Face The Nation: Schieffer Reminds Us That It's The Patriotism, Not The Lapel Pin
By Nicole Belle Saturday Apr 19, 2008 5:30pm
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With any luck, Bob Schieffer's commentary at the close of Face The Nation will end all further discussion of lapel pins.
Finally, today, I watched the ABC debate the other night when that question came up again about why Senator Obama doesn’t wear a flag pin in his lapel. Since no one asked me, here is my thought on all that. I think it’s a nice thing if people want to wear a flag on their lapel. But I believe it more important to keep the flag behind our lapel in our hearts. I feel the same way about wearing my religion on my sleeve. It just fits me better on the inside. When I go to see our local baseball team, I do wear my Washington Nationals baseball cap. But am I less a fan if don’t wear it to work? The truth is I have been known to wear a red, white and blue stars and stripes tie on the Fourth of July. But am I less patriotic when I trade it for my Santa Claus tie at Christmas? Patriotism is no more about signs or pins than religion is about reminding others how pious we think we are. No, the proof in these puddings is not the signs that we wear, but how we act. Wouldn’t that also be a better way to judge our presidential candidates than by the jewelry they wear?
Are you listening, MSM? Let's get back to the issues. Not the cult of personality issues, but actual issues facing this country and how we're going to get out of the mess we're in.
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Perfect!
When I go to see our local baseball team, I do wear my Washington Nationals baseball cap. But am I less a fan if don’t wear it to work?
Let's keep this question rhetorical. I shudder to think what some sports fans might say. ;)
I have really begun to appreciate Bob Schieffer. When his show is on it doesn't matter what I'm watching, the channel gets switched to CBS. It is so refreshing to see an adult interviewing. I'm sick of the screeching juveniles that are on so many news shows these days. CBS, how about giving him an hour or more?
Schieffer is so out of touch with mainstream America!
Well...obviously, Bob Schieffer hates America....
What about those Republicans who wear their patriotism on their ass?
Its funny how your patriotism is defined by wearing a flag pin on your lapel that is made in China. Thank god for Schieffer and actual old school journalism.
It was a half-assed way of telling his journalistic colleagues to shove their unprofessional behavior.
I'm not inclined to applaud him for it.
I first noticed the flag pin on the lapel trend after 9/11 and it made me think of how in Nazi Germany, every party member (that means everyone from teachers to businessman to politicians) was expected to wear a swastika pin on their lapel.
At the very least, the lapel pin smacks of a kind of ignorant nationalism. And that's who these "patriots" really are...Nationalists.
The GOP and their noise machine the MSM will continue to bring this non issue up, because it works for non thinkers like Nash McCabe, who they believe makes up the majority of the American people. They have won in the past because they counted on the stupidity of people like Ms. McCabe. They are counting on it again this time.
This was great commentary but let us remember that the people that keep bringing up these trivial issues are not confused as to whether or not some is a patriot if they were a lapel pin. This is a ploy to reach the legions of people who aren't smart enough to realize these fake issues are meaningless. Psy-Ops if you will.
Karen @ 2:
LOL!
Do we nor realize that by continually talking about this and not getting back to real issues ourselves we are, in a way, justifying ABC's line of Questioning? I'm not saying that the MSM, or any media outlet for that matter doesn't deserve criticism, but at some point posting everything mentioned about one incident becomes overkill, just like flag pins. There has been excellent coverage of government propaganda, healthcare, war, economy, etc. lately can we focus on these and lay off the orgy of pile on one Idiotic incident? I, for one, still need a lot of real answers.
One of our great patriots, Bruce Springsteen, has endorsed Obama, calling him "head and shoulders above the rest".
http://music.guardian.co.uk/pop/story/0,,2275044,00.html
It's sad that some, um, less intelligent members of our journalist corps have managed to completely hijack the discourse regarding our Presidential candidates and turned it into such trivial issues.
