Herb Kohl: “I will be casting my vote in support of the nomination of Dr. Condoleezza Rice as our next Secretary of State. Dr. Rice…”

“I will be casting my vote in support of the nomination of Dr. Condoleezza Rice as our next Secretary of State. Dr. Rice currently serves as President Bush's National Security Advisor. In that position, she has earned the trust and the confidence of the President. Her stellar credentials and her remarkable success story, despite the barriers of segregation in Birmingham, AL, are an inspiration. Dr. Rice will assume the job of our Nation's top diplomat not only during a time of war but also during a time in which the United States faces countless other challenges. In short, Dr. Rice will have her work cut out for her. As she noted in her opening statement to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 'We must use American diplomacy to help create a balance of power in the world that favors freedom. And the time for diplomacy is now.' Indeed. The extent to which we have alienated our allies and aroused suspicion about our policies is breathtaking in contrast to the tremendous support and sympathy we experienced in the aftermath of 9/11. Even as we pour hundreds of billions of dollars into our efforts in the Middle East, there is much that needs to be done to win the war of ideas in the Muslim world and beyond. There are many lofty ideals which the President extolled in his inaugural address--democracy and freedom, liberty for all--these are ideals we all share.…”