Powell Endorses Obama Candidacy
October 19th, 2008 by Admin
Retired Army General and former Bush Secretary of State Colin Powell announced today that he is endorsing Senator Barack Obama for president.
Since it seems to be that I'm a racist for voting for McCain, I'm going to throw the race card at Powell. In other words, white people are being accused of being racist because they are not voting for Obama, including my 12-year old daughter who isn't even old enough to vote!! About a month ago, Powell said that choosing the right president would require the "right measure of experience and judgment", something that Obama seems to lacking. After all, his judgment was wrong about the surge, Reverend Wright, William Ayers, ACORN, gun control (received an "F" every year since 1998 from the NRA), foreign policy, etc. And his two years in the Senate hardly qualifies as experience, especially since he's spent most of it campaigning!! He's only been present to 50% of his committee meetings!
His reasons for voting for Obama aren't so much about endorsing Obama, but a protest vote against McCain for daring to be honest about his opponent's socialist views. Personally, I'm disappointed in Powell. I would think National Security is important to him as a retired General. Interestingly enough, though, I'd still vote for General Powell before I would EVER vote for Obama OR McCain!!
Posted in Military Perspective
It seems that Powell is trying to make amends for the the lies he told before the U.N. in 2003 as a prelude to Bush's illegal, immoral, unjustified, and unconstitutional attack on Iraq.
As a military man and a man of honor, Powell was straight-jacketed into presenting the Bush plan for war. Now this is pay-back for the Bush administration having railroaded him and slighting his input. Now Powell gets to present his own message–and good for him for talking about people's behaviors, and for not smearing people's characters.
From Frank Rich, NYTimes:
… If politics strongarm everything, you end up with the rampant cronyism, nonexistent long-term planning and abrupt, partisan policy improvisations that fed the calamities of Iraq, Katrina and the economic meltdown. Incredibly, McCain has nakedly endorsed the Bush-Rove brand of governance in his own campaign by assembling his personal set of lobbyist cronies and Rove operatives to run it. They have not only entangled him in a welter of conflicts of interest, but they%u2019ve furthered cynical political stunts like the elevation of Sarah Palin. At least Bush and Rove didn%u2019t try to put an unqualified hack like, say, Alberto Gonzales half a heartbeat away from the presidency.
As if the Palin pick weren%u2019t damning enough, McCain and his team responded to the financial panic by offering their own panicky simulation of the Bush style of crisis management in real time. Fire the S.E.C. chairman and replace him with Andrew Cuomo! Convene a 9/11 commission to save Wall Street! Don%u2019t bail out A.I.G.! Do bail out A.I.G.! Reacting to polls and the short-term dictates of 24-hour news cycles, McCain offered as many economic-policy reboots in a month as Bush offered %u201CPlans for Victory%u201D during the first three years of the Iraq war.
Now McCain is trying to distract us from his humiliating managerial ineptitude by cranking up the politics of fear %u2014 another trademark Bush-Rove strategy. But the McCain camp%u2019s quixotic effort to turn an %u201Cold washed-up terrorist%u201D into a wedge issue as divisive as same-sex marriage is too little, too late and too tone-deaf at a time when Americans are suffering too much to indulge in 1960s culture wars. Voters want policies that might actually work rather than another pandering, cynical leader who operates mainly on the basis of his %u201Cgut%u201D and political self-interest.
CJ:
Give it a rest. Most folks who give a dang about America are looking to the future, not four more years of the past eight, during which Bush, with the support of McCain, have brought nothing but disaster to our country.
Powell has never been a fan of Bush policies, why do you think he would change his mind now?
While you and I and anyone else can support our choice if Powell is basing his decision on experience and we need a fresh younger generation there are may recruits in the Military that are better qualified to serve than Obama!
Not long ago, Powell gave the maximum contribution to McCain. Now, because of McCain's camp claiming Obama is a Muslim, his support went the other way???? That Muslim issue has been dead for awhile now. I know it's not the only reason Powell gave, but give me a break!
Well, let's look at another reason: Palin is not ready to be president. Funny, none of Powell's acclamations of Obama never mentioned his experience.
oops, none ever mentioned (double negaitive equals a positive)
Sharon,
When did the McCain camp ever say that Obama was a Muslim? If anything, McCain has been adamant about correcting people about that when it's brought up during his town hall meetings and such. Is Powell punishing McCain for his supporters? If so, Will he punish Obama likewise for what his supporters do?
