Newspaper columnist and television host Robert Novak speaks yesterday evening at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum at the Institute of Politics. Novak gave his views on the upcoming presidential race and the war in Iraq.

Robert Novak, a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times and co-host of CNN’s Crossfire, disappointed audience members at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum last night by refusing to talk about his column that revealed the name of a CIA operative on weapons of mass destruction.

On July 14, 2003, Novak named Valerie Plame, the wife of the retired diplomat Joseph C. Wilson, as a CIA operative—an occupation she had kept secret—in his Chicago Sun-Times column.

Novak opened his talk entitled, “The Washington Overview,” with a list of five questions he is frequently asked. At the top of the list comes the question of who were the two senior administration officials who leaked Plame’s name.

“I have been told by my attorneys not to answer that question or any other questions about the CIA,” Novak said.

Many critics have claimed that the White House gave Plame’s name to Novak in order to get back at Wilson, her husband, after Wilson criticized the Bush administration for invading Iraq.

The CIA sent Wilson to Niger in February 2002 to investigate whether or not Iraq had purchased uranium with the intent to build weapons of mass destruction. After his trip, Wilson reported back to the White House that he doubted the veracity of reports that Iraq had purchased uranium from Niger.

While Novak was reticent about his July column, he had plenty to say about the upcoming 2004 presidential election. He spent the majority of his 20-minute speech discussing what factors would ultimately determine the presidential winner, focusing on the economy and the war in Iraq.

Novak, who has gained a reputation as a staunch conservative, criticized Democrats’ focus on the budget deficit.

“Most of all, [voters] are influenced by the economy,” Novak said. “People don’t give a damn about the deficit.”

Novak also argued that those with higher incomes of more than $50,000 usually vote Republican.

One audience member challenged this assertion in a question and answered session after Novak’s speech, pointing to the prevalence of stickers for Sen. John F. Kerry, D-Mass. on expensive automobiles in Massachusetts.

“You certainly can’t draw conclusions from the People’s Republic of Massachusetts,” Novak said.

Novak did, however, see one issue that could potentially bring down the Bush administration in the upcoming election.

“What is the issue that can bring across the Democrats?” Novak asked. “That is the war in Iraq.”

Novak said that he disagreed with the Bush administration’s decision to invade Iraq.