The Center for U.S. Global Engagement continued its Impact ’08 in Pennsylvania effort with a panel discussion on the global challenges facing the next president featuring former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin. The panel was moderated by CNN Special Correspondent Frank Sesno. The program also included remarks by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, University of Pennsylvania President Dr. Amy Gutmann, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, and former Navy Secretary John Lehman.

ONE volunteer Amanda Waldman was fortunate enough to attend the event and shared some comments with me afterwards. She said that Rubin discussed at length the importance of utilizing SMART power instead of hard or soft power, meaning that in order for the world to recover from the very serious global recession, diplomats and world leaders need to find a balance between diplomacy, development, and defense.

-Brian Sweeney, ONE Vote 08 Field Organizer