A biography for Bob Beckelhasn’t been written yet.
“I can talk to more persuadable voters in a week on 'The Five' than I could at CNN in a year, so it's worked out fine.”
“We need to gather intelligence, but we need to do so legally.”
“Republicans just don't get that their idea of scandal is not what the average American thinks is a serious scandal.”
“I strongly favor shortening the campaign season and putting more primaries and caucuses on the same day, preferably regionally.”
“A few states have taken redistricting out of the hands of partisans and put them in the hands of fair-minded committees. Every state should do the same.”
“The decision in McCutcheon v. FEC is a devastating blow in efforts to rein in out-of-control costs of campaigns.”
“If pluralism and academic freedom are to be used to defend liberal speakers and ideas, they ought to be equally valid for conservative views.”
“Schools alone are not to blame for underachievement. The breakdown of the family, poverty, and decaying cities with eroding tax bases have made a good public school education nearly impossible in many parts of the country.”
“Hillary Clinton is in political trouble and perhaps even legal trouble over her use of private e-mail accounts and bypassing government-issued accounts containing substantial amounts of information that belongs to the federal government. But ultimately, I don't think this latest controversy will hurt her presidential ambitions.”
“I do oppose repealing Obamacare, because it's working for growing numbers of previously uninsured Americans.”
“You don't hear much crosstalk on 'The Five.' When you try to make a point, the other person will back off.”
“We know that in the Muslim communities around the world, they do not like us. They recruit people from poor areas and turn them into terrorists.”
“Unless public officials are wealthy and fund their own campaigns, the only place they can turn to is lobbyists and institutions like labor unions and corporations.”
“Congress continues to pass laws to limit lobbyists' influence, but people find ways to get around them.”
“I understand why foreign government contributions to the Clinton Foundation could raise ethical issues should Hillary run for president.”
“I have never analyzed a presidential election as much as I did the Trump-Clinton race of 2016.”
“There is a huge difference between gathering intelligence in foreign countries, even our allies, and secretly getting information on U.S. citizens.”
“As a life-long liberal who has engaged in protests against the government and for civil rights, I am saddened at efforts by some of my fellow liberals to silence commencement speakers with whom they might disagree on some issues.”
“When I worked in the White House in the 1970s and '80s, I was often stopped within the White House by agents checking my credentials. They were very observant and would stop anyone they didn't recognize.”
“I would be delighted not to see another celebrity, regardless of their political beliefs, come to Washington to make yet another appeal for some cause about which they know little.”