West Virginia University’s Young Democrats will welcome political strategist and commentator James Carville to a town hall meeting from 3-4 p.m. Tuesday, March 30, in the Mountainlair Gluck Theatre.
The forum, part of Democrat Days, March 29-April 2, is one of many events designed to get college students involved in the political process, said Noah Barnes, president of Young Democrats.
Democrat Days was started in 2000 by our president, who wanted a week to promote democratic values,he said.It’s important to let people know we’re here and listening, and trying to represent their views.
Carville’s appearance coincides with the nationalhow Us the Jobsbus tour organized by the AFL -CIO and other labor leaders. West Virginia was included in the tour because it is a battleground state that could help determine who wins the White House in November, Barnes said.
Fifty-one people, each representing a state and Washington, D.C., are riding the red, white and blue flag-covered buses to call attention to the economy and talk about job struggles, he noted.
On Tuesday, the town hall meeting will be led by Carville and panelists Kevin Leyden, WVU associate professor of political science, and Dave Cormier, WVU economist and Extension associate professor with the Institute for Labor Study and Research.
Three of the bus riders will stand up and tell their personal stories. Also, people will have an opportunity to interact with Carville during a brief question-and-answer session.
Carville, often referred to as theRagin’Cajunfor his animated and colorful debating style, is a co-host of CNN ‘sCrossfire,a political debate program. He served as a political consultant for Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign and as a senior political adviser to the Clinton administration.
He co-authoredAll’s Fair: Love, War, and Running for Presidentwith his wife, Mary Matalin, former assistant to President Bush and counselor to Vice President Dick Cheney.
Other events during Democrat Days include:
Monday, March 29Young Democrats information booth and voter registration drive, all day, Mountainlair
Wednesday, March 31Local delegate, senate and secretary of state candidate forum moderated by U92 Feedbackhost Andrew Barnes, 7 p.m., Rhododendron Room, Mountainlair
Thursday, April 1Anybody But Bushbenefit show/Young Democrats fund-raiser (featuring 6’6”240, Kids Eating Pizza, Distant Shores and J. Marinelli), 9:30 p.m., 123 Pleasant St., $5 admission
Friday, April 2Political Jeopardy with the College Republicans at WVUp All Night, 10 p.m., Mountainlair Food Court
All events except for Thursday’s fund-raiser are open and free to the public.