Powell endorses Obama

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**Frazzled**

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27265369/

Powell endorses Obama for president
Republican ex-secretary of state calls Democrat ‘transformational figure’
Video

‘Transformational figure’
Oct. 19: Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” former Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell endorses Sen. Barack Obama for president.
Meet the Press

Broadcast videos, highlights
Netcast
Oct. 19: Exclusive! Former Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell endorses Sen. Barack Obama — only on "Meet the Press." Then, a look at the 2008 battleground & new state polls with NBC's Chuck Todd. Plus, insights & analysis with David Brooks, Jon Meacham, Andrea Mitchell & Joe Scarborough of MSNBC's "Morning Joe."
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msnbc.com and NBC News
updated 6:02 p.m. CT, Sun., Oct. 19, 2008
WASHINGTON - Former Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., for president on Sunday, criticizing his own Republican Party for what he called its narrow focus on irrelevant personal attacks over a serious approach to challenges he called unprecedented.

Powell, who for many years was considered the most likely candidate to become the first African-American president, said in an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he was not supporting Obama because of his race. He said he had watched both Obama and his Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, for many months and thought “either one of them would be a good president.”

But he said McCain’s choices in the last few weeks — especially his selection of Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska as his vice presidential running mate — had raised questions in his mind about McCain’s judgment.

Story continues below ↓
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“I don’t believe [Palin] is ready to be president of the United States,” Powell said flatly. By contrast, Obama’s running mate, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, “is ready to be president on day one.”

Powell also told NBC’s Tom Brokaw that he was “troubled” by Republicans’ personal attacks on Obama, especially false intimations that Obama was Muslim and the recent focus on Obama’s alleged connections to William Ayers, a co-founder of the radical ’60 Weather Underground.

Stressing that Obama was a lifelong Christian, Powell denounced Republican tactics that he said were insulting not only to to Obama but also to Muslims.

“The really right answer is what if he is?” Powell said, praising the contributions of millions of Muslim citizens to American society.

“I look at these kind of approaches to the campaign, and they trouble me,” Powell said. “Over the last seven weeks, the approach of the Republican Party has become narrower and narrower.”

In an interview Sunday on Fox News, McCain said he was not surprised by the announcement.

“I’ve always admired and respected General Powell,” said McCain, who cited the endorsements he had received from former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger, Alexander Haig, James Baker and Lawrence Eagleburger. “We have a respectful disagreement.”

Bolstering Obama’s international credentials
Obama said in an interview airing Monday on NBC’s TODAY that he welcomed Powell’s support and looked forward to discussing what role, if any, Powell might have in an Obama administration should he be elected.

Video

Obama: Powell has an 'open invitation'
Oct. 20: TODAY’s Matt Lauer sits down with Sen. Barack Obama to discuss Colin Powell’s endorsement.
Today show

“Here is what I can say for certain: He will have a role as one of my advisers. He has already served in that function even before he endorsed me,” Obama told NBC’s Matt Lauer. “Whether he wants to take a formal role — whether there’s something that’s a good fit for him — I think is something that he and I would have to discuss.”

Powell, a retired Army general who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under the first President Bush before becoming secretary of state in the current administration, is one of the most highly decorated military officers of modern times and an admired figure in both parties. The Obama campaign is likely to cite the endorsement as an answer to critics and undecided voters who have questioned the foreign policy credentials of Obama, a first-term senator whose national experience amounts to four years in the Senate.

Video

Brokaw on Powell endorsement
Oct. 20: NBC’s Tom Brokaw talks with TODAY’s Matt Lauer about what Colin Powell’s endorsement might mean for the Obama and McCain campaigns.
Today show

Powell said a major part of his decision to turn his back on his own party was his conclusion that Obama was the better option to repair frayed U.S. relations with allies overseas.

“This is the time for outreach,” Powell said, saying the next president would have to “reach out and show the world there is a new administration that is willing to reach out.”

In particular, he said, he welcomed Obama’s president to “talk to people we haven’t talked to,” a reference to Obama’s controversial statement that he would be open to direct diplomacy with Iranian leaders.

“I think that [Obama] has a definite way of doing business that will serve us well,” Powell said.

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Won’t campaign for Obama
As recently as a month ago, Powell said that electing an African-American president would be “electrifying” for the world but that he remained undecided. The unsteadiness of the Republican campaign in recent weeks, especially on the economic crisis, went a long way toward pushing him off the fence, he said.

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Weekend boosts for Obama
Oct. 20: Former Secretary of State Colin Powell endorses Sen. Barack Obama the same day the Democratic presidential candidate’s campaign announces he raised a record $150 million in September. NBC’s Andrea Mitchell reports.
Today show

“It isn’t easy for me to disappoint Senator McCain as I have this morning,” said Powell, who emphasized that he would not campaign for Obama because of his admiration for McCain’s long record of service in the military and in Congress.

