There will be a major political gathering in Downtown Los Angeles this coming week-end.  The Los Angeles Convention Center will be hosting the first annual Politicon.  Hailed as an unconventional political convention,  this nonpartisan event is a Comic-Con style festival. The 2 day event is full of panels, debates, TV screenings, and even some comedy performances.

Media outlets such as Los Angeles Times, The Huffington Post, VICE News, #EmergingUS, Newsweek, The Young Turks, KCRW, The Daily Beast, Slate, Salem Media Group, Think Progress, Politico and more will be programming events, reporting and broadcasting live from Politicon.

Politicon is open to the public. It kicks off Friday, Oct. 9 from 2pm to 9pm and Saturday, Oct. 10 from 11am to 8pm. Public tickets for the entire weekend are available for $50; one-day tickets are $25 for Friday and $35 for Saturday.

Clay Aiken will be very busy both days at Politicon.  He will be involved with 5 different events at the Convention Center.  The following is Clay’s schedule for the two-day event.

Friday

5:00 PM – 6:30 PM     “THE RUNNER UP” SCREENING + Q&A

An all-access look at one of the most unique political campaigns of the past election year – the Congressional run of American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken, examining what it takes to run a campaign from the perspective of a candidate who is both a newcomer to the American political scene, and also a well-known celebrity. Followed by a Q&A with Clay Aiken and director Jonathan Chinn.

6:30 PM – 7:30 PM    RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: FROM BAKERIES TO COURTHOUSES

From bakeries to boardrooms to bathrooms, from sex-ed to speech to the Supreme Court: balancing civil liberties in an increasingly complex culture.

Saturday

12:15 PM – 1:15 PM   CELEBRITY INFLUENCE IN POLITICS

Do celebrities help or hurt public policy or candidates they speak up about? And how involved, if at all, should they get into politics? Our all star panel chimes in!

Patrick Millsaps, Jordan Klepper, Ken Rudin, Clay Aiken, moderated by Ted Johnson

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM     BIG MONEY, BIG POLITICS

Campaigns to run for Congress can be in the millions, and Presidential campaigns can cost over half a billion dollars, with donors having varying expectations. Should additional limits and new rules be placed on political campaigns?

4:30 PM – 7:30 PM    MULTI-SCHOOL ROUNDTABLE DEBATES

Southern California’s most promising students teams square off in parliamentary style debates. Get ready to rumble!

Maybe Clay had better wear his running shoes.  His schedule is a bit tight!!

The biography of Clay Aiken that is on the Politicon website is excellent.  There are a few sections that I particularly like:

Clay Aiken has, himself, admitted that his tombstone may one day read “That Guy From American Idol”. But history (and the stone cutters) would be sorely remiss to diminish his accomplishments to only his participation on that show. In fact, a strong case could be made that his successes on American Idol in 2003 only served to set him up for larger achievements in areas far from the Idolstage…

…While his voice may be most well-known to Americans for his singing, Clay has made an effort to use it to impact positive change, as well. It’s no wonder that the Washington Post called Clay a man with “an epic voice.”

If you are interested in more information about Politicon or reading the entire bio of Clay, click HERE

This event is an excellent opportunity for many people to see Clay as more than a singing celebrity.  I am sure that those who hear him speak at this event will be impressed and interested in what else he has to say!

I do hope that we will get some news about Politicon and Clay’s appearances over the week-end.