Residence Washington, D. C. Children Sarah Barone Role Pundit | Name Michael Barone Nationality United States | |
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Occupation social historian, lawyer, opinion writer Television Fox News ChannelThe McLaughlin Group Parents Alice Katherine Barone, Charles Gerald Barone Books The Almanac of American, Our First Revolution: The Rem, Our Country: The Shap, Hard America - Soft Amer, The new Americans Similar People Byron York, David Limbaugh, Jonah Goldberg, Thomas Sowell, Joan Shorenstein Profiles | ||
Michael D. Barone (born September 19, 1944) is an American conservative political analyst, historian, expert pundit and journalist. He is known for being the principal author of The Almanac of American Politics, a highly detailed reference work on Congress and state politics; it has been published biennially by National Journal since 1972. The Almanac has been called "definitive and essential for anyone writing seriously about campaigns and Congress." Barone is also a regular commentator on United States elections and political trends for the Fox News Channel. In April 2009, Barone joined the Washington Examiner, leaving his position of 18 years at US News and World Report. He is based at the American Enterprise Institute as a resident fellow. He has wrtitten numerous books and essays on American political and demographic history.
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Background
Barone was born in Highland Park, Michigan, the son of Alice Katherine (née Darcy) and Charles Gerald "Jerry" Barone, MD, a surgeon. His father was of Italian descent and his mother of Irish descent. He graduated from Cranbrook School in 1962. He received a bachelor's degree from Harvard College in 1966 and a law degree from Yale Law School in 1969, where he was an editor of the Yale Law Journal. Although he has been conservative as an adult, in the 1960s he worked as an intern for Jerome Cavanagh, the Democratic mayor of Detroit. He was also a supporter of George McGovern in 1972. In 1975 Barone married Joan Shorenstein. She died at age 38 in 1985 after a 10-year battle with cancer.
Career
Barone is a Senior Political Analyst for the free Washington Examiner, where he writes a twice weekly column and contributes to their Beltway Confidential blog. His column is nationally syndicated by Creators Syndicate. He is also a frequent contributor during Fox News Channel's election coverage. His political views are generally conservative. Barone has said he is not a religious believer, although he is sympathetic to and respectful of socially conservative believers.
His commentary has been concerned with the topic of immigration. Perhaps partly as a result of being a descendant of Italian immigrants, Barone takes an optimistic view of contemporary immigration into the US. He says that Hispanic immigration has parallels to the Italian experience and that, given the right circumstances, current and future Hispanic and other immigrants can become Americanized and assimilated, just as the Italians were.
Writings
He is the author of several books:
• Shaping Our Nation: How Surges of Migration Transformed America and Its Politics (Growth Forum, 2013)
Controversy
On November 11, 2008, Barone said journalists trashed Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the Republicans' vice presidential nominee, because "she did not abort her Down syndrome baby." Barone was speaking at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago to the 121st annual meeting of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges. Barone later confirmed making the remarks but claimed to be joking.