Boy, I didn't make myself clear on the Muslim point at all. I put a series of questions after the remark because I haven't heard anything about the Muslim accusation from anywhere for a long time. I should have stated that McCain denounced that right off the bat. I think even the fringe groups have let that issue die. Why would Powell use that as a reason to swing to Obama (stating that he only recently made his final decision)?
Now that Powell is on the side of the dishonest, he's all of a sudden honest. The fallacies that make up the central arguments of the "Bush lied us into this war" crowd are priceless in how ignorant they are.
Ryan:
What is priceless is the fact that Bush's justifications for going to war were and are so fragile that they lead huge numbers to conclude they are lies.
Funny how concrete the argument made by Bush, Republicans and Democrats alike were so concrete in the previous 11 years leading up to the war… Now, they're suddenly so "fragile".
CJ:
When you consider the following:
salon.com/opi...06/bush_wmd/
what happened during the past 11 years doesn't much matter, now, does it?
I believe that Colin Powell is supporting Barack Obama just because he's black and no one can convince me that he isn't and I belive Oprah and alot of other people are doing the same thing. Shame on them if they are!!!
Donna:
Are you even remotely aware of just how racist your comment is?
Clearly Powell's endorsement of Obama did not ring true. I had urged the McCain campaign to choose Powell for VP because he and McCain share a number of views. McCain chose Palin because she's a reformer willing to take on people in her own party and she's a contrast to McCain as a young woman who is upbeat and positive. Good political strategy would have been Powell because they would have made foreign policy centerstage. Also Powell would not have been a likely candidate for President, but would have been a safe steady fellow in the event he were needed. McCain is surprised that race for blacks is so strong. I do't think that is is in any way a part of his thinking. Let me quote Daniel Henninger of the WSJ: "John McCain by instinct, biography and upbrining is prone to see America as a common civic culture. The vocabulary of "unjust" class distinctions familiar to Obama is alien to the McCain worldview." If one ever wished to gardner votes from a VP pick this year was that rare opportunity and Powell was that choice. If anyone has a huge hunger to defeat the likes of Obama and Murtha I have plan that just might work. I'm at daveweary@yahoo.com This posting should expire in ten days.
Let me get this straight. He's a decorated war hero and he's getting slandered for his choice?
Let's agree on one item here, if nothing else. My not voting for McCain doesn't mean, in turn, that I don't support the troops. As such, if I don't choose to vote for Obama, I'm not considered a racist.
I throw this out as well. I was a strong supporter of Reagan. this had nothing to do with being a Republican or Conservative because although he was the former, he wasn't much of the latter. He knew what we needed to hear and he said it. this may speak to leadership or to a shepherd mentality, I don't know. The end result is what mattered and he got a lot of people to work together and got stuff done.
This election is more about faith then anyone realizes. Not faith in any relgious sense, but faith in an individual.
Vote your faith, but by all means, VOTE!!
NY-David
CF,
I don't like reiterating things that I have said in the past in debates with you on this matter. I have provided links, to reports and people who would agree with me that the Iraq war's justifications weren't to be taken lightly.
So, priceless claims that are fragile and contain no substance? Look who's talking CF, the critical fact is your master of making such priceless fallacies.
Most of all, I would hardly consider those sources fragile in terms of their veracity.
Now, what is priceless is debunking you in one thread, and then in another sometime in the near future you rehash the same talking points memo. Which forces me to do the same and that leads to debates that turn out homogeneous and cliched.
I don't hate Powell, he deserves respect, and if I had mistakenly given off the impression that he didn't then I apologize. However, disagreeing with him is something anyone should be vocal about even though it is no big deal.
What I had said in the first comment wasn't aimed at Powell. It was aimed at responding to your posted comment, as well as JD's. Noone else. Though, I would like to stress that I have nothing personal against either of you.
Was General Chiarelli also wrong when he opposed the surge saying that he didn't need more troops, he needed more jobs? Sometimes I am given the feeling that the lives of soldiers aren't valued much when the first thought is to throw more manpower at a problem rather than use "force multipliers."
I see so many people back home, safe and happy, who seem to have no concern for the needs of our troops, whether it is for more translators (read the excellent essay by TX Hammes, Lost in Translation) or CERP funding or MRAPs. They say they are proud of our soldiers, but why don't they support them by insisting they are well supplied?
