The Candidates On Campaign Disillusion

The Top Candidates Tell Katie Couric The Most Disillusioning Parts Of Running For President

(CBS)  For the series “Primary Questions: Character, Leadership & The Candidates,” CBS News anchor Katie Couric asked the leading presidential candidates questions designed to go beyond politics and show what really makes them tick.

For the latest installment, Couric asks the candidates about what they think is the most disillusioning part of running for president.

Also, check out the candidates' full responses to the previous questions in our "Primary Questions" video library.

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JOHN EDWARDS
Couric: What is the most disillusioning part of running for president?

Edwards: It's extraordinarily hard … for the American people to hear in real substance what you want to do as president - and to understand it. Because what tends to happen is these presidential races become superficial glitz, glamour contests, you know. Who's getting the most attention at some point in time. Basically I think what happens is a storyline gets developed very quickly and the media hops on that storyline, and that drives the national news for periods of time. And ... whether it's reality or not, it still drives the national news. That's what people hear. And they don't see the long-term picture.

RUDY GIULIANI
Couric: What is the most disillusioning part of running for president?

Giuliani: How hard it is to stay on the substance, because that is what I believe most of us who do this, whether we're Republicans or Democrats, enjoy the most. It's the solving of problems. What are we going to do about the budget? What are we going to do about Iraq? Iran? How are we going to deal with Afghanistan and Pakistan? The substantive part of this is why we're all involved in it and you don't get to discuss it that much. And when you do, you're basically told, you know, stop it and put that in a sound bite, right?

MIKE HUCKABEE
Couric: What is the most disillusioning part of running for president?

Huckabee: The pettiness; the sheer pettiness in which people want to parse every syllable. And they want to take everything you say in jest as some serious remark you have made. The loss of sense of humor. I'm not going to give up on being a human being. I don't want to be robotic. If you want a vending machine, vote for one. I'm not. I'm not going to be one. And I've just had to decide early on in this election that I'm going to be who I am; say what I want to say. Sometimes I may have to apologize for some of the stuff because I'm going to say what I think at that moment … but I'm not going to go around and have a committee first approve everything that I say before I say it.

MITT ROMNEY
Couric: What is the most disillusioning part of running for president?

Romney: Well, you know the challenge is, of course, being represented honestly and fairly. And that's just the nature of politics. When your beliefs are turned, are twisted, or when your record is adjusted in a way that's not complimentary and then people turn you down for those reasons, that can be frustrating. But look, I got into this with my eyes wide open. I mean, I watched my dad run for president. I ran for Senate against Ted Kennedy for Pete's sake. He taught me a lot of lessons. I ran for governor of Massachusetts, so this hasn't been a surprise. It's just part of the political process. It's unfortunate but its part of a democracy.

HILLARY CLINTON
Couric: What is the most disillusioning part of running for president?

Clinton: You know, there's so much emphasis on who's up, who is down and what they said, how they're combating this or that with each other. We're always interested in the minutia or details behind the scenes. I hope the press, the pundits, all of the commentators listen to what people are asking us. I'm asked "how are we going to get health care for people who need it?" I'm asked about the real-world issues. That's been my experience for 16 years.

BARACK OBAMA
Couric: What is the most disillusioning part of running for president?

Obama: Once you start running for United States Senate or a big national office, I think you start getting a sense of, you know, the less attractive aspects of running, particularly fundraising, you know, dialing for dollars and asking strangers for money. That is the least attractive aspect of it and the one I'd like to change the most. I have to spend quite a bit of time going to fund raisers and eating chicken dinners. And some of that time I would rather be spending talking to workers or, you know, studying the latest policy ideas that would make a difference in the lives of ordinary people.

JOHN MCCAIN
Couric: What is the most disillusioning part of running for president?

McCain: I know the ups and downs. I know what you have to do. I know about the long days. Nobody forces you to do it. The only thing that maybe disappoints me, to be honest with you, is some people who you think are going to support you end up supporting someone else. The key is to maintain a very steady, as much as possible, emotional outlook so that when things go good, you don't get excited and when things go bad, you don't get too depressed. But look, I am a guy that stood fifth from the bottom of his class in the Naval Academy. If my old company officer were here, he'd say "in America, anything is possible."

[candide777]

You''''ve asked ALL the Canidates these questions? Give me a break.I am disillusioned how Ron Paul is not mentioned in this series, let alone not interviewed. He has beaten Rudy three times now and he beat Fred and Mike as well. At least CBS doesn''''t claim to be fair and balanced.
Posted by Slolrnr at 03:41 AM : Jan 24, 2008

me too, but nothing''s going to change until we the people decide that we are going to vote for ANYONE except whoever the media/corporate interests are touting. That''s when we''ll take our government back from the greedy corporations who own it now. But, times will have to get much, much, much more tougher before the middle class realizes this.

[homespunlady]

What I''ve learned from this article (the SHORT answers):

Edwards has a problem with "superficial glitz, glamour contests"

Rudy has a problem with "How hard it is to stay on the substance"

Huckabee has a problem with "the sheer pettiness" and vending machines.

Romney "watched my dad run for president" just like George! and made it a point to showcase his "old-boys club" membership.

Hillary has a problem with "who''s up, who is down" but we already knew that.

Obama has a problem with "dialing for dollars and asking strangers for money" and probably HATES chicken dinners.

McCain was "a guy that stood fifth from the bottom of his class in the Naval Academy" sort of like George being a "D" student and hoped to show off his accomplishment to his "old company officer".

