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Powell Backs Obama
The general’s break with McCain reflects his firm belief that America is at a pivotal point in its history.
This morning, about a nanosecond after Colin Powell made clear his endorsement of Barack Obama for president, I called his long-time aide and former State Department Chief of Staff Lawrence Wilkerson. The brusque former Army colonel told me he had no idea which way Powell might tilt but that he was “utterly ecstatic” with Powell’s decision. And he said that like Victor Laszlo said to Rick after all of the drama in Casablanca, which happens to be Powell’s favorite film, he felt like saying, “Welcome back to the fight, Colin.”
Exactly three years ago, on October 19th, 2005, Wilkerson cleared his conscience and offered a full-throated condemnation of the Bush administration and the “Cheney-Rumsfeld cabal.” Since then, the American public has been waiting to see if Powell would follow in his aide’s footsteps, and publicly split with the administration. Wilkerson’s friendship with Powell suffered a massive blow, as many thought Wilkerson was presuming to speak for Powell, which he wasn’t. But on many levels, Wilkerson — and other dissident Republicans frustrated with the nation's foreign policy course — helped legitimate an exodus away from the GOP and towards Obama. Powell has now joined them.
John McCain has frequently referred to Colin Powell as one of the greatest national servants he has known — and vice versa. The break with McCain today is about the general’s firm belief that America is at a pivot point in its history.
Colin Powell — possibly the only man who could have run against and beaten George W. Bush in 2000 — probably sees a lot of himself in Barack Obama. Clearly, they are both African-Americans and committed to breaking through every last racial barrier in the U.S. But Powell would have supported Obama had he been Caucasian, Latino, or Vietnamese-American. The value that Obama brings to politics is that he transcends convenient typecasting. Colin Powell kept breaking the mold as well as he rose to prominence and almost the White House — held back by his wife Alma who feared scenarios of assassination as well as his own sense that he didn’t have “the fire in the belly” for elective office.
Powell said of Obama today that “he has both style and substance. I think he is a transformational figure.” W’s first secretary of state also didn’t like the defamatory slurs deployed by the McCain/Palin team trying to link Obama to William Ayers’ anarchist views. And Powell doesn’t think Alaskan caribou-gutting expert and folk legend Sarah Palin is qualified to be president of the United States.Powell’s endorsement breaks some family china. His son, former Federal Communications Chairman Michael Powell, has been an advisor on technology to McCain. And his best friend and potential defense secretary choice in a McCain White House, Richard Armitage, is still listed — despite Bill Kristol’s best efforts to export anyone connected to Powell out of Republican circles — as a key national security advisor to McCain. Lawrence Wilkerson has been with Obama from just about day one of the Illinois senator’s race.
McCain has frequently referred to Powell as one of the greatest national servants he has known — and vice versa. The break with McCain today is about the general’s firm belief that America is at a pivot point in its history.Powell works hard for young, underprivileged youth and launched “America’s Promise” to help motivate and animate young people who get little support from others. That’s what really is driving Powell’s endorsement.
Much of the political left doesn’t think it wants Powell’s endorsement. They are still angry at him for helping the Bush administration promulgate lies and half-truths at the UN General Assembly meeting designed to shore up support for America’s misguided invasion of Iraq. Americans loved Powell’s honor and dignity, fairness — but that day cost him a lot in the eyes of much of the country and world. But Powell fought torture. He said that Guantanamo should be immediately shuttered and the detainees brought into America’s existing judicial system.
In the Israel/Palestine standoff, he said we should engage Hamas — something neither McCain nor Obama have had the resolve to admit needs to be done. Powell has been insisting that we should be dealing with the world as it is — not as we may imagine it to be.
How could he tell the next young group of students he meets through his own organization or when he speaks at a mega-forum motivational seminar — or visits with kids in the classes Larry Wilkerson teaches in inner city D.C. each week — that Sarah Palin is what they should try to become. No way.
Powell wants the world to be better, to stand for better things — and that is not the world cynically sculpted by Karl Rove, Bill Kristol and McCain’s current team.
From the iconic general’s vantage point, genuine hope and change is what Obama stands for — and we should applaud Colin Powell for coming back into the fight.
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all I can say is WOW
Like many Americans I was confused and on the fence about the war in Iraq until I heard Colin Powell speak on it. I didn't believe what I heard anyone else say but I believed Powell. I am one of those people who felt let down by him. Today he has redeemed himself by doing what McCain says he does, but doesn't. Today, Powell put country first.
I am glad he finally supported Obama, however, I would have had more respect for him if he had resigned knowing we went to war in a country that had nothing to do with 9-11. He will have to live with that.
I, too, wished for Powell to resign after we went to war on what was obviously a pack of lies. I suppose he was just being a good soldier and following orders. However, when your commander is an idiot and you know he's making the wrong decision, perhaps you should gird your loins and refuse to go along. Guess that's why I was never in the military!
I still have a lot of respect for the man. He's still honorable and decent and thoughtful. I liked the way he laid out his reasons for voting for Obama while not dissing McCain, and he seemed to genuinely regret not being able to support his old friend. I respect him for speaking the truth about Ms. Palin as well--she's not ready to serve as President should the need arise. Good for him.
Lastly, I want Obama to get Powell into his administration in some form that will allow the general to redeem himself in the eyes of his fellow Americans and the world! Powell lost so much of his personal honor that day at the UN; I want him to have the chance to get some of it back. He's a great man, with a lot to offer the world, and I hope Obama will make good use of his skills and experience.
