Obama softens bonus check rhetoric

The New York Times reported that Obama in a recent interview said, "I, like most of the American people, don't begrudge people success or wealth. That is part of the free-market system."

The comment was a departure from the president's previous theme in which he said he did not take office to bail out the "fat cats" on Wall Street.

Obama has been trying to sound pro-business, but acknowledge the public's anger at huge bonus checks going to bankers at firms that took billions of dollars in federal bailout funds last year, the Times said.

The issue is also playing itself out in the arena of campaign financing. The Democratic National Committee has stepped up rhetoric lately about Republicans seeking donations from bankers while lawmakers try to shape a regulatory reform bill for financial firms.

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