CNN analyst to offer views on war

CNN political analyst Tucker Carlson is scheduled to discuss his views and insights on national politics during a lecture at 7:30 p.m., April 15, in the IU Auditorium. Union Board is sponsoring the lecture, which is free and open to the public.\nUnion Board Lectures Director Lydia Roll said plans for Carlson's visit began in February when committee members expressed a strong interest in bringing the CNN analyst to IU. Carlson's arrival marks the fourth and final installment of the Union Board lecture series for this semester.\n"We wanted to invite a political speaker, and we thought that (Carlson's) strong reputation and consistent presence in the spotlight made him a good candidate," Roll said. "Plus since he's on TV all the time, there wasn't any doubt that he'd be a great public speaker."\nIn his lecture, "The Political Landscape," Carlson is expected to speak about current political issues surrounding the current war with Iraq as well as the off-camera personalities of some of the politicians he has interviewed, such as Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton and Sen. John McCain.\n"It should be really interesting to hear about what it's like to deal with these celebrity politicians when the cameras aren't on," said Union Board Director of Marketing Claire Tramm.\nCarlson is well recognized as the energetic, bow tie-attired conservative on CNN's "Crossfire," a political debate program that airs nightly before a live audience at George Washington University. "Crossfire," which includes Paul Begala, James Carville and Bob Novak as Carlson's co-hosts, is known for its up-to-date and balanced political discussion of the news. To complement his work on "Crossfire," Carlson is also a CNN analyst, based in the network's Washington, D.C., bureau, and he has written political columns for The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.\n"Crossfire" fans know Carlson as the young and animated conservative who is known for voicing his political views in an honest, clear-cut manner. Roll said she expects these qualities will appeal to a college-aged audience.\n"(Carlson) has a good sense of humor and fresh face to his advantage," Roll said. "I think his youth and personality will play a big role in drumming up more student involvement." \nTramm said the Union Board lecture committee was attracted by Carlson's conservative views, saying his right-winged political stance balances the more leftist political views of past Union Board lecturers.\nIU sophomore and member of the Union Board Lecture Committee Matthew Stevenson said he hopes Carlson's strong conservative views will allow students to look at political issues from a new perspective.\n"I think the audience will really enjoy the lecture," he said. "Hopefully, after hearing what he has to say, they'll have the opportunity to look at events from another point of view."\nAfter Carlson's lecture, audience members will have the opportunity to confront the TV host during a question and answer session. Roll said she hopes students take advantage of the rare opportunity to hear a leading political analyst shed light on their own questions and concerns.