Bailout! - Hillary’s Ineptitude and Political Pandering
If it makes for good press, you can bet your last dollar that politicians will jump on the band wagon. This is so even if what makes good press, is a disaster in disguise. Saving people’s homes from foreclosure is good press.
Having said this, does it come as a surprise that Hillary Clinton is joining the chorus for a socialistic mortgage bailout? If it does, it shouldn’t. The following is a 4 minute video of Clinton’s speech to Wall Street, brought to you by Marketwatch.
Hillary Clinton’s Financial Ineptitude Documented
Some of her statements are correct. For example, Wall Street’s role in the mortgage meltdown and that it will impact the broader economy. However, she goes downhill fast after that.
Here is where she is dead wrong with her most dangerous statements listed first.
- Her threat to introduce legislation to disallow mortgage backed securities investors from suing. This will undoubtedly destroy mortgage securitization which is the backbone of the industry. Who will buy mortgage securities knowing that the government can change financial contracts on a whim and without the investors having any legal recourse? Is this even Constitutional?
- The ninety day moratorium on foreclosures is nearly as dangerous. Perverting the foreclosure process will also prevent investors from buying mortgage paper. Further, by the their own admission, the bailout will only affect a very limited number homeowners. Yet she suggests a moratorium on ALL foreclosures.
- What is to stop other homeowners from suing for better rates on their mortgages? It is discriminatory to freeze or lower some payments and not the payments of all homeowners. Who decides who gets what and under what circumstances?
- She claims rate resets are responsible for the meltdown, yet it’s been pointed out that at least half of those in default today, are doing so on their initial low teaser rates. It’s also been pointed out that falling values play a significant role in the increase in defaults. When homeowners realize that they are massively upside down in value, they often choose to default on their loans.
- Her assertion that mortgage brokers have a significant role in the mortgage meltdown is also a flawed position as I point out in this previous post.
The video is proof that Hillary Clinton, like George Bush, Henry Paulson, Barney Frank and Chuck Schumer, et al, are severely ill equipped to correct the mortgage and real estate meltdown. This becomes more evident each and every time these people open their mouths.
They are simply politicizing the issue without providing real solutions. Remember, their number one goal in life isn’t to help American homeowners, but to get elected and maintain or increase their power.
The freeze will only make the problem worse. Don’t drink the kool aid and prepare for some very rough times ahead. Times made even rougher with do nothing, feel good and very damaging initiatives.
There is a grand standing rush for our political leaders to act like they are doing something about the mortgage crisis. Much of what I have seen in the way of proposed legislation and initiatives fall far short in solving the problems. In fact, I see them causing more harm than good.
The mortgage and real estate meltdown is becoming apocalyptic in size and influence. An annihilation of the U.S. economy is a very real possibility. The pain is spreading globally as well. As bad as it is and it is very bad, the worst is yet to come. If you doubt me, just think about this. Congress has mobilized to “fix” the problem.
The lender’s rules or guidelines are based upon the requirements set forth by the investment firms. In order for lenders to operate efficiently, they must be able to sell their loans to investment firms to free up money to lend yet again. 
Due to an unprecedented number of loan defaults, investment firms are no longer buying any mortgages except those of the highest credit quality. The defaults are due to borrowers agreeing to mortgages with escalating payments they can no longer meet. 
The problem is that borrowers were given improper loans for their circumstances and are unable to repay these loans. Originators could not offer these loans unless lenders were willing to make them. Lenders would not make these loans unless investment firms were willing to buy them. The investment firms and their clients, the buyers of the investments, would not be involved with the mortgage investments unless the rating agencies and risk departments gave these mortgages their stamp of approval.
Having a basic knowledge of the workings of the mortgage industry, it’s plain to see that the political and media elite are wrong in blaming the mortgage brokerage community for the current economic crisis.