Schieffer: D.C. now feels the pain of campaign ads

(CBS News) Washington, D.C., is generally ignored by the presidential candidates, but those of us who live here have discovered there was an upside to that.

We didn't have to see and hear all those TV ads that clog the screens in the battleground states.

Well, our good luck finally ran out.

Since Virginia has become a key battleground, candidates have to advertise on Washington TV to reach voters in northern Virginia.

So battleground states, now we can truly feel your pain. No wonder you look shell-shocked! Like someone who had his head stuck in a bucket while someone else pounded on it with a shovel.

We're bombarded by these things every waking moment, and it doesn't stop there. I've seen so many I dreamed about one the other night! I've seen so many I can't remember who said what about who.

But make no mistake, these campaign commercials make a deeper impression on us and reach more of us than we may realize.

This was told to me as true: A campaign operative saw the president in an ad and asked his four-year-old son, "Who is that?"

"That's Barack Obama," said the child.

"And what does he do," said the father.

Without missing a beat, the four-year-old replied, "He approves this message!"

[jgnv]

I am incensed that political campaigns are allowed to use "soundbites" from local and national newscasts which give the viewing public the impression the respective station or news personality is supporting a particular candidate. I think everyone would like to see a time limit placed on all future political campaigns so we don't have to suffer through months and months of TV ads, repeated personal appearances and unsolicited campaign robo calls.

[RIrider]

Cute Bob. I am surprised that at your age you fall in line with the Liberal biased media. You must feel awfully hollow inside, and it shows, but I guess you have to play the game or else you're gone. It takes guts to speak the TRUTH against a charade that many are trapped into. Break free Bob. Newsweek took the step. You will find that many will support you.

[omoore3]

Since you purport to be a journalist, I am disappointed that you did not single out the Obama campaign for offensive, misleading ads. Obama has been attacking Romney for planning deep Medicare cuts. But in fact, it is Obama who took $719 billion out of Medicare! Why don't you report that important fact?

[notafanofcbs]

Hey Bob, get off your liberal high horse and do some real reporting. Oh wait, you don't know how to do that do you. Maybe you should just retire. I can't listen to you or to CBS news...too far left and Obama lovers. Can't stomach that at all.

[laudan525]

I am soooo glad I am stationed in Italy and don't have to listen to this BS. Will vote in absentee ballot. I like BO so far.

[NinthSt78]

After admiring a few stickers there, the tourists sometimes are puzzled and wonder if D.C. might be a suburb of Alexandria. Differences of opinion expressed by two different newspapers there are often greater than the ads on twenty different channels.

[lesserof2evil]

This is what happened when the US Supreme Court was asked and became political.

[smithejm]

These are no worse than barrage of vaginal itch preparations, sexual dysfunction remedies, and adult diapers normally seen on TV.

[jwolfe2010]

Out of the mouth of babes! By the way, love your commentaries, Bob!

[TJphoto]

Thank you Mr.Schieffer. You forgot to thank The Supreme Court, not to mention how Congress loves 527's.