Republicans NEED lapel pins and Reverent Wright because they surely can't stand behind the many and catastrophic Bush/Republican/neocon failures of the past 8 years. As November approaches, ALL GOP candidates will start to shuffle closer to the Obama plan of getting the hell out of the mess Bush has created and wants to continue in Iraq.
Bob should also report a timeline of all of the shady criminal elements
throughout the world supplying arms.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Bout
Bob should also remind the american people that the Bush Administration
just met with Gordon Brown.
20 Apr 2008: Investigators have identified a number of British arms supplying arms to Iran.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/20/armstrade.iran
"I disagree with Senator Clinton that lobbyists are part of the system," Obama said. "I think they are part of the problem."
Hey, they're both correct! The system is the problem.
what? my patriotism isn't determined by a piece of plastic? my goodness what am i going to with these 100 lapel pins i am wearing?
Corporate citizenship is the problem, K-street should be illegal.
WHY didn't Obama explain in the debate why he doesn't wear one? He explained it to a reporter and it's on tape. It's out there. Instead of repeating what he said to the reporter ON TAPE (hello!) he lied and said he's never said he doesn't wear flag pins.
This issue is not going away. It's tied to Michelle's comments and his pastor's comments. And all he had to do was explain it exactly the way he explained it to the reporter - on tape. Instead, he fudged. WHY?
KT @ 15:
"The lowering of discourse is done with tenacity."
-- Jon Stewart on C-SPAN (10/14/04)
We'll never get to "the issues" because Clinton and Obama are practically identical on the issues.
How can you not be? "War bad, torture bad, health care good, responsible government good." Basically, Frankenstein, Tonto and Tarzan can run against the Republicans.
So what is left? Attack each other over nonsense. Heaven forbid we should be in agreement or focus on a nuanced discussion of specific plans. That might alienate voters!
Pathetic. If McCain wins, the Democrats will be responsible. You're NEVER going to face a weaker more disorganized Republican party. If you can't beat these yahoos this year, you got no business being in politics.
I am now officially ignoring the election until election day. Is there any other plan besides "vote against McCain?" Is anything going to happen between now and then that could change the plan? Is there any flag-pin-Bosnia-vacation-crazy-preacher thing that you could learn that would justify that kind of stupidity?
No. There's nothing left to hear.
Just another example of how scared the Right wing and the MSM are of Obama. In this age of lunacy, a straight-talking issues-centered candidate like him will destroy them if they can't distract the American people with this crap and avoid talking about real policies. After all, they can't defend theirs.
I'm afraid these rediculous attcks will only get worse.
PatrickD @ 7:
Not only are the flag pins China-made, so are the flags.
The simple truth, spoken from the heart....
Look closely, he's giving us the finger!
22 JasonS No. There’s nothing left to hear.
I agree with some of your sentiments, but would argue that there is plenty left to say. If we don't allow ourselves to continuously fall into the same traps and keep pounding issues that matter to us, the candidates, media and those already in office have no choice but to respond. Putting pressure on government and media is not as hard they make it seem. They will respond, if for no other reason than to pander for votes or viewership.
I think everyone agree. As a Obama supporter, I think he has just flopped on his message the past two weeks. After the fact during rallies in PA he has been great. But on his initial reaction, he's looked like a deer in headlights and has come off lame. The best response to being asked about his lapel pin at the debate would have been either "Where is your flag pin? Where is Hillary's flag pin? I'm not calling you unpatriotic, but like most Americans, including myself, I choose to wear my patriotism on my heart and express it with my actions."
So I hope someone is passing over these clips of Bob and Rachel Maddow so he know how to answer these questions against McCain. And he definitely needs to highlight the fact that McCain's longevity is a product of government healthcare. He can't talk about how good his shape and condition is right now without giving a thumbs up to government health care.
Clinton and Obama are not identical on the issues. Health care being number one. Obama is an enigma on a lot of issues and he has Reagan economic advisors. Two of his advisors have said, again, on tape, not to listen to what he says on the campaign trail. He's already said he's open to talking with creationist. How religious is he? He's open to looking at vouchers. How religious is he?