If you don't like Obama, make sure you don't like him for a good reason, such as giving up on Iraq too soon. General Petraeus is a remarkable general, but I don't think we can say General Chiarelli, or those who thought the same thing Chiarelli did, were wrong.
rememberafghanistan.net
Donna I have heard many people, celebs and not proclaim publicly that they are voting for Obama simply because he is black. I don't know if that is Powell's motivation but I do agree with you, shame, shame on those people. A person's race or creed or sex should not be the basis for voting for them.
Thanks Sue, that's my point exactly. I sure hope they aren't supporting Obama just because he's black. I hope it's his policies they like and not his race. I can't support him because I don't believe in his policies.
Donna:
So which is it? Your first comment states unambiguously that you are certain Powell is supporting Obama because he is black and you cannot be convinced otherwise. Now you are hopeful that such is not the case.
Could it be that you softened your tone because you now realize just how racist a statement your first comment is?
Indeed, not even sue disagreed with me on that observation; which, by the way, is a first for us – sue and I actually agree on something. Woohoo!
CF,
MR. BROKAW: And you are fully aware that there will be some%u2013how many, no one can say for sure%u2013but there will be some who will say this is an African-American, distinguished American, supporting another African-American because of race.
GEN. POWELL: If I had only had that in mind, I could have done this six, eight, 10 months ago. I really have been going back and forth between somebody I have the highest respect and regard for, John McCain, and somebody I was getting to know, Barack Obama. And it was only in the last couple of months that I settled on this. And I can%u2019t deny that it will be a historic event for an African-American to become president. And should that happen, all Americans should be proud%u2013not just African-Americans, but all Americans%u2013that we have reached this point in our national history where such a thing could happen. It will also not only electrify our country, I think it%u2019ll electrify the world.
***
definition of racism according to Merriam-Webster: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
Where is the implication that Donna feels she is superior to Powell because he is African-American and she is Caucasion? Did Powell state that race had nothing to do with his thoughts? No, he did not.
What would you say to a voter who did vote for Obama because of his race? Do you deny the existence of such Obama voters? Are they "racists?" I say they are not. I believe Donna wouldn't call them racists either, but feels that their decisions should be based more than on race.
I think Powell was going to reject any Republican nominee, no matter the race. But I don't fault Donna for her belief. Powell's reasoning for the endorsement is suspect to me.
One of Powell's concerns was that a McCain presidency would lead America too far to the right. McCain is more conservative than George H.W. Bush (whom he also endorsed)? I don't believe that Powell was sincere at all in his statement that he wavered back and forth between the candidates.
On a side note, I find it interesting that Powell is the same age as McCain. Where are the depend jokes for him?
One more item on Powell, this regarding the Jeremiah Wright controversy: (April 9, 2008)
"'I think that Sen. Obama handled the issue well . . . he didn't look the other way. He didn't wait for the, for the, you know, for the storm to go over. He went on television, and I thought, gave a very, very thoughtful, direct speech. And he didn't abandon the minister who brought him closer to his faith," Powell told Sawyer."
Well, we saw how that turned out. Was Powell troubled that Obama abandoned the minister who brought him to his faith? Powell has been in the tank for Obama for a long time. To make the endorsement now, without even giving the heads-up to his "friend" of over twenty years was, well, I'll leave a blank in recognition of his service to our country.
So sorry to disappoint CF. But we do not agree on your assessment of Donna's comment. I don't believe it was intended as racist only attacked as such by you. What about all the comments that have been made about how "old and white" McCain is. Where is your outrage over that?? Or is it only racist when someone has a thought regarding a person of color??
sue:
Read the comment again: "I believe that Colin Powell is supporting Barack Obama just because he's black …" Excuse me, but that is racism if ever there were!
I will leave it at that, the floor is yours.
CF,
Get a grip! I am NOT racist by saying what I believe. It's a free country yet you know!
Is it only the left leaning people on this blog who can spend their opinion? I think not!
CJ is very kind to all who want to state what they believe here, even you! If my comments were out of line, they would have been banned.
I don't have to read it again CF. I read it just fine the first time. You didn't answer my question. Is it only racism if the thought is of a person of color and not if its about a Caucasian??
sue:
Objection … compound, vague and ambiguous … but, in any event, particularly vague!
Huh??
CF,
As a Chinese, I have to say Sue, Donna and the others are totally right. If anyone is clinging to that "race%u201D, issue its you.
I had great respect for Gen. Powell until he said he was voteing for Obama, now this tells me just what he really is… A true racest. plan and sample.
Here's a thought… he could be supporting him because he's the better candidate. Thirty-odd years in the military, I don't think he waited until now to "vote the tribe".
NY-David