Archive: Andy Rooney

Veteran CBS News White House Correspondent Bill Plante is the host of CBSNews.com's Smoke-Filled-Room. Each week, Bill invites a top political expert into the Smoke-Filled-Room to answer your questions. This week's guest is CBS News 60 Minutes Correspondent, Andy Rooney. As usual, Andy has his own way of looking at things.

Plante: Our first viewer, Dennis Coryell asks, “Do you think that campaign finance reform is the most pressing issue facing the nation, and do you think it is realistic to think we'll come up with a better way of financing campaigns any time soon?”

Rooney: That’s not a question – it’s an answer. I think that it is so pressing that it is something that cannot be avoided in the near future.

Plante: If they asked you, what advice would you give George Bush and Al Gore for the last week of the campaign? Peg C. would like to know.

Rooney: I don’t think what they need is any advice. I just think they have to be someone other than themselves, and that’s impossible.

Plante: ”If Ralph Nader garners 6% of the vote nationwide and the popular vote for the two main candidates remains tight, are there any states that you think would be likely to move from the Gore column to the Bush column?” asks Allen P.

Rooney: I don’t know enough about the whole election process to be familiar with what states might do that.

Plante: ”Very little attention has been paid to younger voters with the exception of social security,” notes Ryan Anderson. “Why do you think this is so?”

Rooney: I suppose the percentage of young people who actually vote is less than middle and upper age people. Maybe this is the reason. I’m not even sure it’s true. But if it’s true, it’s probably the reason.

Plante: Tom C. writes, “Much has been made of the fact that George W. does not have a strong background in foreign affairs. Well, neither did Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton when they were elected. Do you think this will/should make a difference in the election?”

Rooney: I don’t think it should make a difference. I think any intelligent person can acquire a good deal of experience in the White House in a short time. I think intellect would have more to do with his ability to perform well, than experience.

Plante: And finally, Richard wants to know, “As a columnists and satirist, how would you rate the entertainment value of this year’s presidential election?”

Rooney: I don’t think it’s been high - except for the fact that they both have made fools of themselves on several occasions. We’ve all enjoyed that. They have been so recessive, they have pulled back, and tried t keep themselves from doing that – that it’s taken a lot of fun out of the campaign.