Guest speech: Senior Editor and political analyst of CNN, Ms. Amy Walter

At the occasion of the forthcoming presidential elections in the US and furthering our good cooperation with the US Embassy in Vienna (Amerika Haus), the IMC Export Department gave audience to the Senior Editor and political analyst of CNN, Ms Amy Walter. The main purpose of Ms. Walter’s visit was to acquaint the participating students with the currents of the forthcoming presidential election in the United States of America.

After introductory word of Chairman for International Law & Global Political Studies and the principal host of the event Mr. Anis Bajrektarevic, a representative of the US Embassy, Ms. Kathy Perez announced Ms. Walter’s speech by providing some informative facts about her career and her activities for several US news broadcasters such as CNN, ABC, CBS, PBS, to name but few. (Simultaneously, each student got a hold of copy of the Program briefing made by the US embassy – actually an excellent folder-map with very useful information and links related to Ms. Walter’s presentation.)

Starting off with a short clarification of her motivation to operate in the field of politics and election analysis, the very eloquent and vivid Senior Editor continued with a description of the particularities of the current US presidential election. The respective particularities, in comparison to the former US elections reaching back until 1928, are characterized first of all by the nominated candidates. Both a female nominee, Hillary Clinton, and an Afro-American nominee, Barack Obama, for the first time representing the democratic fraction of the US politics. Not to forget of course their bipartisan opponent from the republican fraction, John McCain. Second, the monetary resources for the financing the election processes have for the first time the 800 million dollar mark with tendency to increase even more, due to a fund raising policy open for the public to donate little fractions to their favorite nominee.

In the latter course of the oration Ms. Walter highlighted strengths and weaknesses, characteristics and particularities of the three candidates’ campaigns, delivered a comprehensive comparison of them and underpinned her statements with facts and figures about the collected votes of each candidate. Besides, the speaker put an emphasis on the importance of delegates and super delegates, who hold a significant if not decisive power concerning the final result of the election which is still not doubtlessly predictable.

With reference to Barack Obama, Ms. Walter defined him as the “unknown new comer” who cemented his current top position by winning incrementally popular and delegate votes. The principal of his campaign embodies compassion, reliability and suitability for the colored population of the States, be it democratic or republican. At the moment Barack Obama holds 1418 delegates and has 30 federal states backing his nomination.

Hillary Clinton is described as the experienced former First Lady and US Senator who suits the roll of representing and appealing to the middle and upper class of the United States. Winning the states like New York, California, Ohio, Texas Primary and presumably Pennsylvania enable her to position as second best nominee with current 1251 delegates.

John Mc Cain, as formulated by Mr. Walter, has nearly insurmountable obstacles and difficulties to follow up the pace of his opponents. With the unfavorable heritage of the Bush’s presidency on his shoulders and the common call of the American voters for a change, he has to play with unequal cards as a (in Ms. Walter’s words: different) conservative republican.

The pursuit objectives of all three candidates are directed primarily to the war in Iraq, to profound alterations of foreign policy and of course to improvements and changes concerning the economy. In the light of these three areas, one can detect the substantial differences in the philosophy of the candidates which tend to vary merely in their style and make-up.

With her remark that the final result is still open and dependent on the forthcoming events and actions, even though Barack Obama is heading the election race, Ms. Walter brought the formal part of her visit to an end and the word was passed onto the students. This unique opportunity to receive expert knowledge in a direct and dialogical way was seized by numerous students who formulated exceptionally good questions extensively and comprehensively answered by our guest.
When the time was high and the weather invitational the informal part was displaced into the beautifully renovated garden of the IMC PIA premises where discussions and debates continued over a small cocktail for additional hour.

The participating students will carry this enriching speech long in mind and express their thankfulness to the guest, EXPORT organizers as well as to Ms. Kathy Perez and Ms. Alice Burton from the US Embassy for this excellent event.
Reflecting upon the event, Ms. Walter promised to return to the IMC with more lectures soon.

Photos: Marketing, Hermann Maglock & P. Poppenreiter
Text: P. Dangl