Schieffer Ignores Obama's High Flying Record

March 12th, 2006 11:35 AM

On this morning's Face The Nation, Bob Schieffer asked Illinois Democrat Senator Barack Obama about ethics reform, which the anchor said "looks like it's just almost about to slide right off the table."

Senator Obama responded: "Well, I'm not going to let it slide off the table." He went on to say that "We're going to try to see if we can ban some of the corporate jets that are being used and perks."

Mr. Schieffer could have followed up with a question concerning the senator's own practices in that area. Last month in "The Hill," reporter Lynn Sweet wrote: "In 2005, Obama took 23 such private aircraft flights, some to attend fundraisers he headlined."

So if Obama now sees congressional use of corporate jets as wrong, exactly when did that change of heart take place? And why?

But Bob Schieffer didn't follow up, closing the segment by telling Obama he hopes to have him on his program many more times. With kid-glove treatment like that, no doubt Barack will be more than happy to oblige.