MPLP brings CNN ‘Crossfire’ hosts to state

November 7, 2003 - CNN "Crossfire" co-hosts James Carville and Tucker Carlson will bring their political sparring expertise to Michigan to raise funds for MSU’s Michigan Political Leadership Program (MPLP).

The two commentators will discuss current state and national political issues at Laurel Manor in Livonia on March 4, 2004, and during a breakfast program at Frederick Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids on March 5. Tickets go on sale today, Nov. 5.

"The MPLP is an invaluable resource for the future of Michigan, especially given this state's term limits on policymakers," MSU President Peter McPherson said. "Graduates of MPLP have been trained to work with others in analyzing, designing and delivering solutions to tough problems.

"The MPLP is clearly an investment in Michigan's future."

MPLP holds an annual dinner and breakfast program that attracts an audience of nearly 700 community and state policy leaders to raise funds needed yearly to support 24 fully paid fellowships. Fellows are selected from a pool of applicants from across the state to participate in a 10-weekend curriculum geared toward citizens who have been involved in their community and are considering a run for public office. Its four elements are personal leadership development, public policy process and analysis, effective governance and campaigning.

Carville, a political consultant, is best known for his long list of electoral successes and re-making political underdogs into upset winners. He is a best-selling author and co-star of the critically acclaimed new series about political consulting, HBO's "K-street." He is also co-host of CNN's "Crossfire," a talk show featuring political debate of current issues.

Carlson, a political analyst and journalist, came to CNN's "Crossfire" from the popular program, "Spin Room." Carlson has covered politics and crime for publications such as GQ, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. He released his first book, "Politics, Partisans, and Parasites: My Adventures in Cable News," in September.

Carville and Carlson follow paired speakers representing different political ideologies, including Bill Bradley and Jack Kemp, Haley Barbour and Leon Panetta, and Mario Cuomo and Warren Rudman. These duos have helped to raise funds to support nearly 325 fellowships. All contributions to the nonprofit program are 75 percent tax deductible.

To learn more about MPLP and to reserve individual, table, or sponsorship tickets for the March dinner or breakfast fund-raiser, call (517) 355-6672, Ext. 116, or visit the IPPSR Web site.

The MPLP is a program of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR), the nonpartisan policy network in MSU's College of Social Science.