Being involved with the New Hampshire Institute of Politics has provided me with unrivaled connections and opportunities. My most fulfilling experience, though, occurred on Monday, February 4th when I had the immense privilege to attend Pizza and Politics with Fox New’s Carl Cameron.
Surprisingly humorous, down-to-earth, and absolutely brilliant, Cameron shared his unapologetically unbiased ideas and advice. His enthusiasm and genuine personality exuded through the entire discussion, and he inspired me to hold firm to my unaffiliated beliefs.
What’s the first word that crosses your mind when you hear Fox News? Conservative? Biased? Now, what about MSNBC? Liberal? Left-wing? These ideas permeated my preconceptions when I entered the NHIOP to meet Cameron.
I expected subtle critiques of the Obama Administration and even slight, quiet bitterness at Mitt Romney’s defeat. Nothing could have been further from the truth. Before beginning our discussion, Cameron asked, with a big smile, how many of us students were unaffiliated voters? I, and only I, raised my hand. Cameron, dumbfounded, expressed concern at blindly following one party’s ideology. The discussion, then, centered not around conservative ideals but on America’s divided nature!
Cameron expressed his dismay that too many Americans only watch Fox News or MSNBC, not both. He appeared concerned that voters today make up their minds based on party affiliation, not unbiased, objective facts. He especially seemed concerned that people pigeon-hole him as someone who merely rehashes right-wing ideology. With a laugh, he explained that he enjoys playing devil’s advocate; when discussing current events or the nation’s political situation, he often assumes an adversarial point of view (regardless of his own beliefs) to incite education and debate. It was incredibly refreshing to hear from someone who embraces intelligence, not merely a particular ideology.
Regardless of what career his young student listeners hope to enter one day, Cameron offered incredibly relevant insights and advice. He related stories of himself performing menial tasks as a young reporter. Without seeming pedantic or “preachy,” he suggested the importance of hard work and building connections.
He expressed the importance of truly becoming an informed citizen – of getting accounts of the same event from three, even four different media to understand the nuances. He implored us to understand different cultures within our own country and internationally.
In one respect, this seems to be a rehash of what professors, parents, and high-school teachers explained countless times. However, Cameron’s vibrant personality and down-to-earth demeanor made the information fresh and new. He made me want to take the advice to heart and act on it!
He seemed not like yet another lecturing elder but like, for lack of a better phrase, the “guy you want to get a beer with” to pick his brain. More than anything else, though, I got the impression that he held this advice dear to his own heart. It seemed like he imparted not what he thought he was “supposed to say,” but what actually makes him and the politicians on whom he reports successful. He was an open book, genuinely excited to talk to students and “tell it like it is.”
I expected that meeting Carl Cameron would be an exciting, worthwhile experience, but I could not have imagined exactly how fulfilling that hour and a half would prove to be. During my Saint Anselm career, I have been blessed with tremendous memories and learning experiences inside and outside of the classroom.
Even with a long list of contenders, I expect this meeting to stand out, and Cameron’s words of wisdom will certainly stay with me as I embark on my life beyond college.
