(Image source: Chicago Magazine)

BY ALYSSA CARTEE
ANCHOR CHRISTY LEWIS

The United States’ “Occupy Wall Street” protests have been growing and spreading across the globe, and politicians are taking notice.  House Majority Leader Eric Cantor voiced his opinion at the Values Voter summit.

ERIC CANTOR: “I for one am increasingly concerned about the growing mobs occupying Wall Street and the other cities across the country.  And believe it or not, some in this town have actually condoned the pitting of Americans against Americans.”

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi reacts on ABC’s “This Week.”

NANCY PELOSI: “I didn't hear him say anything when tea party was out demonstrating, actually spitting on members of Congress right here in the Capitol and he and colleagues were putting signs in the windows encouraging them. Let's not get down to that. It's the American system. It's a democratic system. We don't all agree. We’d have a king if we were all of one mind.  We don’t.  We have different views. And the part of the democracy of our country is the expression that people give and they constitution guarantees that.”

GOP hopefuls also used the Sunday political talk shows to discuss the protests. Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann told “Fox News Sunday” the protesters’ anger is misdirected.

MICHELLE BACHMAN: “I saw a lot of signs from AFSCME and other unions that were there, so I don’t know how spontaneous these protests were. It seems to me that their anger should be directed at the White House because Barack Obama’s policies have put us in one of the worst tailspins economically that we have.  Maybe that’s why the protest I saw was within shouting distance of the White House.”

Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich also had pointed opinions on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

HERMAN CAIN: “The proof is quite simply, the bankers and the people on Wall Street didn’t write these failed policies of the Obama administration.  They didn’t spend a trillion dollars that didn’t work, the administration and the Democrats spent a trillion dollars. They’re not proposing another $450 billion, the administration is proposing another $450 billion wrapped in different rhetoric. ... We know that the unions and certain union-related organizations have been behind these protests that are going on on Wall Street and other parts around the country.”
NEWT GINGRICH: “Well, I think the sad thing is this is the natural product of Obama's class warfare."

Cain expanded on CNN’s “State of the Union” saying he believes Americans’ misunderstanding of the tax system is also partially to blame.

HERMAN CAIN: “The American people are being deceived with this class warfare stuff and I’m not gonna perpetuate it because that poll says it.  The same people that took that survey, I challenge them to tell me what’s in that jobs bill.”

Former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel says on NBC’s “Meet the Press” the anger protesters are feeling is justified-- and is not limited to the people holding the signs.

RAHM EMANUEL: “That’s an understandable sense of frustration on their part.  And it’s not just limited to the Wall Street.  Go in Europe, go in Asia, go other places, there is a major restructure going on in the world’s economy. FLASH If you can’t hear the public’s frustration not just what’s happening on Wall Street but happening in the neighborhoods of Chicago, if you can’t hear it, that means you don’t understand your role in public service."

The protests have also moved across the pond.  “Occupy London” plans to meet on October 15th at the London Stock Exchange. 

Transcript by Newsy.