def connect():
       global test
       test = str(field1.get())
       print "connecting..."
       print test

root = Tk()
root.title("My Application")

field1 = Entry(root) 
field1["width"] = 80 
field1["fg"] = "navy" 
field1.pack({"side": "top"})

CONNECT = Button(root) 
CONNECT["text"] = "Connect" # connect should
# be called here 
CONNECT["fg"] = "navy" 
CONNECT["command"] = connect()
CONNECT.pack({"side": "right"})

root.mainloop() 

CONNECT["command"] = connect()

CONNECT["command"] = connect