He does realize they want to string him up by his balls, right?

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — America’s top central banker “sympathizes” with the Occupy Wall Street protesters and thinks many of their frustrations with the sluggish economy are “understandable.”

But there’s one complaint Ben Bernanke does take issue with: the backlash against the Federal Reserve.

“I think that the concerns about the Fed are based on misconceptions,” he said at his news conference Wednesday.

The Occupy Wall Street protests, which started in New York in September and have since spread around the world, are known for their ever-evolving and diverse list of grievances. Among them are the common themes of distaste for the banking system and frustration with government.

With that in mind, the Fed is perfectly situated as a whipping boy for the Occupy demonstrations. The Fed was created by and reports to Congress. Its top leaders are appointed by the president.