Posted by
T. Manna on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 5:44:27 AM
I was not surprised that Colin Powell endorsed Obama.
Sept 15th - The election of an African-American president “would be electrifying,” Powell told a George Washington University audience.
Powell cited Obama's "ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America he called Obama a "transformational figure."
I am sorry, but what I have seen is a "Politico-Media Complex" that has given Obama a pass on the tough questions and if you disagree with Obama you are labeled a racist. That's inclusive?
Whether you will admit it or not race is an issue and Obama has played that card. That's transformational?
Obama said himself back in June, "They're going to try to make you afraid of me. He's young and inexperienced and he's got a funny name. And did I mention he's black?" Obama also said . "You know, he's not patriotic enough, he doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills."
When has the McCain campaign said such a thing? John McCain won't even bring up Rev. Wright which is a legitimate issue.
Let's go back some more to the South Carolina Primary - Bill Clinton accused Barack Obama's campaign of "playing the race card on me" and told a Philadelphia radio station that the Obama campaign took his Jesse Jackson comment and "twisted it for political purposes." "I think that they played the race card on me," Clinton said in an interview on WHYY. "And we now know from memos on the campaign and everything that they planned to do it all along."
You know, I could have voted for Powell in 1996 when he was touted as a possible opponent of Bill Clinton.
Colin Powell would have run the type of campaign he thinks Obama is running now.
I believe Gen. Powell has some animosity when it comes to the Republican party (specifically the neo-cons) due to the way he was treated as Secretary of State. He was sent to the U.N. to sell WMD ties to Iraq and when the Bush Administration failed to produce them he was thrown under the bus. In 07, Powell revealed that he spent hours trying to persuade George W. Bush not to invade Iraq but that he did not prevail. There are a number of issues he disagreed with when it came to his former boss and his party. Powell also said "the approach of the Republican Party has become narrower and narrower.
While he is respected he may not necessarily be a respected "Republican". I personally have respect for the man but I don't agree with him when it comes to Barack Obama. (I wonder if we would agree on how much we both miss Ronald Reagan?)
As far as Obama being better suited for the economy than McCain, well I don't see any evidence of that. When the financial meltdown happened all Barack had to say was " if they [Congress] need me, they’ll call me".
Now, the idea that Palin is not ready to be President and Obama is puzzles me. She is the most popular Governor in the nation and has more experience than Barack at being an executive. She has actually run a city, and a state.
Ultimately , I don't believe Colin Powell's endorsement makes a difference in the election.