Issue date: 2/4/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Aaron Schwendiman Susan Rice, Obama's senior foreign policy advisor, spoke at the Hinckley Institute of Politics on Friday.

Susan Rice, senior foreign policy adviser to Sen. Barack Obama, urged students to "seize the moment" and vote for Obama -- the candidate she said has the ability to take America forward as a nation and in the world.

"These are pivotal times where we face enormous challenges. We have no time to waste," Rice said during her visit to the U's Hinckley Institute of Politics on Feb. 1.

Rice, who was former assistant secretary of state on African affairs during the Clinton administration, said Obama has the "transformational leadership" to unite Americans, address problems at home and renew leadership abroad.

Students in attendance expressed confidence in Obama's capability to restore America's global image.

"We can reposition ourselves not only as the greatest power in the world, but have people look at us as…an example of democracy," said Paul Martin, a sophomore studying business and Japanese.

Martin said he supports Obama because of his plan to pull out of Iraq and refocus attention on Afghanistan, as well as his stances on world trade and tax breaks for the middle class.

Sarah Day, a sophomore in environmental studies, said she was turned off by politics in the 2004 presidential election, but Obama has the power to unite the country and motivate people.

"(With him), I could go out into the world and not feel ashamed to be an American," Day said.

Kael Weston, a diplomat for the State Department who has served with the military in both Afghanistan and Iraq, spoke in support of Obama. "He had the courage to stand up (about Iraq) when others wouldn't," Weston said.

Weston, who graduated from the U in 1996, is a part of a democratic group started in Iraq called Donkeys in the Desert. He said he was able to speak with Obama about the war and was inspired by his willingness to listen.

Weston said this election is not just about what happens in this country, which he related with an experience he had in Afghanistan about three weeks ago speaking with Afghan college students about the American political process.

"They're watching us, and they're paying attention," Weston said. "This election is not just about change in our country but how the world sees us."

Rice said Obama's life experience and diverse background would make him a strong face for America.

"Having a human, real life connection to the challenges, fears and hopes (people face) is exactly the kind of insight and perspective we need at a time when we need to restore America to the rest of the world," Rice said.

Rice advocated Obama's foreign policy in the Middle East, saying he would "reinvigorate diplomacy" through negotiations and end the war in Iraq.

"He shows the world America is capable of learning from mistakes and (moving) beyond that, to show we're growing, learning and ready again to lead the world in a fashion that is more than (just focused on) ourselves," Rice said.


r.mcconkie@chronicle.utah.edu

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