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USA Today columnists to seek political common ground in PAC debate

By Trent Chaffee '09
April 15, 2008

Based on their Successful USA Today column, liberal democratic strategist Bob Beckel and conservative columnist Cal Thomas will come together to find "Common Ground" on critical domestic, security and social issues facing the United States during a debate on Thursday, April 17, at 7 p.m. in Boe Memorial Chapel. The event, sponsored by the St. Olaf Political Awareness Committee (PAC), is free and open to the public.

CommonGroundLarge
Bob Beckel (left) and Cal Thomas work to find political common ground.
More like a conversation between friends than a debate between enemies, Beckel and Thomas aim to inspire audiences to find their own beliefs and put aside the usual politics. In October 2007 the two authored the book Common Ground: How to Stop the Partisan War That is Destroying America. They will sign copies of the book following the debate.

"PAC was very interested in bringing Bob Beckel and Cal Thomas to campus because they demonstrate that healthy debate can take place on the pertinent political issues of today and that while liberals and conservatives may have different core beliefs, we can all cooperate to accomplish great things for our country," says PAC coordinator Annie Knutson '09.

Beckel has been involved in government for more than 30 years. He has been a political analyst for Fox News since 2003. As the deputy assistant secretary of state, he helped move the Panama Canal Treaties through Congress. Under President Jimmy Carter, Beckel led an administration effort to press Congress into passing the Middle East and Salt II treaties. In 1984 he managed Walter Mondale's presidential campaign. Through his career, Beckel has advised several campaigns, corporations, trade associations and labor unions.

Thomas is a 40-year veteran of broadcast and print journalism. His twice-weekly column appears in more than 600 newspapers nationwide. He is a regular panelist on Fox News Watch, and he also hosts a daily radio program syndicated to more than 300 stations nationwide.

Contact Kari VanDerVeen at 507-786-3970 or vanderve@stolaf.edu.