We know for a fact if anyone tries to get through universal health care, the insurance companies only have to play his attack ads.
Everyone thinks he's the liberal candidate; I think he leans center right. And he just might disappoint a whole lot of supporters who care about one thing and one thing only - the war.
Bob Schieffer is the shief! Good for you, Bob. CBS should show Katey the door and replace her with you. I'm more comfortable getting the news from crusty old guys who at least try to appear neutral.
He's a SCUMBAG REPUG ENABLER, but I must agree with that particular statement by Bob Schieffer today. Just this once, anyway.
General_Rennenkampf @ 24:
good old free trade agreements, eh?
the repugs have outsourced partiotism!
What I'd like to know is why no one notices that neither John McCain or Hillary Clinton wears flag pins and why no one says anthing about it?! After all, flag pins are supposed to tell others how much of a patriot one is.
Like the ribbon symbols pasted on car bumpers for several years, the lapel pin craze will eventually fade as some other inane fad seizes the american public. As for Obama not really answering why he doesn't wear the pin, it's his usual long winded avoidance of the issue.
jmac @ 20:
so your saying Obama endorses hitler?
#27 - Obama can't say to anyone "where's your flag pin". McCain and Hillary didn't go into detail about why they don't wear one, he did. If you're going to beat a dead horse, you can't ignore the fact that he's on tape explaining why he doesn't wear a flag pin.
I think it should be dropped. But it will be back in the general. And the next time, he needs to explain instead of lie that he never said he wouldn't wear one. He did.
Sneering men in blue suits and flag pins. A privileged 5% minority who's private ownership of the means of life for us all enables their sociopath, privileged positions to ensure they profit royally from exploiting the labors of the dispossessed 95% majority.
c. atrox @ 6:
You missed the Republicans who keep their flag pin
in their ass along with their head. :-)
Kelvin Phillips @ 32:
only the democratic frontrunner gets the real vitriol. until Barack passed Hillary, she was the favorite target. now, he's the frontrunner, so the assholes attack both dems in the "debate", but concentrate most fire on Barack, even digging up Miss Pennsylvania to ask the flagpin question, and NOT question Barack's patriotism.
the people are getting turned off now. I can't wait until the dem candidate is chosen. THEN you'll see the msm start with the howitzers.
L.A. Confidential @ 36:
slight adjustment for additional factual content.
I could never get into political lapel pins. Every time I see them, no matter what nationality the flag, I'm reminded of the Nazi Party pin which had to be prominently worn by good Germans.
What I'd like to see is some journalist ask a Republican why he wears an American flag lapel pin, because aren't lapel pins so small? From a distance you can't tell if it's a pin or a noodle with some sauce that happened to fall from the Republican's fork during lunch.
I mean, if the Republican really gave a damn about America and really loved his country, wouldn't he wear a big-ass ball cap that had the flag on it, and an XL tshirt that showed Old Glory a-flapping in the breeze? And maybe a pair of red, white, and blue trousers?
Why do Republicans hate America by not boldly wearing the flag so that someone at a great distance, or someone with poor eyesight, can tell what it is?
I ask rhetorically ... and yet, if suddenly everyone began wearing lapel pins, does anyone here doubt that Republicans would then have to raise the bar, as it were, to prove that they were better than the rest of us?
Symbolism
http://tinyurl.com/5387er
jmac @ 35:
what he said was that he did not have to wear the pin to prove his patriotism. there's a difference since you're sooooooo into parsing.
PassedPawn @ 40:
or the star worn by the jews.
jmac @ 20:
Why? Probably because there are important issues to focus
on. Then. Important issues don't register with American voters
like a flag pin. In other words you focus on bullshit so congrats.
You are part of the majority. Fill it up. :-(
That's it folks, keep up the mindless drivel... yer dooing us proud.
He said -'...not the signs that we wear, but how we act'. That is subtly different from 'patriotism'.
In my world, the government serves me (and my neighbor). Patriotism implies loyal service by the citizen.
