SALADO – Two of the country’s liveliest political journalists will be in Central Texas on October 1st to give their views on how to bring the country back together after the divisive presidential election.

The presentation by columnist Cal Thomas and television commentator Bob Beckel is the second program in the Institute for the Humanities at Salado’s series on Creativity.  

It is being co-sponsored by the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor’s College of Humanities.  

These co-authors, newspaper columnists and TV analysts, who are on different sides of the political spectrum, will present a joint lecture based on their best-selling book, Common Ground: How to Stop the Partisan War that is Destroying America. It will be a creative look at saving the “middle ground” from the Red State/Blue State madness.

This special lecture will be held Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008, from 6-8 p.m., at the Lord Conference Center in the Parker Academic Center at UMHB, 10th and College Aves. in Belton.

A reception and book signing with the speakers will follow.

The cost is $35.00 for the public and $30.00 for Institute members. Advance registration is encouraged but payment can also be made at the door.

Thomas is one of America’s most controversial columnists and most influential Christian journalists. His syndicated op-ed column appears in more than 600 national newspapers and he hosts a daily radio program heard on more than 300 stations nationwide.

He is a commentator/analyst for the Fox News Channel. He has written ten books, including “Blinded by Might: Why the Religious Right Can’t Save America.”

Thomas is a 40-year veteran of broadcast and print journalism working for NBC News in Washington, D.C. and hosting his own program on CNBC. Thomas was vice president of the Moral Majority from 1980 to 1985. He is a graduate of American University.

Beckel is one of Washington’s most prolific speakers and leading political analysts. He is currently the chief on-air Democratic analyst for the Fox News Network.

Along with conservative columnist Cal Thomas, Beckel has recently launched a column for USA Today called Common Ground.

The twice monthly column seeks to find consensus on divisive policy issues. He and Thomas also co-wrote a book by that same name.

Before turning to journalism, Beckel had careers in politics and government as well as a stint in the Peace Corps. He served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Carter Administration. He headed his own political consulting firm and managed Walter Mondale’s presidential campaign.

Beckel is a graduate school professor of politics at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and is a graduate of Wagner College in New York.