Bernanke to Rep.:”It’s a poorly posed question”

It’s a time honored tradition in Congress that Generals, CEOs and Nobel Laureates sit through what they consider less-than-expert questions at Congressional hearings. Rarely do they call out the questioner.

But when Rep. Don Manzullo (R-IL) grilled Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and New York Fed Chief William Dudley over AIG retirement plans yesterday, Bernanke showed a rare flash of anger.

“The American people have left 40 to 50 percent of their retirement plans, IRAs, and 401ks. But people with retirement plans that bought insurance from AIG did not suffer that loss. Isn’t that correct?” Manzullo asked. After Dudley ventured an answer, Manzullo demanded: “Oh, can’t anyone say yes or no?”

When Manzullo demanded the same from Bernanke, the Fed Chief shot back: “It’s a poorly posed question.”