Mona Charen
Encyclopedia
Mona Charen is an American
columnist
, political analyst, and the author of two best-selling books, Useful Idiots: How Liberals Got it Wrong in the Cold War and Still Blame America First (2003) and Do-Gooders: How Liberals Harm Those They Claim to Help — and the Rest of Us (2005). Her political stance is conservative. Charen usually writes about foreign policy, terrorism, politics, and culture. She regularly writes about her Jewish faith
and is also known for her generally pro-Israel
views. On ecological
issues, Charen often writes disparagingly about environmentalists, who, she argues, often "may not know what they're talking about".
, where she went to school with fellow journalist Ruth Marcus
starting in fourth grade. She received her B.A. from Barnard College
in 1979 and a law degree from The George Washington University Law School
in 1984. She wrote a column for National Review
magazine, where she was an editorial assistant. Later she joined the staff of First Lady Nancy Reagan
as a speechwriter.
Charen served as Jack Kemp
's speechwriter during his unsuccessful 1988 presidential bid. Ms. Charen launched her syndicated column in 1987, and it has become one of the fastest-growing columns in the industry. http://www.creators.com/opinion/mona-charen-about.html It is syndicated by Creators Syndicate
and is featured in more than 200 papers, including the Boston Globe, Baltimore Sun, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Washington Times
.
Charen was a regular weekly commentator on CNN
's The Capital Gang, which appeared on Saturdays. Following an on-air heated exchange with fellow panelist Al Hunt
, after which the two of them did not appear on the same panel for several weeks, Charen switched to Capital Gang Sunday when that program was launched, appearing until the program's cancellation.
Her columns also appear online at National Review Online, TownHall.com
and the e-zine Jewish World Review
. Charen has spoken out in disagreement with former Capital Gang
co-host Robert Novak
regarding her tenure on the show and the reason for her departure. This caused a heated editorial exchange between her and Novak.
In 2010, Charen won the Eric Breindel Journalism Award.
Charen is married to Robert P. "Bob" Parker, lawyer and litigation partner with Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. They have three sons, Jonathan, David and Benjamin.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
, political analyst, and the author of two best-selling books, Useful Idiots: How Liberals Got it Wrong in the Cold War and Still Blame America First (2003) and Do-Gooders: How Liberals Harm Those They Claim to Help — and the Rest of Us (2005). Her political stance is conservative. Charen usually writes about foreign policy, terrorism, politics, and culture. She regularly writes about her Jewish faith
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
and is also known for her generally pro-Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
views. On ecological
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
issues, Charen often writes disparagingly about environmentalists, who, she argues, often "may not know what they're talking about".
Life and career
Charen, born in 1957 in New York City, was raised in Livingston, New JerseyLivingston, New Jersey
Livingston is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 29,366.Livingston was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 5, 1813, from portions of Caldwell Township and Springfield...
, where she went to school with fellow journalist Ruth Marcus
Ruth Marcus
Ruth Marcus may refer to:*Ruth Barcan Marcus, professor of philosophy*Ruth Marcus , opinion columnist for the Washington Post...
starting in fourth grade. She received her B.A. from Barnard College
Barnard College
Barnard College is a private women's liberal arts college and a member of the Seven Sisters. Founded in 1889, Barnard has been affiliated with Columbia University since 1900. The campus stretches along Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in the borough...
in 1979 and a law degree from The George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School, commonly referred to as GW Law, is the law school of The George Washington University. It was founded in 1825 and is the oldest law school in Washington, D.C. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a charter member of the...
in 1984. She wrote a column for National Review
National Review
National Review is a biweekly magazine founded by the late author William F. Buckley, Jr., in 1955 and based in New York City. It describes itself as "America's most widely read and influential magazine and web site for conservative news, commentary, and opinion."Although the print version of the...
magazine, where she was an editorial assistant. Later she joined the staff of First Lady Nancy Reagan
Nancy Reagan
Nancy Davis Reagan is the widow of former United States President Ronald Reagan and was First Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989....
as a speechwriter.
Charen served as Jack Kemp
Jack Kemp
Jack French Kemp was an American politician and a collegiate and professional football player. A Republican, he served as Housing Secretary in the administration of President George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1993, having previously served nine terms as a congressman for Western New York's 31st...
's speechwriter during his unsuccessful 1988 presidential bid. Ms. Charen launched her syndicated column in 1987, and it has become one of the fastest-growing columns in the industry. http://www.creators.com/opinion/mona-charen-about.html It is syndicated by Creators Syndicate
Creators Syndicate
Creators Syndicate is an independent distributor of comic strips and syndicated columns for daily newspapers. It was founded in 1987 by Richard S. Newcombe, and is based in Los Angeles. Creators was one of the first syndicates to allow its clients to maintain creative control of their material...
and is featured in more than 200 papers, including the Boston Globe, Baltimore Sun, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is the major city-wide newspaper in St. Louis, Missouri. Although written to serve Greater St. Louis, the Post-Dispatch is one of the largest newspapers in the Midwestern United States, and is available and read as far west as Kansas City, Missouri, as far south as...
, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Washington Times
The Washington Times
The Washington Times is a daily broadsheet newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. It was founded in 1982 by Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon, and until 2010 was owned by News World Communications, an international media conglomerate associated with the...
.
Charen was a regular weekly commentator on CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
's The Capital Gang, which appeared on Saturdays. Following an on-air heated exchange with fellow panelist Al Hunt
Al Hunt
Albert R. Hunt Jr. is the executive Washington editor for Bloomberg News, a subsidiary of Bloomberg L.P. Hunt hosts the Sunday morning talk show Political Capital on Bloomberg Television, which airs on Friday night.-Personal life:...
, after which the two of them did not appear on the same panel for several weeks, Charen switched to Capital Gang Sunday when that program was launched, appearing until the program's cancellation.
Her columns also appear online at National Review Online, TownHall.com
Townhall.com
Townhall.com is a web-based publication primarily dedicated to conservative United States politics. It was previously operated by the Heritage Foundation, but is now owned and operated by Salem Communications...
and the e-zine Jewish World Review
Jewish World Review
Jewish World Review is a free, online magazine updated Monday through Friday , which seeks to appeal to "people of faith and those interested in learning more about contemporary Judaism from Jews who take their religion seriously."It carries informational articles related to Judaism, dozens of...
. Charen has spoken out in disagreement with former Capital Gang
Capital Gang
Capital Gang was a weekly political talk show on CNN. It aired on Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. ET.The original panel was Pat Buchanan, Robert Novak, Al Hunt, and Mark Shields. Mona Charen and Margaret Warner joined the panel in 1992, when Buchanan left the show to run for president in 1992...
co-host Robert Novak
Robert Novak
Robert David Sanders "Bob" Novak was an American syndicated columnist, journalist, television personality, author, and conservative political commentator. After working for two newspapers before serving for the U.S. Army in the Korean War, he became a reporter for the Associated Press and then for...
regarding her tenure on the show and the reason for her departure. This caused a heated editorial exchange between her and Novak.
In 2010, Charen won the Eric Breindel Journalism Award.
Charen is married to Robert P. "Bob" Parker, lawyer and litigation partner with Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. They have three sons, Jonathan, David and Benjamin.
External links
- Podcasts of Charen's recent articles
- Mona Charen Features at Creators SyndicateCreators SyndicateCreators Syndicate is an independent distributor of comic strips and syndicated columns for daily newspapers. It was founded in 1987 by Richard S. Newcombe, and is based in Los Angeles. Creators was one of the first syndicates to allow its clients to maintain creative control of their material...
- C-SPAN Q & A program Mona Charen and Ruth Marcus (transcript and link to video)