For what it’s worth, Powell’s endorsement (and vote) for Obama is so transparently racial that the effect of the endorsement is this:
If someone of Powell’s “stature” can vote on racial lines and not be called on it, then why can’t I?
Powell has unintentionally given sanction to every person to vote for the person they are closest to on genetic and cultural grounds, without shame or embarrassment.
If Powell can get up there and spout the crap he did with a straight face, everyone ought to be entitled to engage in the same sort of same sort of race-based self-justification without shame or embarrassment of any kind.
Black people didn’t need Powell for that, most are voting for Obama anyway.