When a government serves the citizen - you have (potentially) democracy. When the citizen serves the government - you have Mussolini style fascism.
Be careful how you use the word 'patriotism'. Expectations of loyal behavior are - to my mind - inappropriate in a healthy democracy.
Castanea @ 41:
Absoutely hysterical. Thanks for the welcome levity.
I think the whole (non)issue - and many others like them - keeps rearing its ugly head because these are the only things the Repubs and the Repubocrats can find fault with Senator Obama on.
He is a bona fide genius and humbly authentic to boot, so of course they're all intimidated.
JasonS @ 22:
there's also the DIEBOLD/SEQUOIA elephant in the election room, so conveniently unmentioned. the Dem will have to win by more than twice the margin of error, like in 2006.
Kevin Phillips - do you read the previous post? He was asked that question because he patiently explained previously why he doesn't wear one. ON TAPE. It's not going away. He lied in the debate.
The tape will be played if he's our nominee. In Kansas. His response in the debate will be played. In Texas. He either has to address the issue and put it to bed or it will be an issue in the fall. But he has to admit he misspoke in the debate and explain AGAIN why he previously chose not to wear one.
Isn't this the same Bob Schieffer who earlier in the show asked a question about Barack Obama's statement about small-town Americans "cling to their guns and patriotism"?
uh..."patriotism"?
We KNOW that mainstream media is in the tank for Obama so much they rarely if ever mention the "antipathy toward people who are like them, anti-immigrant sentiment.." in the list of things Obama said bitter and frustrated people in small-town America cling to...
...but for Schieffer to REWRITE what Obama said in order to spin it as though he referred to them as PATRIOTIC astounding.
It was not surprising that Bob Schieffer's Final Thought two days before the Pennsylvania primary was a courageous defense of his dear, dear Barack Obama for performing so badly while having to finally face some uncomfortable questions in a nationally televised debate.
Kelvin Phillips @ 32:
sssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!
be vewy qwiet! we're hunting that wascally wabbit fwom Illinois, he's vewy twicky. he's the dem fwontwunner. we'll go after that daffy dame if she's ever on top.
Thanks for posting this Nicole!
And thank you Bob Schieffer.
JasonS @ 22:
Not entirely. What was the democratic party - the historic values etc - were destroyed by Clinton and replaced by his own personal machine ... the DLC. At the moment, there really isnt a democratic party - not in the historic sense in anycase. I have seen what was the democratic party - in my youth - and this isnt it.
jmac @ 50:
we can be sure, trivial as it is as an issue, that YOU won't let it die. thanks for playing.
jmac @ 50:
There is no issue! The media manufactured it.
I'm a Vietnam veteran, and except for Memorial Day and Veterans Day, I stopped flying my flag the day my country illegally invaded Iraq, a nation that did not attack us. It will stay down until Bush leaves office. In my 59 years, this is the only time I have been ashamed of my country.
I refuse to be a rah-rah patriot for the neo-con, chickehawk assholes that put us in this war. I sure as hell am not going to advertise their war with a fucking flag pin.
But for the Talibangelicals, religion is about reminding others how pious they think they are. The laughably textbook fetishism of the flag-worship they practice is part and parcel of the same pathetic pathology.
(Okay, enough alliteration for today.)
We'll go after that Daffy Dame? Well, my side has done a real good job already of going after the daffy dame. Even Crooks and Liars, the first blog I used to go to, has gone all Obama all the time. Hillary supporters are not only banned from Kos, we can't get on HuffBo anymore. I have a better chance of getting on Red State. So, why don't you just ban me?
And by the way, the flag pin is the topic. If you want it to go away, don't make it the subject.
I have always detested flag pins. But just like the evolve fish on my car, I have to defend why the fish has legs when asked. I can't just shrug it off and hm and um.
Site Monitor: This site has not endorsed a Democratic candidate. You will not be banned for being a Hillary Clinton supporter. We are not Daily Kos or Huff Po. As I look at the posts on the front page, it looks like more posts on McCain than on Obama, so I'm not sure exactly what you're trying to say. Post your opinion, keep it civil to others and we'll never bother you.
