caption website birth_date spouse image article_title birth_name occupation
avlon in north carolina , january 2012 -lsb- http://www.johnavlon.com johnavlon.com -rsb- 19 july 1973 margaret hoover -lrb- m. 2009 -rrb- john_avlon_pic . jpg john avlon
 john phillips avlon author and columnist
john avlon

john phillips avlon -lrb- born january 19 , 1973 -rrb- is an american journalist and political commentator who is the editor in chief of `` the daily beast '' and a `` cnn '' political analyst .
he is the author of `` independent nation : how centrists can change american politics '' , which critically appraises both traditional american centrism and the more recent radical centrism .
he is also the author of `` wingnuts : how the lunatic fringe is hijacking america '' .
former president bill clinton said that the book `` wingnuts '' `` offers a clear and comprehensive review of the forces on the outer edges of the political spectrum that shape and distort our political debate .
shedding more heat than light they drive frustrated alienated citizens away from the reasoned discourse that can produce real solutions to our problems . ''
avlon has also been a columnist and associate editor for `` the new york sun '' and worked as chief speechwriter for former new york mayor rudolph giuliani .
