Dean to debate Buchanan

This promises to be interesting indeed:

Three-time Republican presidential nomination hopeful Pat Buchanan and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean will go head to head in Irvine Auditorium on Oct. 19, the Social Planning and Events Committee's Connaissance branch announced Friday.

The event, open to the Penn community and moderated by Annenberg School for Communication Dean Michael Delli Carpini, will center on the issues of the upcoming presidential election.

"This event is all about informing those who are uninformed," Connaissance board member and College senior Mark Guterman said. "Both of these leaders can speak very honestly and openly about the parties and their respective platforms."

Pennsylvania Federation of College Republicans chairman and Wharton senior David Copley expressed surprise, but also excitement, at the prospect of a debate between Buchanan and Dean.

"These are not party politicians," he said. "Pat Buchanan has ticked off the Republican party, and Howard Dean tried to remove [Democratic National Committee] Chairman Terry McAuliffe. They aren't scared to share their opinions, and they are at very opposite edges of the political spectrum. There promises to be fireworks."

President of the Penn College Democrats and College senior Rich Eisenberg said part of the event's value lies in the clout of the two speakers.

"Whenever you have high-profile speakers coming to campus to speak to students, it's a good thing," he said.

thanks, Barb, for the heads-up...