Colin Powell Praises Obama - "an American man" who can represent the entire nation. [View All]

[jefferson_dem]

COLIN POWELL PRAISES OBAMA ON EVE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY...

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell praised Barack Obama on the eve of the New Hampshire primary, crediting the Illinois Senator for breaking barriers while running as "an American man" who can represent the entire nation. In an interview with PBS host Tavis Smiley, Powell said he was "taking joy" in Obama's rise and he said citizens across the country can "enjoy this moment where a person like Barack Obama can knock down all of these old barriers that people thought existed with respect to the opportunities that are available to African Americans."

Powell, the first black person to serve as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, National Security Advisor, and Secretary of State, also firmly rebutted the idea that reporters or voters should assess whether a candidate is white or black "enough."

This argument about him not being black enough, that's just absolute nonsense. He is putting himself forward not as a black man but as an American man who wants to be president of the United States of America. We should see Barack as a candidate for president who happens to be black, and not a black candidate for president.

For more on Powell, Obama and breaking barriers in our "segregated power structure," check out this new Nation essay, Obama, Race and the Presidency.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?bid=45&pid=267470