Faculty experts in a wide range of disciplines from the College of the Holy Cross are available to offer distinctive perspectives on some of the hot-button political issues of the 2012 presidential and Congressional campaigns. For more information, or for assistance scheduling an interview, please call Kristine Maloney or Cristal Steuer at 508-793-2419. Experts listed below may also be contacted for comment directly.
2012 election issues
David Schaefer, professor of political science
508-793-2252 (office), dschaefe@holycross.edu
Schaefer, whose scholarly research and analysis focuses on American political thought, can provide expert commentary on a multitude of issues related to the election including political parties, religion and politics, young voters, foreign policy, campaign spending, campaign rhetoric, economic inequality, Congressional elections, and the presidency.
Presidential campaigns, Congressional elections
Donald Brand, professor of political science
508-793-3402 (office), dbrand@holycross.edu
Brand specializes in the study of the presidency and American politics. Available to provide pre- and post-presidential debate and election analysis, he can also address critical Congressional races, including the closely watched Massachusetts senate race.
Foreign policy, wartime campaigns
Jerry Lembcke, associate professor of sociology
508-793-3050 (office), jlembcke@holycross.edu
A Vietnam veteran who has written and commented extensively on the Vietnam War and its impact on U.S. politics today, Lembcke can discuss candidates’ positions on foreign policy as well as the history of wartime campaigns.
Foreign policy; national security
Ward Thomas, professor of political science
508-793-3445 (office), wthomas@holycross.edu
An expert in international relations, national security, and terrorism, Thomas can provide insight on the candidates’ approaches to foreign policy; the impact of Osama Bin Laden’s and Moammar Gadhafi’s deaths on Obama’s campaign; international law as it pertains to war; international ethics, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; and terrorism.
Domestic issues, history of presidential elections
Edward O’Donnell, associate professor of history
508-793-3730 (office), eodonnell@holycross.edu
A frequent media commentator, O’Donnell can discuss domestic issues such as economic inequality (and the history of the 1% vs. 99% theme) and immigration, as well as pivotal elections in American history and the role of religion in a candidate’s electability.
Racial/ethnic politics
Melissa Weiner, assistant professor of sociology
508-793-2217 (office), mfweiner@holycross.edu
A sociologist with expertise in race and racial inequalities, Weiner has been involved in a number of grassroots political campaigns and can discuss racial and ethnic voting behaviors, voter suppression, and racially coded language in campaign advertising.
Campaign rhetoric
Patricia Bizzell, professor of English
508-791-6879 (office), pbizzell@holycross.edu
Available to comment on campaign rhetoric, Bizzell is former president of the Rhetoric Society of America and serves on the editorial board of Voices of Democracy: The U. S. Oratory Project which, among other things, presents interpretive essays and teaching apparatus for important speeches in American history. In addition, she has published works focused on rhetorical agendas in politics.
Religion and politics; Mormonism, Catholicism
Mathew Schmalz, associate professor of religious studies
508-793-2557 (office), mschmalz@holycross.edu
A regular contributor to the Washington Post’s On Faith blog and highly sought after media expert, Schmalz has written and commented extensively on the role of religion (particularly Catholicism and Mormonism) in both the 2008 and 2012 presidential races. A recent post for On Faith focused on the role of Cardinal Timothy Dolan in both the democratic and republican national conventions.
Religion and politics; Catholicism
Thomas Landy, director, Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J. Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture
508-793-3723 (office), tlandy@holycross.edu
A sociologist with expertise in religion and politics (particularly Catholicism), Landy is available to comment on the role of religion in the election. As director of the College’s McFarland Center, he frequently organizes conferences and lectures that address critical campaign issues like health care, economic inequality, foreign policy and global social justice within the context of various religious traditions.