But as he examined both campaigns in the last few weeks, he said, he became “concerned” that “in the case of Mr. McCain, he was a little unsure how to deal with the economic problems.”

“Every day, there was a different approach,” he said, adding that he also “would have difficulty with two more conservative appointments to the Supreme Court.”

McCain would be a good president, Powell said, but Obama is “a transformational figure” who would be an “exceptional” leader.

“I truly believe that at this point in America’s history we need a president who will not just continue ... basically the policies we have followed in recent years,” he said. “We need a president with transformational qualities.”

For that reason, he said, “I will be voting for Barack Obama.”

**Chimera_Calvin**

With only two weeks left until election day, this is Christmas morning for Obama.

Powell's endorsement may well do enough to swing independents behind Obama, or at the very least depress Republican turnout (especially in more moderate districts).

What Obama needs now is no more good news! If the campaign gets any better he runs the risk of voters saying its a done deal and not turning out on election day...

**Frazzled**

True on all points CC.

**Envy89**

*Sniff* *Sniff*

I smell a rat.

... Looks like he just wants a job under what he hopes will be the winning side.

I thought all the Socialists out there hated him anyways??

**AgeOfEgos**

Senator McCain, your reaction?

**malfred**

Can't see your pic, Age :(

I imagine McCain'll do something out of left field and recruit Michael Moore in response.

**djones520**

Envy89 wrote:*Sniff* *Sniff*

I smell a rat.

... Looks like he just wants a job under what he hopes will be the winning side.

I thought all the Socialists out there hated him anyways??

Someone I know pointed out yesterday that given how strong Obama's stance was against the Iraq war when it was still an election issue, he should refuse to accept Powells endorsement, since he supported going into Iraq, and still strongly supports the mission.

But like the true politician that Obama is, he'll toss his "values" under the buss for the sake of a few extra votes.

**AgeOfEgos**

malfred wrote:Can't see your pic, Age :(

I imagine McCain'll do something out of left field and recruit Michael Moore in response.

Strange it still shows on my comp...and was linked from photobucket..

**Ahtman**

djones520 wrote:Someone I know pointed out yesterday that given how strong Obama's stance was against the Iraq war when it was still an election issue, he should refuse to accept Powells endorsement, since he supported going into Iraq, and still strongly supports the mission.

And that someone would only be half thinking and all wrong.

**djones520**

Ahtman wrote:
djones520 wrote:Someone I know pointed out yesterday that given how strong Obama's stance was against the Iraq war when it was still an election issue, he should refuse to accept Powells endorsement, since he supported going into Iraq, and still strongly supports the mission.

And that someone would only be half thinking and all wrong.

Tell that to these avid Obama supporters.

trumad (1000+ posts) Sun Oct-19-08 09:40 AM
Original message
feth Powell
and feth all the Bush enablers. Don't fething tell me to control my hatred toward this glorified Bush enabler just because he has endorsed Obama.

4000+ dead American soldiers dead and thousands of DEAD innocent Iraqis....

Powell can shove his fake anthrax straight up his Bush Kissing ass.

MissDeeds (1000+ posts) Sun Oct-19-08 03:32 PM
Response to Reply #97
99. I agree with you
Thousands of people died because Colin Powell traded on his credibility for political purpose. He knowingly made erroneous statements that made the Bush war on Iraq possible. The guy has blood on his hands, and there is no way he can be redeemed. BO doesn't need this Bush enabler. He's better than that.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7515516

Much much more at your friendly local font of democratic hate.

**AgeOfEgos**

djones520 wrote:
Ahtman wrote:
djones520 wrote:Someone I know pointed out yesterday that given how strong Obama's stance was against the Iraq war when it was still an election issue, he should refuse to accept Powells endorsement, since he supported going into Iraq, and still strongly supports the mission.

And that someone would only be half thinking and all wrong.

Tell that to these avid Obama supporters.

trumad (1000+ posts) Sun Oct-19-08 09:40 AM
Original message
feth Powell
and feth all the Bush enablers. Don't fething tell me to control my hatred toward this glorified Bush enabler just because he has endorsed Obama.

4000+ dead American soldiers dead and thousands of DEAD innocent Iraqis....

Powell can shove his fake anthrax straight up his Bush Kissing ass.

MissDeeds (1000+ posts) Sun Oct-19-08 03:32 PM
Response to Reply #97
99. I agree with you
Thousands of people died because Colin Powell traded on his credibility for political purpose. He knowingly made erroneous statements that made the Bush war on Iraq possible. The guy has blood on his hands, and there is no way he can be redeemed. BO doesn't need this Bush enabler. He's better than that.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7515516

Much much more at your friendly local font of democratic hate.

