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TV commentator, founder of conservative magazine to speak

Amanda Seitz, Campus Editor

Miami University College Republicans will kick off the annual Conservative Week with a visit from Bill Kristol, founder and editor of The Weekly Standard and a regular commentator on the Fox News Channel. Kristol will speak at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 12 in Taylor Auditorium at the Farmer School of Business.

College Republicans President Alex Coelho said the group targeted Kristol because of his experience in Washington and his influence that remains strong today.

"(The Weekly Standard) has incredible influence, especially in Washington, D.C. and throughout the nation," Coelho said.

Kristol served as the Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush's vice president, Dan Quayle. He also worked as a columnist for The New York Times and co-authored the 2003 New York Times bestseller, The War Over Iraq: America's Mission and Saddam's Tyranny. The Weekly Standard is a conservative, opinion magazine that was first published in September 1995.

It is Kristol's familiarity with the world of politics that has the community talking about his visit, according to Coelho.

"Our members are incredible excited," Coelho said. "We've had a lot of interest, throughout the Oxford and Butler County community."

Coelho said Kristol would speak to his audience about relevant topic in politics.

"He's going to speak on basically the state of politics right now," Coelho said. "Especially going into the elections for congress and governorship for 2010."

Junior Rachel Schwegman plans to attend the event and said she felt it was especially important with important Ohio elections coming up.

"I'm a political science major so I think every vote counts," Schwegman said. "I think it's good to raise awareness that elections are coming up, that primaries are coming up."

Coelho started planning to bring in the neoconservative voice in January and said Kristol's rare insight was his main reason for scheduling him to visit the campus.

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"His insight that he brings is one of the big reasons," Coelho said. "He is also relevant and influential today in D.C. and political circles. He brings about 25 years of D.C. experience and knowledge."

Kristol's experience will be inspirational to many, according to Coelho.

"Anyone's welcome," Coelho said.

Schwegman thought it was important for all differing viewpoints to hear what Kristol might say.

"I think it's good, for either side, liberal or conservative, to have these speakers come to Miami," Schwegman said. "We're not a campus where everyone is politically active, it's good to raise awareness."

Coelho said Kristol's ability to call elections would make him an interesting voice to hear so close to important Ohio primaries.

"He has a very accurate track record of predicting," Coelho said.