“The GOP has scores of racists”: A former Bush official condemns modern Republican orthodoxy

Salon ^ | 04/10/2015 | Manny Otiko

[SeekAndFind]

Lawrence Wilkerson is a contradictory figure.

Wilkerson is a career military man, who served as chief of staff for Secretary of State Colin Powell; but he has also voiced reluctance to involve American forces in foreign conflicts, and slammed the Bush administration for its handling of the Iraq War. He is also a lifelong Republican who, far from just criticizing his party, has actually gone on the warpath against it at times.

When Powell was attacked by conservatives in 2012 for endorsing Barack Obama for reelection — Mitt Romney surrogate John Sununu famously suggested that the endorsement was motivated by race — Wilkerson sprung to the defense of his former boss, saying that the Republican Party was “full of racists.”

Wilkerson stands by those assertions. In a recent conversation with Salon, the retired U.S. Army colonel renewed his criticism of the GOP and the Bush administration. He also addressed recent saber rattling by Republicans on the issue of Iran. The following interview has been lightly edited.

Q: You have been very critical of the Republican Party. Why do you stay?

A: There are sane and sober people in the Republican Party. The public persona of the Republican Party has changed since the days of Abraham Lincoln and Dwight Eisenhower.

Q: In the past you have said the Republican Party is full of racists. Do you stand by that and aren’t you afraid of a backlash?

A: I’m not afraid of a backlash. The GOP has scores of racists. Under Richard Nixon’s blessing, the GOP took advantage of disgruntled Democrats in the South. They are still there and their children are there. This is very much known in our party. This was a conscious strategy.

[doc1019]

The GOP has scores of racists

And the Dems don't?

[TigersEye]

And Wilkerson is one of them.

[dfwgator]

Racist = Someone winning an argument with a liberal

[Paladin2]

‘Rats are racis’ by definition.

[Diogenesis]

[BobL]

““The GOP has scores of racists”: A former Bush official condemns modern Republican orthodoxy”

I didn’t realize that Rand Paul worked for Bush. He’s kind of young, but I guess it’s possible?

[2ndDivisionVet]

Colin Powell

That's all you really needed to see.

[Darren McCarty]

Powell, Wilkerson, and Richard Armitage were three of the biggest screw ups in the Bush Administration - right next to Rove.

They were the ones that caused the Valerie Plame mess. They were the ones that brought us into the Iraq war.

They can go F themselves and are a disgrace to the uniform.

[matt1234]

Scores eh? So 40 or more. I am aghast.

[FlingWingFlyer]

However, I don’t think the GOP has anywhere near the number of racists that the Dems have.

[Fungi]

Salon. Their job is to accuse and accuse again. Another first shot then make the other side make fools of themselves. When will the stupid party get hip to this crap? Mcdumbo and Bonehead, that means you. The current crop of presidential candidates need to learn how to flip this crap back in the RAT's face. Learn quick.

[Rome2000]

Lawrence Wilkerson

Straight from the Ministry of silly FAGGOT names!.

[Olog-hai]

The Dems have grosses and myriads, by comparison.

[Vendome]

And Wilkerson is a serial pedophile, who has refused to not only deny it but, prove he isn’t.

[Olog-hai]

A picture is worth a thousand epithets.

[Rodamala]

The GOP has binders of racists.

[TigersEye]

Yep.

[Darren McCarty]

Straight from the Ministry of silly FAGGOT names!.

I don't like the name Lawrence! Only faggots and sailors are named Lawrence"

[E. Pluribus Unum]

When the GOP oligarchs start playing the race card you know it's time to SELL! SELL! SELL! every race card in your inventory.