...and I could quote Freeper posts that would make your eyes bleed. There are extremes in both parties. I take it you didn't watch the Powell interview? He explained why he testified at the UN and expressed regret the intelligence was so very wrong...which I took as a very political way of saying "I was farking lied to". Powell never struck me as someone that would be eager for war...

**Mannahnin**

Powell disagreed with the invasion in the first place. He followed orders.

There's a lot of hate on both sides (Rush Limbaugh is telling his listerners the endorsement is purely based on race), but anyone with any perspective respects Powell.

**Frazzled**

Mannahnin wrote:Powell disagreed with the invasion in the first place. He followed orders.

There's a lot of hate on both sides (Rush Limbaugh is telling his listerners the endorsement is purely based on race), but anyone with any perspective respects Powell.

True that. The late comers don't remember Powell, but he ahs been around the halls of power/high level military since Reagan. Many view him as the man who should be running in this time of crisis.

**Kilkrazy**

Running instead of McCain?

**Frazzled**

Obama. Edit: running period. For certain Titans part is less relevant.

**Kilkrazy**

I thought Powell was a Republican.

Do American politicians ever "cross the floor"?

**Ahtman**

Powell has never been a politician, part of his appeal I guess. Polls showed that if he had run for President he would have beaten Bill Clinton. His reputation as an honorable and reasonable leader (who didn't want office) has been hurt by the Bush administration, of course he was also hurt by it as well. Before 9/11 Powell was generally loved by Republicans, Democrats, and Independents.

What do you mean by "cross the floor"? Do they ever work with people in the other party or do they ever change party allegiance? The answer to both is yes but the latter can be very costly to the person doing the crossing.

**Frazzled**

And the latest

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20081020_ap_obamapowellwillhavearoleinadminstration.html

Obama: Powell will have a role in adminstration
LAURIE KELLMAN

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Colin Powell will have a role as a top presidential adviser in an Obama administration, the Democratic White House hopeful said Monday.

"He will have a role as one of my advisers," Barack Obama said on NBC's "Today" in an interview aired Monday, a day after Powell, a four-star general and President Bush's former secretary of state, endorsed him.

"Whether he wants to take a formal role, whether that's a good fit for him, is something we'd have to discuss," Obama said.

Being a top presidential adviser, especially on foreign policy, would be familiar ground to Powell on a subject that's relatively new to the freshman Illinois senator. Obama has struggled to establish his foreign policy credentials against GOP candidate John McCain, a decorated military veteran, former prisoner of war and ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

In the NBC interview, Obama said Powell did not give him a heads-up before he crossed party lines and endorsed the Democratic presidential candidate on the network's "Meet the Press" a day earlier.

In that interview, Powell called Obama a "transformational figure" in the nation's history and expressed disappointment in some of McCain's campaign tactics. But, Powell said, he didn't plan to hit the campaign trail with Obama before the Nov. 4 election.

"I won't lie to you, I would love to have him at any stop," Obama said with a grin Monday. "Obviously, if he wants to show up he's got an open invitation."

Powell's endorsement came just hours after Obama's campaign disclosed that it raised $150 million in September , obliterating the old record of $66 million it had set only one month earlier.

He expressed disappointment in the negative tone of McCain's campaign, his choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as a running mate and their decision to focus in the closing weeks of the contest on Obama's ties to 1960s-era radical William Ayers, saying "it goes too far."

McCain, meanwhile, seemed dismissive of Powell's endorsement, saying it wasn't a surprise, that the two share mutual respect and are longtime friends.

The Republican from Arizona pointed out on Sunday that he had support from four other former secretaries of state, all veterans of Republican administrations: Henry Kissinger, James A. Baker III, Lawrence Eagleburger and Alexander Haig.

At a boisterous rally Sunday, Obama said McCain was "out of ideas and almost out of time."

He and his aides appear so confident of his prospects that apart from a brief stop in Madison, Wis., next Thursday, Obama currently has no plans during the next 10 days to return to Pennsylvania, Minnesota, New Hampshire or any other state that voted for John Kerry in 2004.

Instead, he intends to spend two days this week in Florida, where early voting begins on Monday, and travel to Virginia, Iowa, Ohio, Colorado, New Mexico and possibly Nevada and Indiana. Those states hold 97 electoral votes combined, and Bush won all in 2004.

Obama also may stop in West Virginia, where his campaign recently bought statewide television advertising in a late attempt to put the state's five electoral votes into serious contention.

**AgeOfEgos**

Kilkrazy wrote:I thought Powell was a Republican.

Do American politicians ever "cross the floor"?

Well;

Considered a Republican
Appointed NSA by Reagan (Reagan stated he hoped Powell would one day have his own Presidential Library that he could attend)
Chairman Joint Chief of Staff under Bush Sr. during Gulf War
Sec. of State under Bush Jr.

