Schieffer: Modern American politics is vulgar

(CBS News) 

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer got in a minor disagreement with President Obama upon his arrival outside Phoenix Wednesday. Their is a now-famous photo from the incident, with Brewer poking her finger in Mr. Obama's face.

Brewer has largely been nonchalant about the disagreement, saying he was upset about a passage in her book. The president said the situation has been blown out of proportion.

"We could have been talking about a million different things," Brewer later told reporters. "Bottom line is that he generally wants to talk about amnesty and I want to talk about securing our border."

CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer spoke with CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley about the coarsening our political discourse Thursday, saying it's not a Democratic or Republican issue, but a question of how the office of the president is treated. A transcript of Schieffer's commentary follows:

This is just another sign of the incivility and really the vulgarity of modern American campaigns. These campaigns have gotten so ugly and so nasty, that they're now tarnishing the whole system.

I think it also underlines the coarseness of our culture in this age of social media when it is so easy to say anything about anybody and get no penalty for saying it.

The thing that has always made our system so strong is that whatever we have thought of the office holders, we have held the offices themselves in high respect. We have respected the office.

I've watched a lot of presidents over the years but I can never recall a president stepping off Air Force One, which is itself a symbol of the presidency and American democracy, and being subject to such rudeness.

I think really we're a better people than this little incident illustrates.

[ktpinnacle]

I hope that Mr. Schieffer is reading these comments. If he is, he will see just how far the AM radio/Fox News echo chamber has succeeded in demonizing anyone who might offer some semblance of reality to the American people. He will also see how correct he was.

But he was wrong about one thing - we are NOT a better people than this. The behavior of people on this board, and the behavior of elected officials like Gov. Brewer clearly reflect the attitudes of their constituents. And we are truly in trouble as a nation because of it.

[NBR89660]

And the continued acceptance of, complacency by, and general ignorance of the average American citizen doesn't help. Just say'n...

[truck2468]

Bob Bob Bob, now let me understand you. I am the governor of Arizona and I am being sued by the big ERROR so I should be cordial to him when he comes to my state for a campaign stop.
You should consider a job with MSNBC or retirement because you and your ilk are part of the reason this country is going downhill. You make excuses just like the ERROR (its Bushes fault). I just want the facts from news organizations not opinions nor skewered facts. Do you do news or opinion?

[conversation93]

Schieffer is right and several of the comments posted here prove it.

[hypnotoad72]

Agreed.

[pmichaelis]

I was truly disappointed to hear your comments about the sanctity of the office of President. Being slightly older than you,and therefore your senior, my comments are as valid as yours.
I feel that you were totally off base with your comments for two reasons. First, this an election year and the incumbent should not be allowed to hide behind "the office of the President" prestige. If he raised the issue, which you weren't privy to, then he got his due. Secondly, the President of the US is not hereditary royalty and therefore not entitled to immunity from comments about his performance, attitude or demeanor. That fact that he arrives on Air Force One is of no consequence since he must travel on some form of transportation.
You have been around too long and have been assimilated into the "holy royalty" culture surrounding the office of President. He is a representative of the PEOPLE of the United States, therefore as a person deserves no more or less respect than ANY other citizen.

[tellall123]

Schieffer must have awful big ears that he could hear their conversation!!!!!
That is the way the left-wing nuts get the tabliods going!!!
the governor should have stuck the toe of her shoe in Obama's @@@@ and sent him on his way!!!!!

[heartpat]

Shame on you, Bob Sheiffer, for his reckless analysis of the encounter between Obama and the Governor of Arizona. "Vulgar" and "uncivil"? Were you standing there listening to the exchange? It's so obvious that you are a puppet of the leftist media.If anyone is vulgar and uncivil it's you...and CBS news. How about when Dan Rather raked George Bush over the coals...see what happened to him? My husband and I sat there stunned at your unprofessional and biased comments. We will not be watching CBS evening news anymore- just took you off our TIVO.

[skeezix06]

Based on her public comments about this and several other things, Brewer IS vulgar and rude. And I'm not even an Obama fan.

[krisinal]

Please Bob, how do you know who said what first? What I've heard is that Obama unloaded on her over her book.

If Obama started off the "conversation" with a criticism of her book, who would blame her for a spirited "defense?"

If the President was a Republican and the Governer was a female Dem, I HARLDY BELIEVE BOB would say the same thing about the situation.....First, it would have been ignored....Second, he would have chastized the "Republican President" fo arrogantly walking off the plane and starting the conversation with an attack on the Dem Fem's book.

With Lefty media types like Bob, no wonder the "Lamestream Media" has it's name.

[hypnotoad72]

"This is just another sign of the incivility and really the vulgarity of modern American campaigns. These campaigns have gotten so ugly and so nasty, that they're now tarnishing the whole system. "

How is that "lefty"?

Maybe there's a paragraph in the article that makes you feel "lefty" is justified. But the base argument, which I quoted above, isn't "lefty" at all.

Still, if you want to play politics, if it is all about that, then at least the "lefty" are comparatively civilized, offering reasoning and other sources that cite the same things (and for the same or different) reasons to back up cases. Most on the "righty" can't be bothered, but there are exceptions in ALL cases...

[CitizenNewWatch47]

In regards to Bob Schieffers' response to the exchange between Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and President Obama, it's obvious he showed poor judgment in characterizing the facts of this exchange. He shot his mouth off not having any knowledge of the actual content of the verbal exchange between them. He described the Governor as 'Vulgar' and 'Rude' in the exchange with the President. This is far from the facts of the exchange. I'm surprised a man in his position displayed such unprofessional conduct with his bias opinion of the event. I feel he owes Governor Brewer and apology for his gross attach of the Governor's character with those false and exploited words he used to describe her.

Fact was, Governor Brewer was very cordial in greeting the President and merely handed him a letting inviting him back to Arizona for a discussion of some issues. The President was the one to begin the confrontation by stating he did not like how she described a previous meeting with him in a book she wrote. Further, when she attempted to address this issue with him, he was the one who showed disrespect in walking away while in conversation with him.

So to Mr. Schieffer, if anyone was showing sign of growing incivility in addressing or characterizing political officials, it was he in violating the integrity of Governor Brewer with his description of 'Vulgar' and 'Rude' actions from the Governor. Nothing of the sort fits his ridiculous response to this event. Even the President himself and his top advisors wanted the media to not stir in the exchange which was instigated by the President in the first place.

Obviously Mr. Schieffer has lost his edge and it's time for him to consider moving out of the arena of reporting stories as he sees it with this unacceptable poor display in judgment. You could tell Scott Pelley was surprised by his response as well.

If he feels 'We're Better People This This', maybe he needs to practice what he preaches. This was a blatant display of poor reporting by a new analyst.

CBS should address this issue.


Bobby J Raper