CNN Profiles - Paul Begala - Contributor

Contributor

Paul Begala is a Democratic strategist who serves as a political contributor for CNN, appearing frequently on CNN's The Situation Room as well as other programs on all CNN networks.

Read Full Bio

Latest

Eric Risberg/AP Opinion: RFK Jr.’s VP pick is a missile aimed at Biden Mar 27, 2024 Paul Begala writes that RFK’s selection ofNicole Shanahan, a Democratic donor from Northern California, as his running mate is the final point of proof that his campaign is a heat-seeking missile aimed at Biden.

• Video 1:27 Jeff Swensen/Getty Images Strategist explains how Trump’s post reveals what he’s ‘scared of’ 1:27 Aug 7, 2023 CNN political commentator Paul Begala discusses former President Donald Trump’s Truth Social post about the former Vice President Mike Pence.

Montinique Monroe/Getty Images Opinion: The move that’s sure to elect Trump in 2024 Mar 4, 2023 Paul Begala writes groups organizing a moderate third-party candidacy for president in 2024 would, despite their stated intentions, likely reward the most extreme, most divisive, most angry forces in our politics.

• Video 1:19 Getty Images Trump lashes out at Ron DeSantis on social media 1:19 Feb 20, 2023 Democratic strategist Paul Begala reacts to former President Donald Trump attacking Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on social media.

David Dee Delgado/Getty Images Opinion: The slogan hurting Democrats’ election chances Oct 19, 2022 To Democratic candidates running from the crime issue, political strategist Paul Begala says they have absolutely no reason to.

• Video 1:10 CNN Democratic strategist: Heart of party isn’t pain-in-the-a** White liberals 1:10 Oct 12, 2022 Democratic strategist Paul Begala fires back at former presidential candidate Andrew Yang over criticism that many inside the Democratic party do not want President Joe Biden to run for reelection in 2024.

• Video 1:46 Hear why Democratic strategist doesn’t like his party’s midterm strategy 1:46 Sep 28, 2022 Democrats spent millions to boost far-right candidates to win GOP nominations with the hopes of easily defeating them in this November’s general elections. Democratic strategist Paul Begala calls it “playing with fire” and explains why he has a problem with his party’s midterm strategy.

Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Opinion: Progressives are practically doing Republicans’ job for them Jul 14, 2022 Paul Begala writes that Democrats need to stop attacking President Joe Biden and start redirecting their criticism toward the Republican Party, which is posing the biggest obstacle to women’s rights, trans rights, climate change and democracy at large.

Alex Wong/Getty Images Opinion: Mark Shields’ invaluable advice Jun 18, 2022 Paul Begala writes, “Many years ago, when I was young, co*cky and lucky enough to run into early success, something wonderful and rare happened to me: I had the gift of being Mark Shields’ friend and the beneficiary of his hard-won wisdom.”

Carolyn Kaster/AP Opinion: Biden is finally tapping into a winning political strategy Apr 6, 2022 Paul Begala writes that if Democrats want to be competitive in the midterms, they should take notes on President Joe Biden’s remarks on the anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. Rather than just praising what Democrats accomplished, the President explained how Republicans could undermine those gains and leave Americans worse off.

Alex Brandon/AP A huge opportunity for an embattled Biden Feb 26, 2022 One of the things I learned in art history class at the University of Texas is perspective – that what makes things on a flat plane look three-dimensional is when the lines from each object converge on a single vanishing point.

Fauci exposes Rand Paul’s true motivations Jan 13, 2022 Paul Begala writes that the heated exchange between Dr. Anthony Fauci and Sen. Rand Paul was an opportunity for the GOP to, in a moment echoing one of the McCarthy era’s most notorious hearings, denounce the unwarranted attacks on Fauci. But, sadly, not even Sen. Mitt Romney was willing to call Paul out directly.

Win McNamee/Getty Images Did Joe Manchin just sink Biden’s plan? Dec 20, 2021 Paul Begala writes that, for many, Sen. Joe Manchin’s announcement that he planned to vote no on the Build Back Better bill sounded like a death knell for President Joe Biden’s ambitious plan. However, not all hope is lost.

Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg/Getty Images The war that we should all agree is worth fighting Dec 6, 2021 Paul Begala writes that 50 years ago, in the midst of poltical division, political parties came together to fight a common enemy: cancer. Now, Americans can come together once more to tackle the devastating disease that continues to cost too many lives.

Andrew Harnik/AP Opinion: Democrats better build an ark Nov 3, 2021 The Dems’ defeat in Virginia was a result of history, Democratic divisions and a Republican Party that is learning how to exploit racial and cultural issues…without wholeheartedly embracing Donald Trump, writes Paul Begala

Andrew Harnik/AP Democrats are playing a dangerous game: ‘Deal or End American Democracy’ Oct 12, 2021 If the ongoing negotiations over President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better agenda were a game show, it would not be called “Deal or No Deal,” Paul Begala writes. Rather, it would be “Deal or End American Democracy.” The stakes are much more than an historic opportunity to cut child poverty, expand Medicare, lower the cost of childcare, prescription drugs and higher education, and more.

About

Paul Begala is a Democratic strategist who serves as a political contributor for CNN, appearing frequently on CNN’s The Situation Room as well as other programs on all CNN networks.

Begala was formerly co-host of Crossfire, CNN’s political debate program. Begala first entered the national political scene after the consulting firm he and fellow Democratic strategist James Carville started, Carville & Begala, helped President Bill Clinton get elected in 1992. Serving in the Clinton administration as counselor to the president, he was a close adviser to Clinton and helped define and defend the administration’s agenda, serving as a principal public spokesman.

After leaving the Clinton administration, Begala joined Georgetown University as a research professor of government and public policy. In 2007, he served as Carl E. Sanders Political Leadership Scholar at the University of Georgia School of Law. He is currently an affiliated professor of public policy at Georgetown University’s Public Policy Institute. Begala is not a paid political consultant for any politicians or candidates for office.

Carville & Begala’s other well-known electoral successes as a political strategist include the 1986 gubernatorial victory of Bob Casey Sr., in Pennsylvania, the 1991 Senate victory of Harris Wofford, also in Pennsylvania, the 1990 gubernatorial victory of Georgia’s Zell Miller and the 1998 re-election of Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey. In 2006, he served as a senior strategist for U.S. Senate campaign of Bob Casey Jr. (D-Pa.) who defeated Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.).

Begala is the author of several best-selling books, including Is Our Children Learning?: The Case Against George W. Bush, and It’s Still the Economy, Stupid. He also co-authored the best-seller Buck Up, Suck Up and Come Back When You Foul Up with Carville, as well as Take it Back: Our Party, Our Country, Our Future. He is the author of the forthcoming book, Third Term: Why George W. Bush Loves John McCain. Begala helped John F. Kennedy Jr. launch George magazine, where he served as a contributing editor and wrote the “Capital Hillbilly” column. He has also written articles and opinion pieces for numerous other publications.

Begala earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Texas, where he taught before his work at the White House.

CNN Profiles - Paul Begala - Contributor | CNN (2024)

Contributor

Latest

About

References