Powell Endorses (Strongly) Obama

[Dark Silver]

Yep..it actually happened on meet the Press

I'm trying to find a transcript of it...the possibly most respected Republican in the USA (hell, even *I* respect the fuck out of him) has thrown his hat in with the Democrats.

Best I can find so far is a YouTube Clip from Meet the Press where he does his endorsement.

This is a far better Clip. He even criticizes the Republican party. Seven minute clip from Meet the Press.

[SirNitram]

I've got something better than this endorsement. How do you top the endorsement of Colin Powell?

Link The endorsement of 3.1 Million Doners, average donation of 86 dollars total over the year, and one hundred and fifty million dollars raised in September.

[General Havoc]

I still give Powell crap for what went down in Somalia, but you're right in that he's one of the few widely respected republicans still around, and certainly the only former member of the Bush administration that I consider to be worthwhile. That he's endorsed Obama should be a nice boost.

And Nitram, all I can say is, with the MASSIVE money and ground-game advantage the Obama campaign has over the McCain campaign, if they don't manage to securely win this election, between those advantages and the sheer miserable state of the country, then the Democratic party simply needs to wipe themselves clean and restart.

[SirNitram]

McCain is already claiming scandal from the amount raised.

Link

"I'm saying that history shows us where unlimited amounts of money are in political campaigns, it leads to scandal.

I'm not comparing it with -- I'm saying this is the first since the Watergate scandal that any candidate for president of the United States, a major party candidate, has broken the pledge to take public financing.

We enacted those reforms because of that scandal. We know that we let unlimited amounts of money -- in this case $200 million unreported -- and there's already been stories of people who have made small contributions multiple times and all that.

I'm saying it's laying a predicate for the future that can be very dangerous. History has shown that."

Ignore that Obama never took a pledged on taking public financing(He said he was open to negotiations), and small contributions CAN be made repeatedly if you don't break the limit. Obama raised more than McCain, so he must be breaking a rule.

[LadyTevar]

This just goes to prove that nickel&dime contributions are stronger and last longer than the $1000/plate dinners.

[rhoenix]

Powell said a couple truths here that really, only a Republican could possibly get away with saying without being castigated - particularly talking about the Muslim American soldier, and the weeping mother leaning on his gravestone, and the only difference between her grief and another mother who lost their son was the symbol atop the gravestone.

I also think him speaking up here publicly like this will convince a number of Republicans to cross over to the blue for this presidential election as well.

[frigidmagi]

Powell despite what some think is still a deeply respected man in the military establishment. He is widely credited and associated with the effort and policies that saved the military after the 70s. Hell back in the 90s the military was prepared to vote to him to a man if he ran for President (I still say we missed out on a great President there). Powell's endorsement here means alot to a great many veterans.

[SirNitram]

Have I mentioned I hate Republican media personalities? Pat Buchanan, ladies and gentlemen.

Buchanan: Alright, we gotta ask a question, look would Colin Powell be endorsing Obama if he were a white liberal democrat...

Walsh: Oh, Pat, I'm really sorry you went there.

Look, General Powell Started off by saying it would be electrifying an African American and it is naive Joan to suggest it had nothing to do with his decision.

Matthews: He said that if that were his driving motive he would have done it weeks ago because the guy looked African America weeks and months ago.
Walsh: And Obama's been courting him. He's been courting him for months.

Buchanan: This is why he threw in the whole kitchen sink. A lot fo things are silly and ridiculous. Economics and Supreme courts justices, it's...

Walsh; That's not silly...

Buchanan: All the motives except for the one everybody is wondering about.

Walsh: Which is what? Race, I mean Pat, you know Pat. this is beneath you.

Matthews: Why don't you go by what he said? Why do you have to attribute motives to people who don't say those things?

Walsh: And Sheila Jackson Lee stayed with Hillary and Stephanie stayed...

'Just cause he's black'. The continued effort to de-legitimize a presidency before it starts..

[Dark Silver]

I'll be honest, if Powell would have run at anytime after the 90's, my vote would have been solidly behind him. He's intellegent, charismatic, and has the experience. Hell, for awhile I thought he would run after Clinton, and would have been the first African-American President.

[Cynical Cat]

I'll be honest, if Powell would have run at anytime after the 90's, my vote would have been solidly behind him. He's intellegent, charismatic, and has the experience. Hell, for awhile I thought he would run after Clinton, and would have been the first African-American President.

He was a Republican (I don't know if he's still a member of the party) and too black and too moderate to survive their primary.

[frigidmagi]

He was a Republican (I don't know if he's still a member of the party) and too black and too moderate to survive their primary.

I don't know about that Cat, most of the rank and file Republicans I knew at the time in Oklahoma declared they would vote for him when the rumors started flying. I will admit that in Oklahoma like much of the midwest military service tends to trump just about everything else, voting for an ex-general would have been more important then voting for a moderate black man I think.

Then again Oklahoma also elected J.C. Watts and kept reelecting him until he quit, so we may not be typical.

Side Note, J.C. Watts spoke at my school once, he was a damn good speaker and over half the families in the school district showed up to see him.

[General Havoc]

I've never been the biggest fan of Powell, but he's one of the few conservatives who seems to put thought and intellect behind his opinions. He's also one of the most moderate republicans. The two attributes are connected.

[Cynical Cat]

I said "primary" and I meant the primary were the scary parts of the hard right are far too powerful. There's no question he would have done well with military families and in a general election.

[frigidmagi]

Rank and file Republicans are the ones who do the voting in primaries Cat.

[Cynical Cat]

Rank and file Republicans are the ones who do the voting in primaries Cat.

Registered Republicans are the ones who do the voting and that's different from the people who generally vote Republican. The religious right and the hard right are disproportionately strong among those groups and they sure as hell act as gate keepers. Racism has been the Republicans dirty little secret since they swiped the South and while far from all Republicans are racist, it would be an anvil around Powell's neck in a primary.

As a counter example, compare how many members of this web board are registered Democrats to the number of board members who are disgusted with the current state of the Republican Party and plan to vote for Democrats.

[rhoenix]

Personally, I count myself an Independent, just because both Democrats and Republicans do stupid shit.