Political Commentators Begala, Schlapp to Talk Midterm Elections at NBAA-BACE

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) announced that CNN commentator Paul Begala and political consultant Matt Schlapp will present an informative “both sides of the aisle” look at the 2018 midterm elections at the Day 2 Keynote of NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) taking place Wednesday, Oct. 17 in Orlando, FL.

With vastly differing views on today’s political climate, Begala and Schlapp are sure to offer contrasting and colorful insights into the hottest political issues facing our nation heading into the midterm elections on Tuesday, Nov. 6, just weeks after the convention concludes.

“This is an important election year, and we look forward to having Paul Begala and Matt Schlapp at our annual convention,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “These recognized thought leaders, from the political left and right, will each surely bring their own unique brand of clarity and style to the discussion.”

Begala played a central role in electing two different presidents, most recently as a senior adviser for the pro-Obama Super PAC in the 2012 presidential election, and earlier, in teaming up with James Carville to help engineer Bill Clinton's presidential campaign. He was recently inducted into the American Association of Political Consultants' Hall of Fame due to a long career that includes authoring several New York Times best-selling political books.

Begala is an affiliated professor of Public Policy at Georgetown University. He has also taught at the University of Texas and the University of Georgia.

Matt Schlapp has more than 20 years of government, corporate and political experience, and is a principal at Cove Strategies, a boutique government and public relations firm he and his wife, Mercy Schlapp, founded in 2009. He has been a political advisor in many top-level Washington, DC assignments, including serving as deputy assistant and political advisor for President George W. Bush.

Schlapp is currently chair of the American Conservative Union and the American Conservative Union Foundation, which is known for its annual conference, CPAC. He also serves on the board of The Boys and Girls Clubs of America and on the Eisenhower Memorial Advisory Committee. Schlapp has directed major federal public policy strategies at Koch Companies Public Sector, LLC, and currently hosts a weekly Sirius XM radio show called CPAC 365. Schlapp has appeared as a political commentator on Fox News, MSNBC, NBC, CNN, Fox Business, PBS, ABC and CBS

NBAA-BACE is business aviation’s most important annual event, where participants have an unequaled opportunity to view the latest business aircraft, products, technology and services the industry offers. Held this year at the Orange County Convention Center and Orlando Executive Airport, the event also offers a premier networking venue and dozens of education sessions.