[homespunlady]

Maybe Ms. Couric believes she is PROTECTING the candidates she LEAVES OUT from appearing as GULLIBLE, INANE, PANDERING, SELF-ABSORBED and CLUELESS about the PLIGHT of the AVERAGE American as these "chosen ones" are beginning top look.

[homespunlady]

You Know I''ve been REALLY ANNOYED that this commentator has EXCLUDED Dr. Ron Paul from her inane ad senseless BS questions but I''m beginning to catch on to the twisted reasoning.

She''s showcasing the STUPIDITY of the OTHER candidates and providing the country with some of the most boring entertainment (certainly this could NOT be called NEWS) possible in order to PUT US ALL TO SLEEP at the wheel!

That way maybe when the "new and improved" - AKA RENAMED DIEBOLD rigs the election with their PAPERLESS hackable machines the voters can be laughed at behind their closed doors.

We''ve JAILED some of the cheaters but We haven''t JAILED enough of them yet folks!

Since rigged machines are being caught the ONLY thing they have left to CONTROL our political choices is to RIG THE MEDIA.

[slolrnr-2009]

You''ve asked ALL the Canidates these questions? Give me a break.I am disillusioned how Ron Paul is not mentioned in this series, let alone not interviewed. He has beaten Rudy three times now and he beat Fred and Mike as well. At least CBS doesn''t claim to be fair and balanced.

[candide777]

"but I''m not going to go around and have a committee first approve everything that I say before I say it."

Of course not, why would you need a committee when it comes straight from Jesus?

[candide777]

awwww, that is so sweet, I just love these human interest stories, they really touch my heart . . . thank you, Katie, thank you for reminding us that behind all the lies and deceit, these politicians are real people with hopes and dreams!

[sgtrds]

tlamb68: "Why not interview/show Ron Pauls comments? Nothing like keeping the voters in the dark by not letting them hear from all the candidates."

The answer is obvious, Dr. Paul never gets disillusioned! Delusional maybe, but never disillusioned!

Posted by pakaal at 08:27 PM : Jan 23, 2008

RAmen to that. He''s a lame duck racist and probably certifiably insane too.

[merlgrey]

Katie-

Why not ask if the most disillusioning part of running for president is when they wonder why has Ron Paul received more donations from active-duty soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines than any other presidential candidate?

Also what is a bit disillusioning is that AT LEAST 3 of the original ''10 top candidates'' have since dropped out of the race, and at least 2 or 3 more will drop out after the next chopping, but Dr. Ron Paul will still be there because he is getting financed privately from all his supporters to stay in.

Why not Kucinich or Gravel either? At least all these guys speak from the heart and not from the cyborg brain chip installed by some very evil force playing to the fears of under-informed middle america, but really serving the rich power hungry elite and themselves.

[mattcbsmatt]

I am disillusioned, before I typed ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION is LEGAL.
That was a copy and paste error, sorry : )
I guess it is humanly possible to think ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION is LEGAL ?

[waballer22]

Where is Ron Paul? If you say you are interviewing all the candidates make sure and include ALL of them! Especially since he is ahead in the race. This is not a fair race.

Why do news stations feel they can leave out candidates? They aren''t reporting the news. They are reporting what they want people to hear.

[waballer22]

Where is Ron Paul? If you say you are interviewing all the candidates make sure and include ALL of them! Especially since he is ahead in the race. This is not a fair race.

Why do news stations feel they can leave out candidates? They aren''t reporting the news. They are reporting what they want people to hear.

[mattcbsmatt]

What is the most disillusioning part of running for president?
They think ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION is LEGAL.
What really makes them tick, can they tell if ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION is ILLEGAL. There is a hint in the phrase ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION : )

[waballer22]

Where is Ron Paul? If you say you are interviewing all the candidates make sure and include ALL of them! Especially since he is ahead in the race. This is not a fair race.

Why do news stations feel they can leave out candidates? They aren''t reporting the news. They are reporting what they want people to hear.

[mattcbsmatt]

What is the most disillusioning part of running for president?
They think ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION is ILLEGAL.
What really makes them tick, can they tell if ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION is ILLEGAL. There is a hint in the phrase ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION : )

[pakaal]

tlamb68: "Why not interview/show Ron Pauls comments? Nothing like keeping the voters in the dark by not letting them hear from all the candidates."

The answer is obvious, Dr. Paul never gets disillusioned! Delusional maybe, but never disillusioned!

[tlamb68]

Why not interview/show Ron Pauls comments? Nothing like keeping the voters in the dark by not letting them hear from all the candidates.

This reaffirms the reason I haven''t watched cbs for evening news. Looks like I''m back to ABC.

[birdie_wi]

It has been almost a year since I last watched the CBS Evening News with
Katie Couric. After watching tonights show and "The Candidates On
Campaign Disillusion" piece, with the intentional omission of Dr. Ron
Paul, I realize why it was a year ago that I last watched the CBS Evening
News. And you wonder why your ratings are down. Back to the internet I
go. See you next year.

[kburglekutt]

Ron Paul being excluded from these questions is simply criminal. I understand the thought that he is a long shot candidate, but the fact is he has more delegates then Guiliani (6 for Paul, 1 for Rudy.) Therefore Dr. Paul''s exclusion just looks biased and unethical.

[ender3rd]

You know the only polls that count are paid for by the media. Who listens to those pesky voters in their silly little back-woods states. If the media wanted to hear your opinion, they''d give it to you.

Remember, all great civilizations come to an end from things they could have prevented.