However, his views are basically left of (American) center. This is a big endorsement because politicians always try to take away the opposing candidates strength. McCains is experience/military; Powell did a number on both (Coming from a fellow R who Reagan loved!).

The only thing that could be worse is if zombie Reagan rose out of the grave and endorsed Obama while eating McCains brains.

**dienekes96**

1) Powell is a Republican.
2) Powell is a very decent man.
3) Powell was poorly treated by the current administration.

And his endorsement means the election is over.

And I'll explain that. Like McCain, Powell is a Vietnam vet, and a moderate. They are friends. Powell is a moderate who believes that anyone can make it with hard work and no self-pity, like Obama. I have no doubt he was torn on this, and I have no doubt he is partially motivated by seeing the first black president. Many of us ARE. That is OK.

The election isn't over because Powell endorsed Obama. Powell endorsed Obama because the election is over. I hope that distinction is clear.

If the race had been close, I think Powell would have kept his peace. But, as it stands, he can endorse who he wants, and not have it REALLY make a difference and hurt his friend.

I'd love to see Powell get a spot in this administration. Obama will need someone with some teeth. I don't think his endorsement has anything to do with making political hay or trying to get a spot. Powell is above that.

If he is endorsing Obama, it's because he believes in him.

Limbaugh's criticisms are ugly and petty, and reflect poorly on a man who has never been racially focused (Powell). Classless, as you would expect.

**Frazzled**

Respectfully, agreed on all points.

**dogma**

I expect Powell will get the nod as SecDef.

**gorgon**

AgeOfEgos wrote:The only thing that could be worse is if zombie Reagan rose out of the grave and endorsed Obama while eating McCains brains.

If it means keeping Palin out of the White House, I'll start the necromantic rituals right away.

Seriously though, part of this is Obama trying to close the deal. He's hinting about the type of people he'll have around him...just to remove lingering doubts. And even if he wins what has become a really negative presidential race, he's still gonna have to govern the country...a country in which some people are filled with hate for him. He probably can't change that, but he has to reach across the aisle a little and get past the campaign as quickly as possible with everything going on right now.

**dienekes96**

That seems to make sense, except that you usually want your SecDef to have LESS military experience (believe it or not), since he is the civilian control and has the Joint Chiefs for military experience.

And more importantly, Powell was previously SecState, which is (or should be, since Rumsfeld and Bush screwed this up) senior in authority to SecDef. So that would be taking a "lesser" position.

That said, Obama will need a strong SecDef if he is serious about getting troops out of the ME. That is a VERY hard challenge, and he only has 4 years to do it (or he'll get lambasted in the next election). He needs some real brains there. If he selects Powell in an official capacity (a real one), that buys him credibility with the military and moderate Republicans. And that is "x 2" if he listens to him

**dogma**

In most circumstances you are correct. However, because of the massive privatization of the Pentagon (spearheaded by the Cheneys of the world) I think we really need a traditional military mind in charge of the DoD. I don't really see any other way to roll-back the centrality of the Pentagon in dictating FP positions and intelligence gathering missions.

While Powell was previously SecState I believe that appointment was more a manifestation of general doctrine of militarism which flows from the Neocon ideology. They thought that, by appointing a General to a nominally civilian position, they could exert 'soft' control of diplomacy. Of course, when Powell refused to go along with that idea they threw him to the wolves with the WMD presentation. In that light I don't he would mind the 'demotion'.

**malfred**

AgeofEgos: No worries. That's my lovely work filtering photobucket.

**dienekes96**

I don't know, dogma. I get to the Pentagon a lot, and it's still mostly military. The private sector deals with the technology and strategic thinking (in terms of investment dollars and scheduling), so the day to day stuff and the tactical can be handled by the military. Most of that privitization is by people just out of the military. And that is hardly new.

And intelligence gathering is not, and should not, be the job of the military. They should be trained to crack heads.

**Waaagh_Gonads**

I don't even know why the press is bothering to cover the election anymore (excepting an overriding love for Obama).

This race has been over for months.

Palin brought a jump to the polls but it was always going to be short term.

Obama made in August campaign donations, twice the entire amount of money raised by McCain for his whole campaign.

If Obama isn't elected in anything less than a landslide it will be a truely woeful performance for him and the democrats.

**Ahtman**

At this point in time in 2000 Gore was ahead by double digits and still lost. Nothing is for certain. Even believing that Florida was stolen it still went from a double digit lead to omfg™ this is close. That is one reason why Obama/Biden have been trying to get people to recognize that it is not over. Sad, but true, people thought Gore had a lock and so didn't vote figuring that they could stay home/get an extra hour of work/ect with the problem being a lot of people did it and then it turned out to be closer then expected, and those votes could have helped.

**Lemartes**

Rush Limbaugh is telling his listerners the endorsement is purely based on race

That Rush is one stand up guy and this furher er further proves he ain't no hate monger.