It's Me @ 51:
I'm guessing that your candidate is one of the above.
I am so sick of this stupid geezer.
GEEZUS are we ever going to retire any of these people?
Too bad Bob wants to retire. He wanted to retire after filling in before Katie. He was talked into staying another year. Likely he'll be replaced by another thoughtless screaming banchee with 3 mercedes in the driveway like tweety....and no discourse will be civil anymore.
bob schieffer knows china makes those flag lapel pins.
why does bob schieffer hate china?
jmac @ 59:
I know for a fact that you are lying. I go to all those places and more.
Hey C & L, CNN is rebroadcasting "The Compassion Forum", how about something on interjecting a religious test for the presidency.
jmac @ 50:
jmac, lemme explain this in terms even your small mind can understand:
Article 1 of the US Constitution protects free speech. It's one of the reason you can bitch about Obama's not wearing a flag pin on this forum. But it also gives him the right NOT to wear it if he pleases.
It also gives me the right to tell you to shut your yap and allow Mr. Obama to exercise his Constitutional right to be flag pin free.
Oh, and by the way, stick your pin where the sun never shines.
Mentis Fugit @ 58:
Don't call them Talibangelicals, call them Christofascists. The only thing distinguishing many of them from the Taliban is they still think they can win democratically.
Mr. Scheiffer is seriously trying to cover his ass for documented association with Abramoff in the Marianna's where forced abortion is the way of the word (family values, that is). I never watch these idiots. Why does anyone?
I wonder if he ever wakes up screaming: "WHAT HAVE I DONE?????"
Tim for Bob to be doing the CBS Evening News.
Bye bye Katie.
The Spaniard @ 11:
The Spaniard is correct.
Dammmm, I like that guy.
BitterBaScOmBe against Bullshit @ 44:
Or the crucifix worn by Christians
Okay Mike at 66, I give up.
Yes, Obama has every right not to wear a flag pin. Nobody is disputing that. If you like his answer in the debate and you think it will fly in the general you might deserve the term you called me. Adlai Stevenson, when told he was supported by "thinking people" replied, "Yes, but I need to win a majority."
I don't know if this issue is similar to Hillary and the sniper fire issue. I do know she apologized and said she was embarrassed. I don't know how this site covered that issue.
And I myself apologize to the site. It's obviously you must be fair or you wouldn't be on my bookmark.
Moral Compass @ 16:
I actually think they need lapel pins because they don't think anyone will believe they're even Americans if they aren't continually shouting it to everyone in earshot.
Kind of like the guy who drives the really fast, expensive car. What he's attempting to do is show what a manly man he is, but in reality he's shouting to the world that he's desperately concerned about the size of his penis.
This is the real psychology of the flag lapel pin.
BitterBaScOmBe against Bullshit @ 60:
Don't ever lay money down on a guessing game.
Barack Obama is handing the general election to John McCain more and more every day and I am apparently one of the few non-MoveOn.org posters here willing to point out why Hillary Clinton would not only be the better candidate to oppose John McCain, she would be the best president of the three by far...and that was your best guess?
Barack Obama just assured his audience in Pennsylvania (and the world) that John McCain would be a better president than George W. Bush, undercutting the entire Democratic Party argument that a vote for McCain is a vote for GWB's third term and SUPPORTING John McCain's pitch that he is the very embodiment of a Reagan Republican and won't make the same mistakes as GWB. I swear to god.
The Canadian @ 71:
It's Me @ 77:
That is pretty remarkable. Do you have a link to that?
these types of questions about patriotism sounds like they would come from mayberry, on steroids. barney fife, goober, especially floyd the barber, aunt bea, and even sheriff taylor would all have this thing about 'strangers' explaining how democracy should work-that everything about government should flow from the people, not powerful special interests that throws money and shapes opinion, counting on public apathy and disgust to dominate our 'town hall' meeting-which would probably explain why 'mayberry' lacked some diversity. i guess opie would have been the only one with some empathy.
