Andy Answers His Mail

Andy Rooney Gets A Lot Of Mail. Here's a Sampling

(CBS)  The following is a weekly 60 Minutes commentary by CBS News correspondent Andy Rooney.

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It's always fun to read the letters people send - I get a lot of them, although, to be honest, if I took all the letters seriously I wouldn't ever say anything again.

I get quite a few bad letters and, of course, I pay least attention to those. I don't want you to see me cry.

Thomas Overley writes from Oceanside, Calif. He's mad because he thinks I like President Obama. "Very sorry to see someone I respected contribute to this mass media love affair," Tom says.

Well, to tell you the truth Mr. Overley, I do like Obama but I didn't think you'd notice.

Todd, from Las Cruces, N.M., says the reason I don't hear about the people who hate Barack Obama is because the press has put a muzzle on them. I don't know about that Todd. I show the producer my piece before it goes on the air every week and he'll tell me it isn't any good but he never puts a muzzle on me.

I said there were no organs left in movie theaters and apparently I was wrong about that. A lot of people wrote to invite me to their movie house that still has an organ.

Larry Sarraga of Sayville, N.Y. thinks I'm set in my ways. "Andy." Larry writes. "You need to get out more."

Gee, I don't know Larry. Don't forget being set in my ways is what I do for a living.

At least a dozen people wrote to say I made a mistake saying that Snuffy Smith won "The Congressional Medal of Honor." They all said the real name of what he got was the “Medal of Honor."

Several people also objected to my saying that people "won" the Medal of Honor. They're quibbling but of course they're right. It would be better if I had said "were awarded the Medal of Honor."

Boy, you gotta be careful saying anything on television.

Michael Kellems of La Porte, Ind. writes "What's the story behind your desk? And can I have it when you're done?"

Well, the story is Mr. Kellems, I made the desk myself with a great piece of walnut from a tree that came down in the woods near our house. The rest of the story is "no you can't have it when I'm done... and don't try to hurry me out of here either, Kellems."

[betterbusinessalliance]

This country including the MEDIA for once needs to wake-up and ask themselves why so much pleasure is derived from continuous dirt, and negative unproven allegations that have to continually be such a focus following the death of Michael Jackson. Why doesn?t THE MEDIA step-up to the plate and get real or is money and greed the driving force here at any cost. Why doesn?t CNN step up, why don?t you send a message, set the stage and make ?a change?.
MAKE A CHANGE
As a 52 year old female, CEO of the Better Business Alliance. I am touched by the death of Michael Jackson, his music is the best music of all time. You can combine all the top musicians in the world and still never match-up to this wonderful man.
Michael Jackson is not and never was in any capacity a molester. He never molested any child, pure ignorance.
Tell the world this; no court system in this country is going to allow for any child molester regardless of their fame to walk free. No court system, including regulatory authorities such as child services is going to allow for children to be under his care, every criminal prosecutor in this country would drool with venom to prosecute any child molester.
It is absurd to continue to remind AMERICA of something that was never proven because it NEVER HAPPENED.
AN innocent MAN-CHILD WHO NEVER HAD A CHILDHOOD, who had a father driven by control and greed at any cost including abuse. I too, would try to re-capture my childhood and try to live it or play it out. I would invite little girls over for Sleep over?s, slumber parties call it what you want, and yes I would let them sleep in my bed, I may even cuddle each one of them. Cuddle, not fondle. Then what? Oh yes I forgot I am worth millions. OPEN, REAL & VULNERABLE that?s who Michael Jackson really is - then one greedy family sets-up Michael Jackson by baiting their very own child for their own financial gain. What mother or father would settle for large sums of money at the expense of their child who was molested? What parent would allow for a child molester to walk and ignore the very damaging long term effects that a molested child would have to endure. Do you really think millions of dollars is going to wash away the long term despair, pain, depression, uncertainty, and other damaging affects that plaque every molested child.
Let me exercise my Freedom of Speech. Show me, broadcast it, tell the WORLD, where is this supposed molested child now, who has been his therapist, what kind of car is he driving, I mean tell the world just how much suffering has this child encountered. NONE, IT NEVER HAPPENED, TELL THE WORLD AND MAKE A CHANGE, LET THIS MAN GO IN PEACE AND LET THE WORLD HELP HIM REST PEACEFULLY. CLEAN IT UP. AND DO WHATS RIGHT. DO IT NOW. WE ARE THE WORLD AND YOU CAN MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE.

