We wanted to hear from viewers about why they watch or participate in call-ins on C-SPAN, ... Viewers of all ages and walks of life wrote to us, including actresses, stand-up comics, parents and students. What's clear after reading the entries is the impact that call-ins have had on the political conversation on the network.

Brian Lamb

Categorized in : Reading Parent Impact

My basic approach to interviewing is to ask the basic questions that might even sound naive, or not intellectual. Sometimes when you ask the simple questions like 'Who are you?' or 'What do you do?' you learn the most.

intellectual simple sound

I don't like swearing on the air. As a matter of fact, I'm not a prude, but I go to the movies and then wonder - I asked myself the same question, and I watch HBO and some of the comedy stuff, and I'm constantly asking myself, why have we gone there? It seems like it's unfortunate. It's so cheap.

hbo matter air

I've never been a member of a political party, but people will su... by Brian Lamb

I've never been a member of a political party, but people will superimpose on you what they want.

political party people

I think technology has changed America, not any one organization. Technology is taking the power away from the few. There'll be a lot more choices, and good people who are doing serious stuff will survive and there'll be a lot more voices, and that is very healthy.

technology america thinking

Who cares if a movie star has an opinion unless the person is ver... by Brian Lamb

Who cares if a movie star has an opinion unless the person is very well informed?

who-cares opinion stars

Some people when they get older are so firm in their beliefs that... by Brian Lamb

Some people when they get older are so firm in their beliefs that you'll never move them.

belief people moving

I'm anti-big power. I don't know if that's populist or not. by Brian Lamb

I'm anti-big power. I don't know if that's populist or not.

populist bigs knows

My number one goal was not getting 'A's' - and I proved it. I was a 'C' student. You have to be ready to learn. If you're not interesting in learning, it doesn't work. As I grew older and wanted to learn and desperately wanted inside information, learning was a lot easier.

goal numbers interesting

It's very nice to be able to write something you don't have to get four other people to agree with before it can become authoritative.

nice agreement writing

More than anything else, we need in this society the opportunity for people to tell us what they think without being told that they're either dumb, or stupid, or uninformed.

stupid opportunity thinking

I vote in every general election, but I'm not a party member or an ideologue. I've never told anyone who I've voted for.

election vote party

It's easier to fix damage than it is to create it. by Brian Lamb

It's easier to fix damage than it is to create it.

damage easier

I don't, for the record, have a Tweety Bird fetish. by Brian Lamb

I don't, for the record, have a Tweety Bird fetish.

tweety-bird records bird

I think, in some ways, I like it when people tell me what they're thinking. I would rather have it that way than masquerade as if you're totally unbiased and objective.

me you people thinking

From the beginning, we promised folks that they'll see whatever event we cover in its entirety, from gavel to gavel - whether it's the House of Representatives or the Senate. That's the whole reason for being.

beginning see reason house

I don't like swearing on the air. As a matter of fact, I'm not a prude, but... I watch HBO and some of the comedy stuff, and I'm constantly asking myself, 'Why have we gone there?' It seems like it's unfortunate. It's so cheap. It's so easy.

myself comedy matter easy

I've been invited to appear on Letterman, but they wanted me to talk about a funny videotape of Congress. 'Bring us your outtakes!' That's not our job.

your job me funny

We have more voices from more points of view on the C-SPAN call-in show than I've heard anywhere else. You can literally tune us in every day and hear it all. You can't control it, and you shouldn't control it.

every-day view day you

The greatest thing about the call-in show is that you always felt like you were on a high wire without a net.

high like you always

If you get too excited about any one interview, you're making a m... by Brian Lamb

If you get too excited about any one interview, you're making a mistake, because people do cancel.

interview you mistake people