Bob Beckel

Bob Beckel
Born	Robert G. Beckel
Nationality	United States
Occupation	Political Pundit

Robert Beckel is an American political commentator and an analyst on the Fox News Channel. He is also a columnist for USA Today where he writes "point-counterpoint" style articles with friend and political opposite Cal Thomas. He is the brother of actor Graham Beckel.

Career

Beckel holds a B.A. from Wagner College. While in college, he worked for Robert F. Kennedy's presidential campaign in 1968. Early in his career, he joined the U.S. Department of State and became the youngest Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Carter administration. Beckel was the campaign manager for Walter Mondale's 1984 presidential campaign. During that campaign he became known as the man who wrapped the Wendy's slogan "Where's the Beef?" around Mondale's opponent for the Democratic nomination Gary Hart effectively. Said campaign as managed by Beckel resulted in Mondale's defeat which was the worst for any candidate in U.S. history in the Electoral College.

Beckel managed Alan Blinken's 2002 Senate campaign until he was dismissed after being targeted for extortion by a prostitute.

He was co-host of Crossfire Sunday on CNN alongside Tony Snow and later Lynne Cheney, and went on to Fox News Channel as a political analyst and commentator, regularly appearing on such shows as Hannity & Colmes (later Hannity), America's Newsroom and Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld. Beckel is a co-host of Fox News' The Five, a political talk show that replaced Glenn Beck in the 5 p.m. Eastern time slot in July 2011.

Beckel is a graduate school professor of politics at the George Washington University.

Personal struggles

Beckel, a recovering alcoholic, has spoken openly about his past addictions to drugs and alcohol, admitting in July 2011 on The Five: "I'm a recovering addict and cocaine was my drug of choice."

In 2007, Beckel was involved in an altercation in a Bethesda, Maryland grocery store parking lot with a man who took issue with his anti–George W. Bush bumper stickers. In October 2011, Beckel says he nearly choked to death at a Fox News reception, but was saved by Fox News chief Roger Ailes and The Five co-host Eric Bolling.

Controversial comments

Beckel initially evoked controversy in August 2011 when he implied on air that he had held back from criticizing his Fox News colleague Sarah Palin. He agreed with The Five co-host Greg Gutfeld when Gutfeld said he felt awkward making negative comments about Palin, because "it's like (badmouthing) a coworker." "I know exactly what you mean," Beckel added. "I'll be honest, I've pulled my punches." Both Gutfeld and Beckel later said they were joking, however.

In December 2010, with reference to Julian Assange, Beckel contradicted himself when he said, "This guy's a traitor, he's treasonous, and he has broken every law of the United States. And I'm not for the death penalty, so [...] there's only one way to do it: illegally shoot the son of a bitch."

Bibliography

• 2007, Common Ground: How to Stop the Partisan War That Is Destroying America with Cal Thomas (ISBN 978-0-06-123634-1)

External links

• Fox News' Bob Beckel
• Weekly USA Today Column Common Ground
• Bob Beckel Topics Page - USA Today
• And You Think He's Feisty on Fox: Beckel's Parking Lot Punch-Out