freeSpeech: Bob Schieffer

(CBS)  So Congressman Foley has checked into an alcohol rehab center. And he says he was sexually abused as a kid. So what?

Whether its stealing money or something to do with sex, alcohol rehab and the 'abuse excuse' have become the hide outs of choice.

I'm sorry, that is not an excuse. Nor should we waste a lot of time focusing on that part of this story.

The real problem here is not Foley. There will always be weirdos and they can be dealt with. The disgrace is how the congressional leadership handled all this.

The top Republican, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, and his senior leaders are in a fight among themselves about who knew what and when. But the fact is, people knew about this and did nothing about it until they were forced to by public disclosure.

Congressional leaders seemed more worried about saving a congressional seat than saving a kid. Disgusting, but not surprising. Because that is what this Congress has become: an incumbent protection society, which accomplishes virtually nothing.

There is only one reason for government: to improve the lives of its citizens, but this Congress has forgotten that. To raise the money needed to get to Washington, congressional candidates have to sign off with so many special interest groups that by the time they get here, they can't compromise on anything, so nothing gets done, except to raise more money.

This sorry story is not the first sign of a new sex scandal. It is just further evidence of a Congress that has lost its way.

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Bob Schieffer is broadcast journalism's most experienced Washington reporter. He is CBS News' Chief Washington Correspondent and also serves as anchor and moderator of Face The Nation, CBS News' Sunday public affairs broadcast.

Schieffer served as interim anchor of The CBS Evening News from March 10, 2005 until Aug. 31, 2006. He will be a regular contributor to The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.

[cbsurv]

It is astounding that one in five Americans and one in two Southerners are trying to label Barack Obama in a way that would justify his assassination.
I am sure that we all would agree that there are some things that are worth fighting for -- our freedom and human rights, the lives of our loved ones, our strongest, highest beliefs. And if someone or some power were trying to steal these things, we might all feel that that would be worth fighting against.
People who hate what progress our country is proudly making know that these things are held sacred. All they have to do is make some nut out there believe the threat to their country and to their family is real, and one of them might feel justified to take action to mitigate it by trying to KILL OUR PRESIDENT!!!!!!!
It is a known fact that before harm is done to someone they are first labeled. The labeling of our president started with "......he's got a chip on his shoulder." " ......he's an Arab" and "he pals around with terrorists", now "........he's a racist", and "he hates white people". Then he is "trying to steal your health insurance and kill your elders in the process along with your job and your future". To show he is truly a threat that needs to justifiably be dealt with, he is "not even an American citizen" so he is the ultimate illegal alien that has stolen the highest American job! This despite the fact that he HAS submitted proof. Now he and his administration are the new Nazis. This is directed at those who would act to "protect" this country from someone who would try to harm it!!!!!!!
Those who propagate this labeling want someone, somewhere in this country, to be so driven by the fear of the above ideas that they feel justified to actually take a step to kill him. We stood by and watched it happen to doctors that performed legal abortions. That we cannot accept, and we cannot stand by and watch it happen again. Good people must stand up against the continued attempts to character-assasinate, and even worse, to encourage real assassination attempts on our President.
I hope you can use your position to shine light on this psychological scheme before it is too late.

[jw218389]

I know A LOT of people that were abused as children - but they don't have *** with 16 year olds... I REALLY believe that the GOP has become CORRUPT after over a DECADE in power...

It's time for some new criminals to run the government - it will take at least 4 years for them to become as CORRUPT AS THE GOP and even then, Democrats like women that are at least 18 - must be something to do with religious oppression that make the GOP want to make love to anything that moves - regardless of their age...

VOTE THE GOP OUT!!!! They are (as the saying goes) corrupted by power absolutely!!

[michiganm1]

Good job Bob. I find it ironic that the Republicans talk about "personal responsibility" but morons like Delay, Cunningham, Ney, Foley blame all their problems on drinking and Democrats. Even if it was true that Democrats exposed the page problem (even though facts show it was a Republican), I want it exposed. Do we not have a right to know what is going on with Congress. Of course, Hastert claims to accept responsibility, but goes on all the right wing nut programs and blames Democrats. The right wing nuts are convinced that the page was an adult (therefore, we should be proud of the Republican Congress) and that there was only one page and he was a prop of the Democratic Party. Give me a break-accept "personal responsibility" for once Republican Party.

[my1opinion]

Outstanding! You stated what needed to be stated using clear, easily understood language. I found no bias or politics in what you stated or why you stated what you stated. What you stated has needed to be stated for a long time and, in my opinion, is and was the politically correct thing to state. Thank you.

[michaelz06]

to fmwilkes.....perfect analogy. What is it they say about power? Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Neither party is better than the other in the scandal department. This time, it just happens to be the Republicans.

Now if we could focus on issues with a broader impact......such as how to extricate from the mess in Iraq, while still giving those people a fighting chance at the democracy we promised would be better than life under Saddam.

[jimshepard2]

Mr. Schiefer,
It was a good speech and advice was good for our nation but too bad your righteous judgement only speaks up when it is not your party. Been plenty of times you should have spoke up with your party's many leadership flaws which the space I have would not be near enough to print,Clinton's many escapades,the many Kennedy's times of hyprocrisy and not owning up to mistakes but convering up like even recent drunk driving accident in Washington by one more Kennedy and Tip Oneil had many examples of covering up his Democrat problems from congressmen. Hope you look in future at your Democrat party befoer you are so quikc to judge any Republican

[fmwilkes]

Our very first president (not that I was around) warned against political parties. The quote was "Beware of political parties and meddling in European affairs"..George Washington. I imagine that he never dreamed of middle eastern affairs but the first part of the quote showed much wisdom. These days I don't see much difference in our two party system than I do in the "cryps" and the "bloods" other than the way they dress. None of the above have our countries interests at heart. The first two groups are only concerned with the citizen at voting time. Ultimately all four "gangs" are obessed with money and power at any cost. "Often disappointed but never surprised". FM Wilkes/Vietnam veteran

[fangers1]

I wish we could get honorable people to serve in congress and in our media. Congress plays to the media and the media plays to congress.

And woe to those who try to do what they consider right. Democrats and Republicans both should clean their houses up, but there is too much money to be won/lost as these "people" do everything they can to keep/win power.

[fdelorey1]

I would love to hear what Mr. Schieffer thinks about these other Congressional weirdos that I am quite sure he attends press parties with.
Rep. Barney Frank. The outspoken Massachusetts Democrat hired a male prostitute who ran a prostitution service from Frank%u2019s residence in the 1980s. Only two Democrats in the House of Representatives voted to censure him in 1990.
Former Rep. Fred Richmond. This New York Democrat was arrested in 1978 for soliciting *** from a 16-year-old. He remained in Congress and won re-election%u2014before eventually resigning in 1982 after pleading guilty to tax evasion and drug possession.
Former Rep. Gerry Studds. He was censured for sexual relationship with underage male page in 1983. Massachusetts voters returned him to office for six more terms.
Former Rep. Mel Reynolds. The Illinois Democrat was convicted of 12 counts of sexual assault with a 16-year-old. President Bill Clinton pardoned him before leaving office.

[lindsfrn]

As far as I'm concerned, you could have Bob Schieffer on every night for the free speech segment. I don't mind hearing different points of view, but it would be nice to have intelligent, well thought out commentaries