMO: What is it?

ALAN GREENSPAN: It's a-- a language of purposeful obfuscation to avoid certain questions coming up, which you know you can't answer, and saying-- 'I will not answer or basically no comment is, in fact, an answer.' So, you end up with when, say, a Congressman asks you a question, and don't wanna say, 'No comment,' or 'I won't answer,' or something like that. So, I proceed with four or five sentences which get increasingly obscure. The Congressman thinks I answered the question and goes onto the next one."