Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer spotlighted the left's talking
points on two issues in the presidential race on Tuesday's CBS This
Morning. Schieffer tried to play it down the middle when he stated, "I
think most people understand that Mitt Romney is not the robber baron
that the Democrats would have you believe." But he immediately added, "Nor is Barack Obama the European socialist that the Republicans would have you believe."
The CBS journalist also contrasted the Obama campaign's line of attack
on Romney regarding his leadership with Bain Capital, which was ripped
by Newark, New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker; with how many Republicans
condemned "a plan that some Republicans had to launch this race-baiting campaign, trying to tie the President, once again, to Jeremiah Wright."
Anchor Charlie Rose brought on Schieffer to comment on the latest in
presidential politics. Rose led with the Bain Capital controversy. The
veteran CBS journalist answered by pointing to "the era of negative
politics," and listed the Obama as "European socialist" the Rev. Wright
"race baiting," along with Romney as "robber baron" as examples:
ROSE: So tell me what you think of this battle between the Obama
campaign and the Romney campaign on the issue of private equity.
SCHIEFFER: Well, we are where we are in the era of negative politics,
Charlie...I think most people understand that Mitt Romney is not the
robber baron that the Democrats would have you believe; nor is Barack
Obama the European socialist that the Republicans would have you
believe. But, you know, the Obama campaign has done just what campaigns
do. They've polled on this; they think that Romney is vulnerable here.
Will they continue? I think that depends on what they find out from the
polls this week....That's just how it is in American politics today,
but, I mean, excuse me for trying to see the bright side here. You know,
we saw this week, Charlie; we saw Republicans roundly denounce a plan
that some Republicans had to launch this race-baiting campaign, trying
to tie the President, once again, to Jeremiah Wright. Now, we're seeing
people on the Democratic side denouncing this. They're saying, wait a
minute. This has gone too far. But this is the era of negative politics
and it's where we are.
Co-anchor Erica Hill followed up by actually asking a question from right of center: "What
about the concern over whether or not this is a fine line for the Obama
campaign because, in some ways- and the Republicans will take this
line- that it could be attacking capitalism?" Schieffer gave
the predictable reply: "Well, again, this is about where they think they
can hurt the other side. They're going to continue to do this. Have
they gone across the line? They'll find out and make their own
conclusions later in the week after they've polled."
By contrast, the "Face The Nation" anchor wondered earlier in May whether "the Republican Party has moved too far right for its own good" during a segment with former Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan.
The full transcript of the Bob Schieffer segment from Tuesday's CBS
This Morning, which began 15 minutes into the 7 am Eastern hour:
CHARLIE ROSE: With us now, chief Washington correspondent and host of 'Face The Nation,' Bob Schieffer. Bob, good morning.
BOB SCHIEFFER: Hey.
ROSE: So tell me what you think of this battle between the Obama
campaign and the Romney campaign on the issue of private equity.
[CBS News Graphic: "Race For The White House: Obama Targets Romney On Time At Bain"]
SCHIEFFER: Well, we are where we are in the era of negative politics,
Charlie. I mean, I think- you know, I think most people understand that
Mitt Romney is not the robber baron that the Democrats would have you
believe; nor is Barack Obama the European socialist that the Republicans
would have you believe. But, you know, the Obama campaign has done just
what campaigns do. They've polled on this; they think that Romney is
vulnerable here. Will they continue? I think that depends on what they
find out from the polls this week. I'm told that 400,000 people have now
seen this ad online, and by the end of the week, the Obama people think
it's going to really begin to resonate. If it does, they'll continue
this, and if it doesn't, they'll dial it back.
That's just how it is in American politics today, but, I mean, excuse
me for trying to see the bright side here. You know, we saw this week,
Charlie; we saw Republicans roundly denounce a plan that some
Republicans had to launch this race-baiting campaign, trying to tie the
President, once again, to Jeremiah Wright. Now, we're seeing people on
the Democratic side denouncing this. They're saying, wait a minute. This
has gone too far. But this is the era of negative politics and it's
where we are.
ERICA HILL: And we've heard from both sides that it's going to
continue. I mean, that's only from their surrogates. What about the
concern over whether or not this is a fine line for the Obama campaign
because, in some ways- and the Republicans will take this line- that it
could be attacking capitalism?
SCHIEFFER: Well, again, this is about where they think they can hurt
the other side. They're going to continue to do this. Have they gone
across the line? They'll find out and make their own conclusions later
in the week after they've polled. If they think they've got something
that can give them the advantage, I will guarantee you, Erica, the Obama
administration will continue right on. If they think the polling shows
they've gone a step too far, then they'll dial back.
ROSE: Bob, conventional wisdom is that this is a very close race now. Do you accept that?
SCHIEFFER: I think it is very, very close. I think it's still to be
decided. I think- I wouldn't bet your money, Charlie- and you've got a
lot- on how this is going to come out. (Charlie Rose and Erica Hill
laugh) I'd rather buy a lottery ticket to try to-
ROSE: Oh, stop attacking the rich.
SCHIEFFER: (laughs) Yeah. You one-percenters!
ROSE: (laughs) Bob Schieffer, thank you so much.
SCHIEFFER: Thank you, Charlie.
— Matthew Balan is a news analyst at the Media Research Center. You can follow him on Twitter here .
