Christmas Campaign Commercials? Humbug!
Weekly commentary by CBS Evening News chief Washington correspondent and Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer.
Chalk up another one to old age: I can actually remember when the early appearance of Christmas decorations caused us to worry that Christmas was becoming too commercial.
We worried that the great lesson of Christmas to love one another - the Christian version of the truth that runs through all the great religions - was being run over by a new dogma to "get out and buy something."
How quaint those old worries seem, as this front-loaded presidential campaign has taken us from just commercializing to politicizing the season, and brought with it the newest marketing device, the Christmas campaign commercial.
From Huckabee and his now-famous floating cross to warm and fuzzy Giuliani, to those cute Obama kids and Mrs. Clinton's gifts beneath the tree, and on and on, in the campaign states the candidates are hooking their sleighs to Christmas.
"Season's greetings" to all of them, but frankly, I prefer Christmas carols at Christmas time.
Decorating campaign commercials with Christmas ornaments really doesn't do it for me.
In this season when people of all faiths come together to celebrate the warmth and joy of family and friends, our heart goes out to those who cannot be with their families, especially those who risk their lives in far-off places for the rest of us.
Let us remember them at this season - and forget campaign commercials.
E-mail Face the Nation.
By Bob Schieffer
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. Chalk up another one to old age: I can actually remember when the early appearance of Christmas decorations caused us to worry that Christmas was becoming too commercial.
We worried that the great lesson of Christmas to love one another - the Christian version of the truth that runs through all the great religions - was being run over by a new dogma to "get out and buy something."
How quaint those old worries seem, as this front-loaded presidential campaign has taken us from just commercializing to politicizing the season, and brought with it the newest marketing device, the Christmas campaign commercial.
From Huckabee and his now-famous floating cross to warm and fuzzy Giuliani, to those cute Obama kids and Mrs. Clinton's gifts beneath the tree, and on and on, in the campaign states the candidates are hooking their sleighs to Christmas.
"Season's greetings" to all of them, but frankly, I prefer Christmas carols at Christmas time.
Decorating campaign commercials with Christmas ornaments really doesn't do it for me.
In this season when people of all faiths come together to celebrate the warmth and joy of family and friends, our heart goes out to those who cannot be with their families, especially those who risk their lives in far-off places for the rest of us.
Let us remember them at this season - and forget campaign commercials.
By Bob Schieffer
Loved the Sam Ervin quote @ 12:23. Too bad it wouldn''t fit on a bumper sticker. Thanks, jmc!
And a most profound "Oh, stuff it!" from the always-insightful keyboard of Mother Hen. Considering what passes as erudition in today''s lexicon, one wonders if "Mother ------" might have been a more fitting pseudonym!
Enjoy your holiday !
And that''s a nice way to put it.
How wrenchingly sad it is, dshoup3, that your response to these hatemongers is to threaten to not listen to them again until post-election ! ! What, in the name of God and America, were you doing listening to them BEFORE this, and why will you go back as a "listener" LATER?
Is their garbage, their bigotry, their commercialization of hate OK with you until it''s YOUR ox that is gored by these fascists? I suggest a little soul-searching. Ask yourself why these cretins were deserving of your eyes and ears when they were only spewing their innuendos and lies about progressives. Why was it OK with you when their very existence was an affront to the dignity of America? Why is it OK when, in their greed for fame and money, they appeal to the baser instincts of those on the right?
Hillary''s commercial makes my toe curls.
HAPPY WINTER SOLSTICE.
Did the current President and their elected pals in the US Congress uphold their responsibility by holding the line on spending starting in the early 90s? Did the %u201CElite Talk Show Hosts%u201D and writers help vote them out of office by working night and day mocking their names as dreadfully has they have smeared Mike Huckabee%u2019s name, only after his rise in the polls?
Their %u201CTalking Points%u201D propaganda warfare used against a fellow conservative who could very well be more of a conservative than they are provides a good look at their true colors.
Comments like %u201Ctax and spender%u201D, %u201Cnot a conservative%u201D, and %u201Csoft on immigration%u201D are merely %u201CTalking Points%u201D without specifics and offered in the style of propaganda as Dictators who employ the same tactics to spread only their message with little facts or specifics and/or direct rebuttal from the opposing candidate/s.
I have seen enough and prefer not to lessen or watch Rush Limbaugh, Michael Reagan, Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham until after the 2008 election. I prefer my news and entertainment %u201CUN-FILTERED!%u201D