National Flag Code of 1923 passed by congress in 1942 prohibits the wearing of flag patches or lapel pins unless on a military uniform. uniform of a patriotic group the uniform of a policemen or fireman. So I guess all these bushies who have their panties in a twist over Obama not violating the National Flag Code of 1923 consider their non-elitist Armani suits as the uniform of some obscure patriotic organization
The MSM tosses the thinking man a bone once in a while because they lose a lot of credibility with their with their day to day propaganda. Tomorrow night, it's back to Katy Couric at nervous Nelly central, threatening to exile anyone not wearing his swastika, I mean lapel pin.
Unlike John McCain, whose generation (and party) should leave politics, TV news would do well to look to Mr. Schieffer's generation for tips on how to cover the world. Of course, CBS obviously puts him on Sunday mornings and leaves the prime time stuff to more capable people...
This whole matter is again, one of framing the issue. We need to redefine patriotism not as displaying symbols, but rather, of supporting the substance of our democracy, the Constitution.
Each candidate should be asking whether they "will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
It seems the oath takers of late have been lying.
Of course, Republican need to be asked why they hate the Constitution, and would rather prefer a "unitary executive" like Hitler.
It's Me @ 77:
McCain would be a better president than Bush. But Obama wasn't endorsing McCain. Anyone would be better than Bush!
How does that undercut the Democratic party's argument? McCain is promising 4 more years of Bush policies, and McCain would still be better than Bush. The two aren't mutually exclusive.
Actually, It'sMe at #77,
That's not the Democratic party's argument, it's been Obama's. So far, the DNC hasn't really entered into the race.
So avuncular - he really is our nation's TRUE Uncle Sam.
Bob Schieffer’s the man journalists should emulate.
To hell with Bob Schieffer, I'm having an american flag branded into both my buttcheeks and another one tattooed into my forehead right between my eyes!
thepoetryman @ 88:
The man Shieffer is emulating is still alive. Unfortunately we will never see the likes of him again on TV... his name is Walter Cronkite.
OK, now that those trivial issues have been eloquently dealt with, can the election proper, start. Like, how old is too old to run for President.
By Jingo! @ 90:
Is that all? A real patriot would buy red, white and blue leds and plaster them on his/her t-shirt in a flag dispaly, then plug them into a battery pack. Have them turn on in a wave.
Oh, and buy a parrot to put on your shoulders and train it to say "Damn all libruls. God bless Murika"
Take THAT, Karl Rove!!!!
The neo-cons idiots are too stupid to let it go at that. But Bob is 100% correct.
Could somebody please e-mail the CBS Sports broadcasters (Gumbel, Nance, Marino, et al) and tell them to quit wearing those damn pins? It's so jingoistic. Nationalism run amok. Nah, nah, I'm more patriotic than you.
Hey, guys: It's been seven years since 9/11. Get on with it.
If anybody has a CBS contact, I'll send them my own note.
mystic @ 14:
would that be like missippi john hurt , or muddy waters , taj mahal , tina tuner , bobby blue bland , albert king , bb king , arthera , ( my fav ) etta james , ella , the duke , ray , billie , jessie , pasty , bob d , chet , nat , sorry for me , b s , never did get it right just a knock off wannie be , but then I never liked the greatful dead either . I was more into the stones , Jimmie , country joe , the doors , van morrison , jannis , the who , and speaking of is bs anyway ? .
Lapel pin , how about a 1960's type peace sign . ok Im going back to the corner with my pointy hat and listen to R Cray sing about consequences for what we do . Bruce I know you have a huge fan base , to me you have no soul . With all due respect and hats off to you , your voice is not one that really says anything of value . Ok Im going to the corner
Thank you, Schieffer. This reminds me of all those people with "Support The Troops!" bumper stickers. Now that they are returning from 4, 5 and 6 tours of duty with severe mental and physical disorders and the military is treating many of them disgracefully, I haven't seen these stickers in a long time, nor do I see these people marching on DC protesting the outrage. It seems these people received a free bumper sticker and wanted their neighbors to think they are noble and caring.
