Plastic, mechanical and ever-shifting....
Posted on 10/19/2008 7:56:13 AM PDT by JustTheTruth
WASHINGTON - Former Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., for president on Sunday, criticizing his own Republican Party for what he called its narrow focus on irrelevant personal attacks over a serious approach to challenges he called unprecedented.
Powell, who for many years was considered the most likely candidate to become the first African-American president, said in an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he was not supporting Obama because of his race. He said he had watched both Obama and his Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, for many months and thought “either one of them would be a good president.”
But he said McCain’s choices in the last few weeks — especially his selection of Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska as his vice presidential running mate — had raised questions in his mind about McCain’s judgment.
“I don’t believe [Palin] is ready to be president of the United States,” Powell said flatly. By contrast, Obama’s running mate, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, “is ready to be president on day one.”
Powell also said he was “troubled” by Republican personal attacks on Obama, especially false intimations that Obama was Muslim and Republicans’ recent focus on Obama’s alleged connections to William Ayers, the founder of the radical ’60 Weather Underground.
Stressing that Obama was a lifelong Christian, Powell denounced Republican tactics that he said were insulting not only to to Obama but also to Muslims.
“The really right answer is what if he is?” Powell said, praising the contributions of millions of Muslim citizens to American society.
“I look at these kind of approaches to the campaign, and they trouble me,” Powell said. “Over the last seven weeks, the approach of the Republican Party has become narrower and narrower.”
In an interview Sunday on Fox News, McCain said he was not surprised by the announcement.
“I’ve always admired and respected General Powell,” said McCain, who cited the endorsements he had received from former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger, Alexander Haig, James Baker and Lawrence Eagleburger. “We have a respectful disagreement.”
Powell, a retired Army general who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under the first President Bush before becoming secretary of state in the current administration, is one of the most highly decorated military officers of modern times and an admired figure in both parties. The Obama campaign is likely to cite the endorsement as an answer to critics and undecided voters who have questioned the foreign policy credential of Obama, a first-term senator whose national experience amounts to four years in the Senate.
Powell said a major part of his decision to turn his back on his own party was his conclusion that Obama was the better option to repair frayed U.S. relations with allies overseas.
“This is the time for outreach,” Powell said, saying the next president would have to “reach out and show the world there is a new administration that is willing to reach out.”
In particular, he said, he welcomed Obama’s president to “talk to people we haven’t talked to,” a reference to Obama’s controversial pledge to hold talks with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
“I think that [Obama] has a definite way of doing business that will serve us well,” Powell said.
Unfortunatley I believe Powell did this because of race. I also believe that he can take the rest of his life going around to all the families of the lost and wounded in Iraq and tell them sorry, I must have been wrong about that war thing. Powell is gone to me now.
I think you’ve nailed it. Without the endorsement of Powell they may have only backed him at the 94% level. We are saved!
I believe that Powell stated something to the effect that: ‘the fragile coalition of arab allies would not hold together if America were to finish the job’.
O h M y G a w d!!!
Colin you of all people! I have been in and out of the Middle East and Pakistan this year and EVERY MUSLIM I TALK TO IS PROUD THAT OBAMA IS A MUSLIM!!!!!!
Powell can be blasted but this should be another wake up call to see how low the regard of Republican brand has sunk in the last 8 years. Voters want a change of direction.
If Republicans can’t recognize that and run a campaign where all they can offer is fear itself, then even an Obama will beat them.
What is needed is a New Conservative Contract with America setting forth where they want to lead the country. If not now then before 2010. Oust the Neocons bring back the Oldcons.
Powell made an ass and a hypocrite out of himself today spewing Obama camp talking points.
That was a big mistake that took his credibility down the toilet.
"Lifelong" apparently starts at 29.
Wow.
This gives 0bama another .0028% of the black vote, up to 99.76%
Even when he was in office,
it became increasingly clear that he
IS
a dyed-in-the-wool GLOBALIST/socialist/communist/Marxist/ Traitor.
Traitor to God, the American way and quite possibly apple pie.
Colin Powell is either a AA fool or a communist.
Don't paint me as anti-war. Saddam was like an ugly wound that needed lanced OR walled off. Where I'm going is how disappointed I was when Powell later said he basically didn't believe in what he said during that presentation.
If he'd simply said "We don't have the goods on Saddam. And I'm now resigning as Sec. of State." I'd have some level of respect for him.
Now Powell has totally "Jumped The Shark" like Fonzi. It's a disgraceful to a fairly good career.
How would you like to have this kind of "general" (small g intended), lead you into battle? Powell IS a disgrace! He sold his country AND his party out for his race.
Yes, Powell is the perfect example of what is wrong about
“reaching across the aisle”.
I have to say, I never liked him.
But “support” from people like him is apparently essential
in giving Obama cred he would never have on his own.
It would be nice if SOME candidate (McCain is no better than anyone else in this regard) would understand that to most voters the endorsement hunt is meaningless,and becomes nothing but a bolster to self-importance to the endorser and endorsee, and a way to get back ‘in the picture’, if not the White House.
People would dearly love to hear, just once, that they’re what matters.
Powell had already proven himself to be a traitor — this is just further confirmation.
He practiced treachery — he left Scooter Libby out to dry on felony charges on the phony Plame charges, when all the time, he knew it was his guy Armitage who “leaked” the BS info.
The way I understand it is that, once you are a muslim - you are ALWAYS a muslim - otherwise, you get beheaded - don't you?
Of course, Obama's muslim brothers know that & they are just wink-wink nodding until he gets elected. It's all part of the plan.
Huh. I guess people are voting their race this time.
Okay.
Plastic, mechanical and ever-shifting....
Make that 98% of the Americans of African decent supporting the half white Kansas guy from Illinois with a Muslim name. Nope, no racism here, move along, nothing to see here.
But if 98% of the WASPs supported a........., oh never mind!!
Gunner
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