Debra Gould
Los Gatos, CA

[majortom3030]

Funny i am the guy he read the first letter about him "Loving Obama" But that is not at all what I said I talked more about him contributing to the media love affair with him and the fact their is not any actual reporting going on anymore. I honestly believe that the president could on national telivision comitt a felony and they would find a way to excuse it or make it into something great he did

Tom

[dmcbmi]

Dark Discerning Truth...

When media follows a consistency of
debate, into the straight line without
a single gesture of fault in those who
soon waver, paralleled toward action
in promises by deception. And deceit
emerges as arts fashionably mirrored
on ours the elected in questioning no
longer, history repeated.

Soon become born, are new dictators

Copyright ©2009DMCBMI

DMC BMI

[arabianhorses]

If you want to help our country, TRY PRAYER! America was built on "IN GOD WE TRUST", at the Tea Parties, why don't you try Prayer? Evil runs faster from prayer than anything! Pray our "elected" officials and all people listen to GOD instead of greed, power grabs & money, (all is the golden calf!!) Hold prayer vigils, let it be loud and strong! Pray because in 3 more months our country will not be America as we "thought" it was.

[eadens]

Dear Andy,

I enjoy your show very much. I'm here to ask for asssitance, not to comment. I was in a car accident in 2008. Although my car was totalled, I wasn't injured at all. However, the Ambulance "forced" me to the hospital by tieing me on the frame and the doctor ordered all the fancy test on me. I was finally released from the hospital 3-4 hours later and the bill summs up to >44,000. After the insurance payment, i'm still liable for $2828. I don't think this make any sense at all. I was not injured and did not need any treatment then or after for the accident. The medical bill is crazy and I don't feel like paying. Can you offer me some advise?

EDS from MA

[timntexas]

Andy, I'm afraid that hypocrisy is really not your forte. I find it interesting that Bush' 2007 budget was $2.7Tril, yet Obama can add a trillion dollars, burn a trillion more than the $700+ Bil in TARP in "stimulus" and yet you can only remind us of the debt. Also please recall that the "national debt" is really a reflection of the value of our currency in the market since the gold standard hasn't been around since you were a kid. This spending is inflationary, plain and simple. As Jimmy Carter found out, you can't just print your way out of this....We're not sheep Andy and we're not blind.

Do us a favor, if you're going to be cynical, be cynical equally. Put the kool aid aside and try and be relevant. Otherwise, your just an old guy with a brown nose...

Lastly....If you can't post criticism, then I guess the socialists really have taken over this country...

Rome 476, at least they lasted 1000yrs, we only got a little over 200.

Tim

[Joeperates9]

April 5, 2009



Andy Rooney
60 Minutes
NY,NY


Dear Andy,

Today I decided to become a lobbyist for my fellow Americans. Here?s my first issue.

By rite, the people on social security have been swindled by their government, which has faked the inflation numbers in order to pay them less.

This has been accomplished be UNDERSTATING inflation so that when the cost of living adjustment is made, it?s only about half of what they are contractually obliged to pay them. This has been going on for at least the last 10 years.

The amount of additional money that the U.S. government owes its citizens on social security is way above a TRILLION dollars. So do the calculations and pay them the money you owe them.

While the bankers are lining up for their next bailouts, after already getting trillions (with a less valid excuse), anyone who is on social security should write their congressmen, asking for the money they should have received. This would put cash into the hands of people that need it.

You might as well do it now because the insurance industry, commercial real-estate and others will be lining up soon.

Imagine giving ordinary Americans the money you owe them. This would help restore confidence in our government and put money in the hands of consumers.