The only persons we need to convince of our sincerity and loyalty to anything is...ourselves and the object of our altruism.
jmac @ 52
That is not what I asked at comment 34. If wearing a flag pin is so important, then it should be asked of all the canidates, not just the one who explained why he didn't. Besides you may not have noticed, but the majority of the people who complained to ABC did not care about such a non-issue. Thus, the american people just may imho have put this to bed for Obama.
The Flag code of the US indicates, the flag should never be made into a piece of jewelry and further the flag should never be worn on clothing unless the clothing is a uniform. Seems to me those who attempt to wear a lapel flag pin as a sign of their patriotism are in violation of at least two parts of the Flag Code.
John "The Republican" McCain LET HIM WEAR THAT AS A LAPEL PIN
I just wish I could have expressed it as eloquently.
His objective approach to the real issues of the day is a rarity, and instead, we seem to have shills for candidates taking to the airwaves and espousing their unsubstantiated propaganda.I would hope that the networks would assume the high road and responsibility to confront the falsehoods put forth on their watch and challenge politicians to be honest. Instead, they allow them in most instances to have free rein. As for the wearing of a flag pin,it's so unfortunate that symbolism is being used to define a person rather than words and deeds.
Thank God there really are a few thinking people on the airwaves today.
Wake up Sheeple it's only going to get worse from here. If Sen. Obama whines this much about the Flag Pin episode what is he going to do when they really start to slam him on Rev. Wright and William Ayles and the statement made from his wife. If the Pin thing sends his campaign into a tizzy good lord he'll never survive the general election.... Stop whining or get out of the way.
Jingoism≠patriotism.
I wish that Bob Schieffer had replaced Gibson and Stephanopoulos in the debate. I bet ABC wishes that now too!
Funny how the now-senior reporter on network news sounds so refreshing...
He said everything that needed to be said in about one minute. Done.
Too bad he's the last of a dying breed.
wmholt @ 106:
Doh! Schieffer is with CBS! I hate it when that happens. mea culpa.
oncall @ 80:
That is pretty remarkable. Do you have a link to that?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Add this clip of the famously articulate and eloquent Barack Obama to the winning John McCain general election video:
Obama says McCain would be better president than Bush
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080421/ap_on_el_pr/obama
By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer
Mon Apr 21, 1:10 AM ET
Democrat Barack Obama, who often argues that John McCain is the same as President Bush, said Sunday that the Republican presidential candidate would be an improvement over Bush's eight-year reign.
"You have a real choice in this election. Either Democrat would be better than John McCain. And all three of us would be better than George Bush," Obama said.
"But what you have to ask yourself is, who has the chance to actually, really change things in a fundamental way?" Obama asked as he wrapped up a town-hall style event at Reading High School in central Pennsylvania.
The Illinois senator was trying to argue that he is the stronger choice over Democratic rival Hillary Rodham Clinton in Tuesday's primary in Pennsylvania. But Obama ended up mixing in praise for McCain at the same time — and giving Clinton an opening to criticize.
"We need a nominee who will take on John McCain, not cheer on John McCain," the New York senator said in Johnstown. She said the Arizona senator would follow "the same failed policies that have been so wrong for our country the last seven years."
Before the positive comment about McCain, Obama had argued anew — as he does at virtually every campaign stop — that the Republican offers a vision identical to that of the Bush administration on everything from Iraq to the economy. "We cannot afford a third George Bush term and that's what John McCain is offering — a third Bush term," Obama said.
But his a backhanded compliment threatened to undercut his own efforts — and those of the entire Democratic Party — to portray the GOP presidential nominee-in-waiting as nothing more than an extension of Bush's unpopular tenure. At the very least, the remark provided fodder that Republicans can use in the general election to try to prop up McCain.
