In his return to CBS since retiring from hosting Face the Nation at the end of May 2015, Bob Schieffer chimed in on the 2016 election during Monday’s CBS Evening News and trashed the “nasty, illogical” election as similar to a dysfunctional wedding that’s “half-way through the weird uncle's long, unfunny and embarrassing rehearsal dinner toast.”
Anchor Scott Pelley introduced Schieffer for the fourth segment of the newscast’s Iowa caucus coverage and asked him “how does this [election] look to you” since he’s covered every presidential campaign since 1968.
Schieffer thanked Pelley for having him back and he immediately began with his drama-filled wedding analogy in attacking both the candidates and electorate:
I have to say, primary campaigns are like weddings, they bring out the best and worst in families and if this campaign were a wedding, we would be half-way through the weird uncle's long, unfunny and embarrassing rehearsal dinner toast. The difference here is all the participants in this campaign appear to be stone-cold sober and that may be the scariest part of all.
Lamenting that “[p]eople are madder than ever” as “the partisan divide is wider than ever” that’s playing out on social media with only negative emotions and personality traits among all parties (except the media):
Nasty, illogical, ill-tempered, strong on attitude, light on issues. Too many times, people have arrived at this wedding with not just opinions, but their own set of facts. The campaign narrative has gone from inane to profane, more like a thread on a blog post than the usual campaign rhetoric. You're a jerk. Well, you're a bigger jerk. No, you're a blank, blank jerk.
Schieffer went on to denounce the lack of inspirational feelings conjured up leading up to Iowa but it’s “a good thing” that the Iowa caucuses are here “as the candidates finally begin their long walk down the aisle of the caucus and primaries.”
The relevant portions of the transcript from the CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley on February 1 can be found below.
CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley
February 1, 2016
6:38 p.m. EasternSCOTT PELLEY: Now, we are thrilled to welcome back to the Evening News a man who has covered every presidential election since 1968, our very own Bob Schieffer. Bob, how does this one look to you?
BOB SCHIEFFER: Thank you, Scott. I have to say, primary campaigns are like weddings, they bring out the best and worst in families and if this campaign were a wedding, we would be half-way through the weird uncle's long, unfunny and embarrassing rehearsal dinner toast. The difference here is all the participants in this campaign appear to be stone-cold sober and that may be the scariest part of all. People are madder than ever, the partisan divide is wider than ever, and we're seeing a campaign reflecting the changes in our culture brought on by social media. Nasty, illogical, ill-tempered, strong on attitude, light on issues. Too many times, people have arrived at this wedding with not just opinions, but their own set of facts. The campaign narrative has gone from inane to profane, more like a thread on a blog post than the usual campaign rhetoric. You're a jerk. Well, you're a bigger jerk. No, you're a blank, blank jerk. Inspirational? Not just yet, but there is light at the end of the church. In Iowa tonight, as the candidates finally begin their long walk down the aisle of the caucus and primaries, we'll finally start the hear from another group: Voters. Scott, that's a good thing.
PELLEY: And you'll be with us on the long walk to Election Day.
SCHIEFFER: Absolutely.
PELLEY: Bob, thank you.
