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

[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

[Colobo]

1. Thanks, Powell! Gobama!

[jefferson_dem]

4. I agree. I respect Colin Powell...always will.

Watch out! Here come the Powell-haters... :hide:

[TankLV]

13. And we're fucking JUSTIFIED - he's a fucking WAR CRIMINAL!

He fucking STOOD IN FRONT OF THE UN AND LIED HIS ASS OFF!

THAT ASSHOLE is one of the reasons we're in this fucking ILLEGAL WAR OF CHOICE BASED ON LIES!

GODDAMN RIGHT WE JUSTLY HATE THIS IDIOT - JUST LIKE WE HATE HITLER, BUSH AND ALL THE OTHER WAR CRIMINALS...

[jackson_dem]

14. Do you respect Bush too?

[babylonsister]

2. This is very nice ...

and I'm no Powell fan.

[eileen_d]

3. God, I thought that cite was "The Onion"

rather than "The Nation" - I need to go to bed :crazy:

[TankLV]

5. asswipe powell is a fucking WAR CRIMIINAL! Might as well get a nod from bunkerboy himself..

god - what an "endorsement" - from a fucking WAR CRIMINAL, too...

[kurth]

6. Bush's war marketing manager

"But I was just a good soldier"

[Evergreen Emerald]

7. traitor Powell who lied to the UN to get us into Iraq: Change?

[peace13]

8. OMG! The kiss of death!

That is not a compliment coming from the chief who sold us down the river! Ouch.

[Didereaux]

9. omigawd, endorsed by a lying slimeball...well that tells you where Obama stands on Iraq

[The_Casual_Observer]

10. This and a pinch of anthrax

[jackson_dem]

11. That sounds like an endorsement from Bush's SOS...

[Kutjara]

12. If Colin hadn't compromised himself so thoroughly...

...in the service of the BushCo Evil Empire, we might have had the incredibly wonderful situation of two African Americans running as their parties' nominees for President. That would be a sight to see, and a real sign of positive change. But alas...

I imagine Powell's comments were made with more than a hint of wistfulness for opportunities lost.

[grantcart]

15. The big news on Wednesday

will be how many endorsements Obama will reel in. Kennedy? Gore?

This very positive statement will have a big impact in any future state where independents can vote.

[skooooo]

16. Obama's not a Portugese woman? nt

[proud patriot]

17. Interesting when you think of the independent vote

:think:

[MalloyLiberal]

18. NEOCON THUG COLIN POWELL , RESPONSIBLE FOR DEATHS OF OUR SOLDIERS, PRAISES OBAMA

[mzmolly]

19. Can we get an endorsement Mr. Powell? You know, right the wrong you helped thrust upon

this world with the ol' aluminum tube = a "nukular" war thingy?

[11cents]

20. Awk-ward

At least as far as Obama partisans here go. But leaving aside what all of us know about Powell and just thinking pragmatically, imagine how much it would help the Obama, if he's nominated, and the Dems, if Powell actually endorsed him. Like it or not, Powell is still widely respected and seen as a moderate.

[Karmadillo]

21. Powell is terrible. I should be posting this, not you.

nt

[tabasco]

22. Maybe Powell wants to lick some Democratic ass now.

He did swell as Boosh's ass-licker.

[silverweb]

23. Powell has been a great disappointment in the past.

But he had the makings of greatness once and I think he is probably much the wiser since his fall from grace, and his manipulation and subsequent write-off by BushCorp.

I think Powell is one of those people "on the other side of the aisle" who would work constructively with a Democratic administration to help restore the country.

His endorsement of Obama is very welcome.

[madrchsod]

26. well i do believe in redemption

but he`d have to do a lot of redeeming to get right with the the spirit in the sky

[silverweb]

29. This is as good a place to start as any.

Dontcha think? :D

[peace13]

33. No, I think apologizing and going home for a while

would be a great way to start. Stop making money on the lies that he told and then come talk to us.

[jefferson_dem]

27. Well...he did slam the neo-con fringe as "fucking crazies."

n/t

[silverweb]

31. Definitely a point in his favor!

:thumbsup:

[madrchsod]

24. well that`s not the greatest endorsement in the world

i`d say the general is a bit tarnished after being a used by cheney who he detested during the first gulf war. he should have known better.

[TheDebbieDee]

25. I'm horrified that Sen. Obama's "sheeple"

think that an endorsement by Gen. Colin "The Murderous, Neocon Tool" Powell is something to BRAG about!

[robbedvoter]

28. Ugh...Not the best endorser to brag about.

[ChiciB1]

30. IF Anyone Thinks Powell Is A "Good Guy" Might Not Really Know

all the facts about Mr. Powell! This guy goes waaaaaaayyyy back to Viet Nam and it ain't pretty! For those of you who think he's so wonderful... just Google his name!

Powell could have redeemed himself a "little" if he had just STOOD UP and told the REAL TRUTH! And I don't believe for ONE MINUTE he didn't know! I am no racist, there are too many people of color I respect, but Colin Powell scrapes the bottom of the barrel as far as I'm concerned!!!

[Nailzberg]

32. It's not an endorsement, folks.

It's Colin Powell, an African American, speaking about racial barriers. Colin Powell broke a few barriers himself, and he's proud to see an African American transcending race and being taken seriously as a leading candidate for the White House. The whole article is right there.


And establishing a greater Powell-Obama connection is dishonest.

[jefferson_dem]

34. How dare you...

put things in proper context.

:thumbsup:

[Nailzberg]

35. I had to do it as a reply to the original, rather than 20 seperate replies

The opposition sure couldn't wait to turn the whole thing on upside down.