That?s it, that?s all I have for now.
Sincerely,

Joseph Perates
30 Hood Ave.
Rumford , RI 02916

410.434.2315
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

[displeased]

It makes me sick.... I have cut cable tv and turn my family to read books instead.
Posted by zerause

That's just horrible! Books?

In reality, I cut my cable off three years ago and I'm not missing it. TV is a waste of time and life.

[rsmik]

I thought he was dead. Posted by Baileyccc
Posted by at 4:59 AM : Mar 30, 2009

bailey found a back door?

[fairmediacoverage]

The media is fully engaged in a love affair with the President, without a doubt. Whenever a freshman senator who has never been vetted by the media (which they themselves admitted) gets a free pass and carte blanche with the media, that's a love affair.

Mr. Rooney, could it be your producer never edits your piece is because you never say anything negative about this President?

Do I hate President Obama? Absolutely not.
Do I think he's right for America? That depends. If you want this country to be socialist society and spread the wealth, he's right for you. Ever notice the media doesn't mention the "s" word (socialism)?

Essentially with all the money the government has been extending (the bailout, the stimulus plan, and the new proposed budget) to large businesses and for government expansion, the stimulus plan and the proposed budget, they will effectively have significant control of the following areas regarding the American economy:

Insurance
Banking
State governments
Automakers
Unions
Medical industry
Energy


Society for Fair Media Coverage
"Keep the spin, give us the facts."
www.sffmc.net

[rodgert-2009]

Who The Hell Is Andy Rooney???????????????

[zerause]

Andy,

I like you show very much. I like the way you tell the truth.

I would like to ask you if you can do a program about how much sex,violence,bad lenguage and extreme is going on nowadays prime time television.

It makes me sick.... I have cut cable tv and turn my family to read books instead.

By the way, I watch you show using a HD antenna.

Thanks,
Rick Suarez.
Allen, Texas

[elephantmanoftx]

Hagar ... I'm an average American and I'm here to tell you Obama doesn't think like me. I think the auto companies and the financial institutions should bail themselves out or go down the tubes. I think people who can't pay for their homes shouldn't get a bail out because they bought more than they could afford. I don't think new home buyers should get a $10,000 tax deduction ... I didn't get one when I bought my first home. I don't want National Health Care ... check out Canada and England. i don't think abortion (the murder of an innocent child) is right. I don't think I want to go into debt for me, my children, my grandchildren, etc. for trillions of dollars. I'm an average American ... I've worked hard for everything I've ever gotten, I don't take handouts and I most assuredly don't want my had earned money taken from me and redistributed to the have nots because they won't get off their sorry behinds and work for what they need. Remember this ... the government that gives you everything can also take it away! We need less government ... not more of it!

[elephantmanoftx]

The network(s) may not have muzzled you on Obama but they sure helped his election. Case in point is the Republican Debate held at the Reagan Library. The debate was 2 hours between McCain, Romney, Paul & Huckabee. Andy, go watch that debate and you tell us face-to-face that the press totally snubbed Huckabee and Paul. But the amazing thing was that the audience had mood meters and the candidate that was given the least time to debate had the best score on the meters ... Huckabee. Should we expect anything less from our liberal news media ... they wanted Obama and they got him ... what better way than to put down the one man who could have beat him!

[hagar39]

The main reason I watch 60 Minutes? Because of Andy.
Love affair between new media and Obama? It's because he won by a land slide. He's a popular guy. The USA now has a president who thinks like the average American. An no, the average American is not a racist.
The sad thing? Racist/bigots will alway be around. But that's life in the USA.

I thought he was dead. Posted by Baileyccc

[doctorwho911]

Mexico has the RIGHT IDEA to the Economic Recovery Program! http://budurl.com/nn9l

[JamesCalifornia]

I liked your Show Sunday, thanks
James from So Cal at www.Jamestowncalif.com

[everdreaming-2009]

whatever

[matta576]

Andy, you are every bit as much "the press" as your producer is. There is a love affair between the press and Obama and it's a shame.