This man has given more to this country than a dozen John McCains. To have these hateful people say these things about him makes my blood run cold.
Steve, are you Joe Clemon's son?
All you can ask of anyone is that each day you wake up and sally forth in the world determined to do your best. General Powell did that every day of his life. So did almost all of us. He, like most of us, had his bad days, and things did not add up in retrospect. But the difference is that he always meant well but took responsibility for the things he said/did. Contrast that to those who are mean spirited and dissembling. And they are few. They wake up every day thinking about the mischief they can sow and the trouble they can cause.
We need to reconcile with each other and our Gods those human failings that were well meaning but erroneous in hind sight. Mr. Powell is an honourable man and his common sense and decency in this time of troubles is to be respected. I hope he will agree to be an Advisor-at-Large in the next Administration. He will a voice of calm and reason. I understand why Mr. Obama is humbled with his endorsement.
I to am thrilled with the General's endorsement...however it could have come a bit earlier in the game....it might have then brought pause to the McCain campaigns failed strategy of bringing into question Senator Obama's character and judgment regarding the Ayer's nonsense. Juxtaposed to General Powell's enthusiastic endorsement of W. and Slick Dick in the previous elections, this is indeed an auspicious moment in history.
Powell is the "sensible" man I always thought/hoped/believed he'd ultimately be even though years ago he too was politically/personally caught up in the Cheney/ Bush Administrated "Fear Mongering", the "follow-up from the 911 attacks of "Bio-terrorism" being spread/delivered via the Federal Postal Service which apparently only "Democratic Senators" (ie; D whereas you sadly saw him "display' a sample of "Anthrax" which was suppos "Red well during these
"Much of the political left doesn't think it wants Powell's endorsement?" That comment is so "Yesterday". America is hurting. I see this as Obama's finest endorsement. Powell's assessment of of the two candidates and their campaign is Dead On!Thank You Colin Powell.
I am stunned to a degree that Powell would (at least now that Obama is the forerunner) give his endorsement to Obama and all I can say is "Hooray" for him. How many Military, positioned, "Post-administration" Generals serving have the mind frame/conscience to approach America's actual safety, security, overall well being so would risk all BS party ties to stand up, even now, to publicly, professionally and personally state their actual beliefs about what they truly believe is the "best" for America's leadership NOW.
Yes, I remember him "waving" a bindle of "Anthrax Powder" before Congress when he was also "dooped" by the extensive scare tactics to support us "pre-emptively" actually "invading" a country that had nothing to do with reality and apparently his sensibilities have returned in a serious manner as most the rest of us.
I don't know why, I am pretty much "non-militant " in most regards but Powell has been one of the few that seemed to "carry" their integrity with them or at least retain enough to eventually "see through" the "BS" parts they were handed.
For years before I had hoped/somewhat regarded McCain to possess such quality/character, enough to say enough when it was the right thing to do for America" and honestly believed that I might one day be able to "vote" for him in good conscience given the opportunity.
I don't believe I have ever witnessed such a "turnabout" of true character in one of the "few" that we could hope to be a sensible individual regardless of Party dedication.
I "cringe" when I see McCain grasp at straws of what his campaign managers (2nd set) tell him is the "way to go".
It's so sad, like a feeble old man getting his actual "1st and last " "sniff/chance" at "obtaining" what is "rightfully his"; after all he is the son of a son who all "served" in war and he was electively held for 5 yrs once a POW and has gone on to multi-decades state and congressional career since.
All I see anymore is what comes directly across as McCain's feeling of "Entitlement" to the "promotion of the Presidency" along with his neurotic twitches /bizarre sneers when he sits with his "opponent"; Obama.
I can't tell you how sad McCain's demeanor, campaign, person makes me.
No, I never voted "Republican" before, but once upon a time I thought "just maybe" McCain could be the one, the "Straight Talk" dude I could stand behind given the opportunity to make good in my CA life.
We do however learn the most about self/others during the real "challenges", our character is "put to the test" in the, ways we act and respond.
It's hard for anyone to take on an election for most any office but I've lost a tremendous amount of respect for McCain since he began his campaign with Obama, so sad to say.
I was so hopeful, along with so many of us, that the "high road" was actually going to manifest itself from the McCain promise to keep to the issues/not engage in "personal attacks" back in early '08 while he rest aside as "the" RNC elect during the remaining democratic nominee debates.
nation
Basically, my "dream" of having a "Maverick" is BS.
McCain "Sold His Soul", so obviously so, here and now.
"Desperation" has truly "clouded his run for the Presidency" this "3rd" and probable "last" time.
I suppose it's far best to know now, "before" " afterwards"... finding out, as we have been used to, about our "elected" President's/cabinet's true capacities, abilities/lack of to process new, necessary, progressive understandings and display inherent, diplomatic qualities/skill sets and independently "stand-up" for the "non-lobbied" Americans...so ... Go Powell/ Obama!!!!!
I urge everyone interested in this issue to read the transcript: http://www.opednews.com/articles/1/Transcript-of-Colin-Powell-by-GeoBear-08 1019-915.html - precis: he thinks the party's gone wingnut crazy, he's disgusted by the GOP's racist campaigning and Palin's the deal-breaker for him. That transcript would turn the heads of moderate Republicans. As an Obama fan, I urge its widest possible distribution.
Thank you.
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