Colin Powell endorses Barack Obama

[Jenna]

Former secretary of state Colin Powell Sunday endorsed Democrat Barack Obama's White House bid, in a stinging rebuff to Republican candidate John McCain.The former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff expressed deep disquiet over the rightward shift the Republican Party has taken under McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin -- who he said was not ready to be president.

YouTube - Colin Powell endorses Obama


The Republican, on NBC program "Meet the Press," said Obama had "met the standard" to lead "because of his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America."
"I think he would be a transformational president. For that reason I will be voting for Senator Barack Obama," said Powell, who was the first African-American to occupy the top US military post.
Should the mixed-race Obama win on November 4, "all Americans should be proud, not just African-Americans," he added.
"It would not just electrify our country, it would electrify the world."
Powell said that both Obama and his old friend McCain were ready to be president.
"But I strongly believe that at this point in American history we need a president... who will not just continue basically the policies we have been following in the recent years," he said.
"I think we need a transformational figure, I think we need a generational change. That is why I'm supporting Senator Obama."
Speaking on Fox News, McCain said he had "always admired and respected General Powell."
"We're long-time friends. This doesn't come as a surprise," the Arizona senator said, while touting his endorsement by other former secretaries of state including Henry Kissinger, James Baker and Lawrence Eagleburger.
Powell again defended his role in the buildup to the Iraq invasion, insisting that he acted in good faith on the basis of intelligence evidence that, he felt, showed Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.
He denied he was keen on returning to government in an Obama administration to help repair his political reputation.
Powell said he would have to be ready to serve if asked, "but I am in no way anxious to rule it in."
He had harsh words about the tone of McCain's campaign and rising Islamophobia in Republican circles as smears purport to portray Obama as a secret Muslim.
"I have said to Mr McCain that I admire all he has done. I have some concerns about the direction the party has taken in recent years. It has moved more to the right than I would like to see it," he said.
McCain had gone "too far" with a negative advertising barrage over Obama's ties to former 1960s radical William Ayers, Powell said.
He said the economic crisis engulfing the United States had made up his mind, along with McCain's choice of Alaska Governor Palin as his vice presidential nominee.
"In the case of Mr McCain I found that he was a little unsure as to how to deal with the economic problems that we are having. Almost every day there was a different approach to the problem, and that concerned me," he said.
"I was also concerned at the selection of Governor Palin," he said. "I don't believe she is ready to be president of the United States. And so that raised in my mind some question as to the judgment that Senator McCain made."
Powell said that Obama, in contrast, had come out of recent weeks looking presidential.
"He displayed a steadiness, an intellectual curiosity, a depth of knowledge and an approach to looking at (economic) problems like this, and picking a vice president (Joseph Biden) that I think is ready to be president on day one."




http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5...BCBiZYaDYakrKA

[Mike Dimone]

What a Letdown.....

[Caveman]

I thank him for his military service.
Now that I have that out of the way I always thought he was a Liberal in wolfs clothing, besides
since when did Colin Powell's endorsement matter in past elections. In other words... Who cares.

[HudsonHawk]

The media is a joke. Half of the articles I see on the election are about who is endorsing who. I could care less if an entertainer or celebrity endorses a candidate or wants to spew their own political agenda. Go make a movie or do whatever it is you do. I can make up my own mind who to vote for based upon the issues.

I appreciate Powel's service to our country, but I don't want to see him on TV for this.

[Terminator]

This isn't a surprise. It's been speculated for quite some time. I don't think his endorsement of B. Hussein Obama Bin Laden will mean anything.

[2 Blue 4 U]

ahh jeez, and I thought better of him and figured he thought better then that! Disappointing, to say the least!

[TXCharlie]

I saw him on Meet the Press this morning.

Very disappointing - And the reasons he gave for his endorsement are equally disappointing and bewildering.

The question isn't of Obama's association with a known terrorist, for example, but the fact that he hasn't explained the extent of his association. Powell says it was limited, but why hasn't Obama explained it? I think those are legitimate questions.

I also believe that the Armed Forces overwhelmingly support McCain. Why is it that Powell doesn't address that?

[Captain America]

That man, above all others ,has earned his right to state his opinion. I don't agree with him , so we're right back where we started.

[nsb22]

It surprises me, yet it doesn't

[So Fla Cop]

This isn't a surprise. It's been speculated for quite some time. I don't think his endorsement of B. Hussein Obama Bin Laden will mean anything.

I think that was the death knell for McCain/Palin. Buy your prayer mats now on eBay....

[narcodog]

It's a shame but IMHO race is playing a huge part in this election.

[armsmaster270]

Damn I liked him.

[cajunguy]

Damn I liked him.

Funny thing is that I WOULD have considered voting for him had he run.

After this move, I wouldn't vote for him for dogcatcher.

Oh well, so much for respect.


.

[MacLean]

I still like the guy, but this isn't a surprise.

He's always been a liberal Republican, and I think the move away from number 7 and 8 in the "Powell Doctrine" pissed him off.

Bush chose Rumsfeld over him as the point for the effort, and you could see the strain between the two.

I thank him - and did in person once - for his service.

I'd like to remind him of his statement about retired Generals getting into politics, but apparently expedience has overtaken his original integrity.

[Ryan]

Race is playing a huge part in the election at least here in Houston. On some of the radio stations they have done nothing but tell the black community if they don't vote for Obama, they aren't "real blacks". Thay claim that voting for Obama will end having to be on welfare, will end having to work two and three jobs, etc. It makes me absolutely sick, and I called to let them know. Amazingly enough, I wasn't put on the air

[TXCharlie]

Race is playing a huge part in the election at least here in Houston. On some of the radio stations they have done nothing but tell the black community if they don't vote for Obama, they aren't "real blacks". Thay claim that voting for Obama will end having to be on welfare, will end having to work two and three jobs, etc. It makes me absolutely sick, and I called to let them know. Amazingly enough, I wasn't put on the air

I've heard polls that say 80% - 98% of blacks will vote for Obama, so I agree. If that isn't racism, I don't know what is - It can't all be because of the givaways that Obama is promising or his anti-war stance.

On the other hand, not all is lost, because 1) They only comprise 13% of the population, and 2) Hopefully Republicans will have sense enough to turn out in droves to counter-act the racist vote, and 3) White racists probably outnumber Black racists