Colin Powell Just Endorsed Obama
By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Barack, VideoIt was the debates, the economic crisis and selection of Palin (OUCH!) that did it.
Powell hit the “small town” values meme.
Powell hit the “Bill Ayers” attacks.
Powell still respects McCain.
I’m telling you folks…Powell’s critique was devastating and unequivocal.
Here’s what McCain had to say:
McCain, appearing on “Fox News Sunday,” sought to minimize the endorsement by noting his support from other former secretaries of state and retired military flag officers.“This doesn’t come as a surprise,” McCain said. “But I’m also very pleased to have the endorsement of four former secretaries of state … and I’m proud to have the endorsement of well over 200 retired generals and admirals. I respect and continue to respect and admire Secretary Powell.”
And scene.
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October 19th, 2008 at 8:24 am
While I don’t see this causing much more than a micro-bump for Obama, anything that dominates the news cycle for even a day or two is huge at this point. With only 16 days until the election, every day McCain loses is potentially devastating for his campaign.
October 19th, 2008 at 8:39 am
[...] gains one and with the Colin Powell endorsement you can expect this lead to widen a [...]
October 19th, 2008 at 8:43 am
I’m not sure the overall % change would be high, but I’ll be watching for changes in the independent and undecided pool of voters. I also wonder whether this will shake up the hero vote. My perception is that many Americans still see Colin Powell in the gulf war hero light.
October 19th, 2008 at 9:20 am
It is good to know that liberals can forgive and forget, and embrace the man who, behind Cheney and Bush, is most responsible for our invasion and occupation of Iraq. Without Powell whole heartedly throwing his considerable credibility into selling the war at the United Nations, I doubt very much that Americans would have supported it. Its even worse when he says now that he did not believe we were doing the right thing. There is a special place in hell for Colin Powell. Right there next to Robert McNamara.
October 19th, 2008 at 10:33 am
I don’t blame him mw, because he was playing the role of the soldier who follows orders, who is to blame when someone strikes you, the hand that struck you or the mind and heart of the person that wielded the hand, Powell was merely the hand
October 19th, 2008 at 11:44 am
@Avinash
Yeah. “I was only following orders” pretty much justifies anything.
October 19th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Colin Powell can rot in hell, for all I care. But he is useful at this time. It’s unfortunate that small-minded, low-information voters would need his permission to vote for Obama, but since this makes up the majority of the Republican Party, and a majority of the present undecideds, so be it. An Obama win is too important.
Of course, it’s hysterical that a dishonest shill like mw would come here with his faux outrage at Powell because he’s not longer useful to HIS cause. So predictable.
October 19th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
You want to know the difference between Powell, Bush and Cheney?
Powell admits he was wrong. Given what he knows now, he wouldn’t have followed the same path.
Oh, and Powell was lied to, rather than doing the lying.
BTW, MW, it’s probably time you take off your nonpartisan hat. I know you have always been honest about your leaning right and I still respect your opinions, but you are no longer advocating only for divided government. You’ve gone all the way to the right in the past several months.
October 19th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
MW, right or left, I think we can agree that we want our generals and Secretaries of State to follow orders. If you disagree, please explain the alternative.
Powell has made it clear that he made his decisions and recommendations based on the intelligence that was incorrect. I’ve seen nothing to suggest that Powell knew that he was presenting poor intelligence to the UN. If you have something indicating that Powell knowing lied to the American people and International community, I’d love to read it. Remember our fearless congress made the same conclusion on the same intelligence with a vote of 296-133 in the house and 77-23 in the Senate.
After the dust settled, Powell took his lumps and left the administration. Powell later made it clear that he had lost his voice and felt it time to step away remaining mostly quite. We have since seen what the administration does to formers that expose the administration’s flaws - i.e. McClellan.
I can’t help feel like his announcement today was in part fueled by his push out the door and shows disdain for the current administration. On today’s meet the press, Powell made it clear that there wouldn’t have been a case for war if they had known the truth about WMDs. I believe him to be sincere, but perhaps that is an uninformed opinion.
October 19th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
No, mw, it doesn’t justify on its own, but should we blame Powell for doing what he thought was the correct thing when ordered to do so, or should we blame those who knew it wasn’t the right thing and who ordered him to do it? It would be one thing if Powell had knowingly gone out with the desire to decieve the public, but there is no evidence of that, if we were to blame Powell then we should blame every soldier who has in any way harmed any civilian even by accident when ordered to bomb an area or open fire on an area, blame lies with those who knowingly commit an atrocity or seek to decieve, not those who are unknowing accomplices.
October 19th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
[...] of the Week Links — 10/19/08 19 10 2008 In a major coup for the Obama campaign, Colin Powell endorsed Barack Obama as his candidate for President. Check out his reasoning in this video clip (I really recommend it, [...]
October 19th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
As an undecided voter leaning toward McCain, today was the first day I have seriously considered voting for Obama. I’m not swayed so much by the fact that Powell endorsed him (that was expected), but what he said. His arguments rang true to me, and it was refreshing to hear someone who obviously has agonized over this decision, explain his reasoning so well, without the typical partisan talk.
I think what was particularly striking to me was how he talked about the tone of the Republican party as of late. On issues, I tend to fall on the Republican side, but can I stand to vote the same way as others who are say ideologically “narrow” and sometimes even hateful? I know McCain doesn’t subscribe to those views, but by voting for him, I am in some way supporting that mentality.
This morning, listening to Prairie Home Companion on NPR, the host half-jokingly said that over the years he’s become not fond of people he agrees with, and enjoys the company much more of people who he disagrees with. Although I don’t think he meant it to be political, I find myself feeling that same way.
I’m not saying I won’t vote for McCain. I think it’s fair to say I’m still leaning to him, but Powell succeeded were many have failed at actually making me think of an Obama presidency that just might work.
Some might view my comment with ridicule. How could someone be so swayed by one guys opinion? I must not be informed. Anyway, I really don’t care. I have two weeks left. I need to make up my mind.
October 20th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Interesting comments here. I personally think that Mr. Powell is in a no win situation. If he endorses Obama, he incurs the wrath of loyal repubs, some of whom will assume it’s “just one black man supporting anther. On the other hand, an endorsement of McCain looks like an “uncle Tom” move, sure to anger black people. Either could be unjustly deserved, yet one still has to wonder.
At heart, I am a consrvative, but even I have my limits, and after watching this country drift way too far to the right, with Patriot Act, FISA, Military Commissions Act, etc. , it’s time for a major swing back toward the center. That’s right, toward the center, because no matter how liberal or left wing Obama may be, it will take 4-8 years to reverse the damage done by this nitwit bully. We surley don’t need yet another intellectually challenged pin head at the controls.