Well that didn’t age well. In the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union, CBS compared newly independent states like Ukraine to annoying brats running away from home. Andy Rooney provided the bizarre comment in 1991.
This was on the 29th September 1991 60 Minutes, Rooney began, “Who would have thought a year ago that the 15 states in the Soviet Union would decide to split up?”
The brutal Soviet regime was then compared to the current functioning republic of America, and he suggested that it might be similar to California or Florida leaving.
Florida’s older citizens might decide not to contribute any more money for education. They would vote to break away from the union. Texas may get sick of supporting small states such as Rhode Island. This is what you see. Here’s Texas. This is Rhode Island. For what purpose does Texas require Rhode Island? Below is an example of what the United States continental would look without Texas, California and New York.
In light of the war crimes being committed by Russia, Rooney’s conclusion is even more cringe worthy: “Everyone dreams of running away. But 99 percent decide that it is a bad idea. My bet is that in a few years, half those Soviet states that left the union will come home.”
A thug like Vladimir Putin couldn’t have said it better. Ukraine is running away from its home because it’s parent is a psychotic father who would like to kill his child.
Sadly, Andy Rooney wasn’t unique. See a March 14, 2022 NewsBusters study on how, although the press may hate the brutal Putin now, they gushed over the “mighty” Soviet Union back in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
You can find more FLASHBACK examples in our NewsBusters Time Machine. Go here.
Below is a transcript. Click “expand” to read more.
60 Minutes
09/29/1991LESLEY STEAL: Andy Rooney has never done an imitation of himself. Andy finds it amusing that he doesn’t say the thing. Andy, who would’ve thought?
ANDY ROONEY. Who would’ve thought that a year ago, the Soviet Union would be broken up into 15 countries? This is what you see. You see it every day in the newspapers. How would newspaper headlines change if this had occurred in America? Bush pleads for help, but his breakaway nations defy him, making the fate of America uncertain. Bush threatens his resignation unless the nations can find a way for America to be saved. The US leadership presses a rebellious Ohio for membership.
It is possible that it might happen in your state. It’s not easy to believe that 50 of our states are so friendly. Florida envy California. Arizona, Colorado, and Arizona are fighting over water. New York may even be dead. Russia is not the only problem we have. A state may want to leave for many reasons. Some states feel their citizens should pay less than the amount they are required to tax the federal government. These are five states that pay the highest taxes: Californians have $ 127billion. New Yorkers come in second with $ 109 trillion. These are the state that pay least: Wyoming at $ 120,000,000. They wouldn’t be able to pay the bills they bounce at Congress. What if California said, “Hey Wyoming! Get your army. Why are we so tired of you paying all these ridiculous prices for our little boys’ stuff? New York may do the exact same.
There will be war in America between the elderly and young. In Florida, the old might decide that the cost of education is too much. They would vote to break away from the union. Texas may get sick of supporting small states such as Rhode Island. This is what you see. Here’s Texas. This is Rhode Island. For what purpose does Texas require Rhode Island? The continental United States without Texas, New York and California would be like this: It won’t, obviously. Everyone dreams of running away. But 99 percent decide that it is a bad idea. I predict that half of the Soviet countries that have left the union in just a few years will return home.
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