It also knocked Obama off message at a critical time as he seeks to further narrow Clinton's dwindling advantage in Pennsylvania polls in the final days before the state's primary.
Obama began his day attending church in Lebanon before chatting up diners at a family style restaurant in Robesonia. He then held the question-and-answer event in Reading and walked down Main Street in Bethlehem. At the final event of the night, Obama appeared on stage at a rally in Scranton alongside two high-profile backers, Caroline Kennedy and Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey.
The candidate didn't refer to his earlier comment about McCain or try to explain it. Instead, the fired-up candidate offered a full-throated critique of his GOP rival — and repeatedly insisted that McCain and Bush were joined at the hip.
"We are going to bring an end to the George Bush era," Obama declared. "His name won't be on the ballot" but "one name that will be on the ballot is John McCain!"
The audience booed, and Obama said: "The problem is that he's running for George Bush's third term."
Such comments are common fare these days for Democrats. They are trying to make the general election a referendum on Bush, whose job approval ratings have been dragged down by the Iraq war and a troubled economy.
Mindful of Bush's unpopularity, McCain is casting himself as an independent thinker with his own vision for the country and a record of fighting the status quo in nearly three decades in Washington.
Said Tucker Bounds, a McCain spokesman: "The remark underscores that John McCain has the strength to change America and move this nation forward. Barack Obama is a new face who represents old ideas."
Countered Obama spokesman Bill Burton: "It's hard to imagine a president doing a worse job than President Bush but one thing is clear, John McCain wants to do his best to emulate Bush's failed economic and foreign policies and even his divisive political tactics."
ISNT IT FUNNY THAT THEY DIDNT BRING UP THE ENVIRONMENT, THE 4300 AMERICAN LIVES LOST. OR THE 4 TRILLION DOLLARS BEING BORROWED. ONCE AGAIN THEY TRY AND DIVERT OUR ATTENTION TO LITTLE MATTERS TO MAKE A BIG ISSUE ABOUT IT BUT THEY SHOUDLE BE HELD ACCOUTABLE
Flag pin debate = hypocritical nonsense to distract the uninformed voters from their own self interests. Schieffer has to talk to the public like they were in 2nd grade to belabor the obvious - actions speak louder than lapel jewelry.
I liked that - it's intellectually honest. You don't have to spin everything. Of course, I could be wrong.
jmac @ 21:
Why, you ask? Probably because it is a stupid non-issue to intelligent voters. You, seriously, need to get a life, or at least a better spiel. Yawn.
jmac @ 61:
It's interesting the sites that moderates go to and helped build up have now turned against us because we do not support their candidate Sen. Obama. I agree this site does not ban you for being a Sen. Clinton supporter the other commentators just insult you and call you names. It's just like having an argument with someone who tries to scream over you. The other sites forget who got them as popular as they are now, they have become the new left wing spin machines aand have become what they started out hating. It's not just the blogs look at Keith Olbermann he has become the new Bill O'Reilly it's just to bad it has turned out this way.
Between the ball cap and the ties, Bob is quite the natty dresser.
Are you listening, MSM? Let’s get back to the issues. Not the cult of personality issues, but actual issues facing this country and how we’re going to get out of the mess we’re in.
Last time I checked Bob Schieffer and CBS News were part of the hateful monolith known as the MSM, a.k.a."the enemy most of the time."
Good grief, this is so confusing! Why can't those people just stay in their little box?
Bob Schieffer kicks butt! And that is true even when I disagree with him, which is the mark of a great journalist.
Gag me with a spoon!
I wrote about this a while back when everyone was gushing about Schieffer and his folksy newscasts as my wife and I watched night after night via Tivo as Bob gushed and guffawed his way through virtually two years of newscasts signifying nothing just as Iraq was really burning up. B.S. is just that- a man who I sort of respected through the years who stood idly by as America ended and he knew it. I wonder how many of the denizens of Northwest Washington D.C. , McLean and Potomac sleep at night.
JT
"Your flag lapel pin won't get you into heaven anymore" ... with apologies to John Prine.
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