Odessa American Article

Liberal Bob Beckel and conservative Cal Thomas engaged a room of about 800 Thursday evening at the UTPB gym taking on the contentious issues that typically keep the United States divided.

The two stood on common ground that respect for opponents and patriotism will move America forward.

"Hear em' out - don't isolate yourself from them," Beckel said of opponents.

Beckel, a democratic strategist, and Thomas, a conservative columnist, coauthor a column for USA Today called Common Ground, which culminated into their book Common Ground: How to Stop the Partisan War that is Destroying America.

The title speaks for itself. The two argue in their book and on Thursday evening that mudslinging, dirty politics, partisanship and polarization lead to a place called nowhere - an inefficient political system.

They make the point that if both political parties would find a common ground, then "it will get government moving again," they wrote in their book.

However this is a political process, and they are not suggesting that the parties move to an ideological center.

"It's good to have a two-party system - it makes us stronger," Thomas said.

Shepperd Distinguished Lecture Series started in 1996 to bring in thoughtful people that the community can learn from, Executive Director of the JBS Public Leadership Institute Bobby Burns said.

And UTPB President David Watts brought the speakers in just days before a very heated and historic election, and that was not a coincidence.

Watts said the event accomplished what the institute intended, which was to teach the local community how the country can achieve common goals through meeting on common grounds.

One UTPB grad student disagreed. Jumon Hailey said he didn't believe in compromising.

"I'm concerned there's a cover up to say this nation is more united than it is," he said. "Our nation is in trouble regardless of who wins."

However Hailey said he enjoyed the opportunity to hear the values of the country from both sides.

Odessa High senior Avery McWilliams also came to the event to learn more about conservative and liberal views and how they plan to meet in the middle, she said.

Odessan Michael Halpert said he went to the event to be entertained - he, too, didn't think finding a common ground was possible.

But Beckel and Thomas managed to discuss where they met on contentious issues such as healthcare, war, abortion  and the "economic meltdown."

Thomas concluded with a story of his first trip to Normandy.

"When I saw the names on the tombstones in Normandy there were no Rs and Ds next to their names," he said. "They (WWII soldiers) didn't die for their party - they died for their country."