Chad Lundquist/Nevada Appeal Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., talks with Meredith Adler and other students from Carson High School before addressing the Nevada Legislature on Tuesday.
Four hours before he was set to address the legislators of Nevada, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., was facing a slightly smaller audience.
Reid met with 11 students from Carson High School, including students participating in advanced-placement government, video production, student leadership and media classes.
"It was important to get video and newspaper students in because they will get excited, and it might push them more into those career paths," said Brian Reedy, video production teacher.
The students met with Reid at the legislative building Tuesday afternoon and were allowed to question him on a variety of topics.
While the students wanted Reid's views on the methamphetamine problem and No Child Left Behind, the main concern related to foreign policies, including the war in Iraq.
"I think Iraq is the biggest foreign policy blunder in the history of our country. It has set our relations with countries around the world back for generations," Reid said.
Reid also talked about the importance of investing in alternative energy, instead of relying on foreign oil.
"(The Bush) administration doesn't believe global warming exists, and so they do nothing but blow big wet kisses to the oil companies," Reid said.
Even with the short amount of time they had, the students said they felt like Reid listened to them and took them seriously.
"He was very friendly and open to all our questions," said Bryan Byrne. "It's different, here is someone you don't get to see every day. It's amazing that we get to talk to one of the most powerful people in the world."
The students were also on the floor of the Legislature during Reid's speech, and several of them took part in a press conference Reid conducted with reporters Tuesday afternoon.
"Real life is 10,000 times better than teaching out of a book. It just really exposes these students to the people who are there in the trenches," Reedy said.
With Reid's speech coming on the eve of the first Democratic presidential debate of the 2008 election, the students asked if he had any aspirations for the White House.
"I think I'm happy where I am. At my age, I enjoy where I am, and this is where I want to be," Reid said.
• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.