The Story Teller: Schieffer tells the story that we live

CBS newsman Bob Schieffer has few equals in interpreting and articulating current events. Schieffer understands he is not the story, he’s the storyteller. This legendary storyteller did not disappoint as he came to help celebrate NC SPIN’s 700 broadcast.

Bob Schieffer is concerned on both foreign and domestic fronts. Situations in North Korea, Iran and Syria top international concerns. While there is often a criminal element in all countries, he says the criminals are running North Korea. Iran’s nuclear threat, coupled with Israel’s potential response, is troublesome, as is the genocide and uncertainty in Syria. The world’s democracies, including America are all suffering hard times, with the common problem of spending more than they take in. None are dealing with it well.

America’s government is broken. Schieffer says last year was the first in our nation’s history when the Congress did not accomplish one single thing, except the continuing resolution to avoid shutdown. When a legislative body loses its ability to compromise it loses its purpose. Compromise has become a dirty word, but our Congress is plenty compromised by pledges to groups who helped fund their elections. He says Maine Senator Olympia Snowe’s decision not to seek re-election exemplifies the brokenness. This capable and effective Senator said it just wasn’t worth the time and effort to continue.

Women and independents are the keys in this presidential election, which Schieffer says will be ugly and close. President Obama will try to frame Mitt Romney as a country club rich man out of touch with the average person, while Romney will portray Obama as someone who promised change but delivered failed policies.

Schieffer’s assessment: 53 percent of votes cast in 2008 were from women and Obama got the majority of them. While growing, Mitt Romney has a woman problem; his support comes predominantly from white men. Independents supported Obama against McCain and will determine the ultimate outcome in 2012. North Carolina is a must-win state for Obama, as evidenced by his choice of Charlotte as the site for the Democratic Convention.

Schieffer expects there will be something like hostility or the economy that will affect the outcome. The Supreme Court’s decision on healthcare, expected in June, could be a factor. Bob Schieffer expects some or all of the Affordable Care Act to be struck down by the court, likely the mandate on health insurance, but it may take weeks afterwards to determine the impact on the election.

50 years ago this week, Schieffer remembers, his mentor, Walter Cronkite, assumed the anchor chair at CBS. Cronkite had enough curiosity for an entire newsroom and loved the news, the same person on camera and off. Today we can get news anyway and anytime. People can self-select the slant, personalities and amount of news they want, but Schieffer warns that Internet news sources are the only vehicles that have no editor. Sunday morning shows like Face the Nation are important. “It has always been who – not how many – watched our broadcast that has counted. Sunday mornings may be staid, even old-fashioned, but it is a time when those who shape opinion and make policy watch and listen to each other.”

Few have the impartial and seasoned perspective of this storied teller and we benefitted from listening to Bob Schieffer.