You Go, Al

Here's this week's commentary by CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent Bob Schieffer:

I've always respected Al Gore as a smart, decent person - not the kind that once he left office you had to count the silverware.

So when he began a series of college lectures on journalism under ground rules that his remarks had to be kept secret by the students, I wasn't worried he had something to hide. And never mind the obvious, that the whole point of journalism is that the news belongs to all the people.

What it underlined to me is just how out of touch a president or vice president can become when they are walled off from the public for long periods of time by all the professional retainers who are paid to help them manipulate the news.

In the real world, "off-the-record journalism" is the punchline to a joke. And anyone who believes a roomful of college students or people of any age can keep anything a secret should seek medical help.

Which brings me to the unsolicited advice: Mr. Former Veep, you're in the real world now. You have a lot to share with young people. You didn't steal the silverware and you're doing a good thing by not charging the students a hundred thousand dollars a pop to hear you.

So just tell 'em the truth. If they like it, they might be the base you can build on to run again. And if they don't - well, what have you lost?

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