Michele Bachmann Rips Bonuses: 'Fannie and Freddie Have Become Our Own Greece'

GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann on Friday blamed President Barack Obama for the $13 million in bonuses issued to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac executives.

"Mr. President, it's time to stop paying off your friends at Fannie and Freddie and pull the plug on their bailouts and on their executives' bonuses," the Minnesota congresswoman said in a statement.

Citing the $6 billion in bailout money sought by Freddie Mac, Bachmann said, "Fannie and Freddie have become our own Greece. While the world is watching to see if Greece will default on its debt, Fannie and Freddie, the epicenter of the financial crisis, continue to drag down the housing market and the American economy. They, like Greece, should be allowed to fail rather than asking the American people to bail them out."

Calling Obama to account, Bachmann said, "The president has chosen to reward failure with his friends at Fannie and Freddie; at the same time he railed against bonuses for Wall Street.

"Worse is that the president is more concerned about campaigning and sympathizing with the Occupy Wall Street protesters who blame capitalism and job creators instead of working with the Congress to find permanent free-market solutions to grow our economy and create jobs.

"It's time to end crony capitalism. As president, I will unleash the engine of the free market to solve the housing crisis, grow our economy and create jobs."