ADVISORY/Experts Available To Discuss Reaction to State of the Union Address.

Business Editors

ADVISORY...

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 29, 2003

TOPIC: For the first half of his State of the Union Address, President Bush focused on domestic policy, including strengthening the economy, overhauling Medicare and limiting damage awards from medical malpractice




				

				
				 
				


 lawsuits. The second half was devoted to the issue of the United States taking military action against Iraq if Saddam Hussein does not disarm. Some democrats remain skeptical and want more evidence presented before going to war with Iraq, according to an article by MSNBC.com. However, a CBS poll of 638 viewers found that Bush's address was convincing. Before his speech, 67 percent favored military action to remove Saddam Hussein. After the speech, the number increased to 77 percent. EXPERTS: ExpertSource can offer several highly qualified experts to comment on this story:

Steven Spiegel is the associate director of the UCLA Center for International Relations Middle East. He is also research director at the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation. Spiegel is extremely well connected in the area of Near Eastern politics. In the past, he has organized conferences with Abdullah Toukan, science adviser to King Hussein of Jordan, and Israeli scholar Shai Feldman, an arms control and strategic planning affairs expert. Spiegel also has served as senior foreign policy adviser to both U.S. Sen. Paul Tsongas and Middle East adviser to then-Gov. Bill Clinton. 310-206-0510, spiegel@polisci.ucla.edu

John Cohen is the President and CEO of PSComm, LLC, a technology solutions management firm (with an emphasis on law enforcement and public safety) that helps governments and private sectors harness emerging information and communications technologies. Mr. Cohen has an extensive background in counter terrorism, public safety and national security issues. Mr. Cohen is currently Co-Director of the Progressive Policy Institute's Homeland Security Task Force. PR: Carolyn Hong, 301-222-1450, chong@pscommllc.com

A prominent public affairs, public relations and political consultant, Joe Cerrell has worked professionally in politics for 44 years. Joe founded and currently serves as chairman and CEO of Cerrell Associates, Inc., one of California's oldest, largest and most respected government affairs, public relations and campaign management firms. During his career, Joe played key roles in the presidential campaigns of John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Hubert H. Humphrey, Lloyd Bentsen, John Glenn and Albert Gore. On his own, or as part of the firm, he has managed a wide variety of local and state campaigns, and pioneered the field of judicial campaign management. He is chairman emeritus and past president of the American Political Association of Political Consultants and past president of the International Association of Political Consultants. Currently, he is a Distinguished Visiting Professor in Political Science at Pepperdine University (Malibu, California). He also lectures and conducts seminars and political forums across the nation. PR: Dawn Pace, 323-466-3445, dawn@cerrell.com

ExpertSource cannot guarantee the immediate availability of these experts or their familiarity with this specific issue.

ExpertSource provides academic and industry experts to the media at no charge. Journalists are encouraged to submit queries to ExpertSource when seeking experts on specific subjects. An online registration form is available at http://www.businesswire.com/ifmd/index.html.