Sunday, October 19, 2008

Colin Powell Endorses Obama for President. Will the GOP Thugs Now SwiftBoat Him Too?


MSNBC News reported Sunday morning that former Secretary of State Colin Powell has stated during taping of NBC's Meet the Press with Tom Brokaw that he's endorsing Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, and intends to vote for him on November 4th. This is a monumental pick-up for Obama, as it strongly undercuts the repeated claim by Sen. John McCain, the Republican candidate, that Obama is weak on national security and foreign policy matters, and is not qualified to be commander-in-chief.

Said Powell outside the studio after taping the interview: "I think that Sen Obama brings a fresh set of eyes, a fresh set of ideas to the table...Sen. McCain, as gifted as he is, is going to execute the Republican agenda...but I think we need more than that. I think we need a generational change, and I think Sen. Obama has captured the feelings of the young people of America, and is reaching out in a more diverse, inclusive way across our society."

Powell also stated that McCain's negative campaigning "troubled me."

So now the big question is when and if--and by how much--McCain, Gov. Sarah Palin and the Republican attack machine will attempt to impugn the character and military record of Powell with a Swift boat-like smear campaign. Just remember what these thugs did to Sen. John Kerry, a five-time decorated war hero. With just 16 days left before the election, and the polls and the electoral map swinging appreciably in Obama's direction, it is highly likely that the heretofore unassailable Powell--an American political and military icon--will be swept up in the muck as the desperation of the McCain camp intensifies. You can bet that key endorsements from Powell and legendary billionaire investor Warren Buffett--placing Obama in some very good company on the military and economic fronts--will cause the Rethugs to ratchet up their incendiary rhetoric on William Ayers, Rev. Jeremiah Wright and ACORN....and that Powell, the once-mighty conservative war-hero and pillar within the Republican establishment, is now just another unpatriotic pawn of the effete liberal elite.

And I'm sure, as Brokaw suggested to Powell, there'll be more than a few McCain surrogates who make the irresponsible and reprehensible charge that the endorsement represents nothing more than one black man voting for another.

Powell: "If I had only had that in mind, I could have done this 6, 8, 10 months ago. I really have been going back and forth between somebody I have the highest respect and regard for, John McCain, and somebody I was getting to know, Barack Obama. And it was only in the last couple of months that I settled on this. And I can't deny that it will be a historic event for an African-American to become president. And should that happen, all Americans should be proud, not just African-Americans, but all Americans, that we have reached this point in our national history where such a thing could happen....who will also not only electrify our country, I think, it will electrify the world."

To be sure, as the White House appears to be sliiping from its grasp, the McCain camp will be stepping up its negative campaigning over the next 16 days, and to what degree, if any, Powell plays a part in that is anyone's guess. Stay tuned...

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37 comments:

Vigilante said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

"It's been over three years since the United States invaded Iraq. Three years since Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice and Powell--the Fab Five of fabricated intelligence--sold us a bill of goods about Saddam Hussein's growing arsenal of WMD and fears of mushroom clouds." -- Andy Ostroy May 27, 2006

It's amazing how one of the "Fab Five of fabricated intelligence" becomes a hero when his opinion supports the political goals of Andy Ostroy.

Anonymous said...

"So there was Karen Hughes, top Bush advisor, on MSNBC's Hardball Monday night stating that the 57-year-old time-tested Geneva Conventions, which have been good for every U.S. president since FDR, are too "vague" for her boss. Seems the poor guy and his Attorney General Alberto Gonzales cannot distinguish between horrific torture and simple "handcuffing," and need Congress to rewrite the rules for them. The only problem is, Congress isn't buying. And many prominent Republicans--among them Sens. John Warner (VA), Lindsey Graham (SC), John McCain (AZ), and former Secretaries of State Colin Powell and George Schultz--have come out in strong opposition to Bush's proposed legislation." -- Andy Ostroy September 18, 2006

Ostroy forgets his own words now that McCain is running against Ostroy's political goals. Today Ostroy claims that McCain supported torture.

Anonymous said...

"Bush's tactics for interrogating terror suspects has been under fire for some time, but only this week has it kicked into high gear when three prominent Republican Senators--John McCain (AZ), John Warner (VA) and Lindsey Graham (SC)--aided by former Secretary of State Colin Powell, vehemently opposed any legislation the Busheviks are seeking that would reinterpret key articles of the Geneva Conventions relating to the treatment of prisoners of war." -- Andy Ostroy September 16, 2006

More flip flopping from Andy Ostroy to fulfill his political agenda.

Anonymous said...

"What's more, recent documents out of Britain show that in January 2003 the war plans, and a date for the March invasion, had already been set, even before weapons inspectors had completed their work and before then-Secretary of State Colin Powell was set to appear before the U.N. Security Council to make the U.S.'s case for war. These war-mongers had every intention, from day-one, of invading Iraq whether or not WMD existed." -- Andy Ostroy April 10, 2006

Andy declares Powell to be a war-monger

Anonymous said...

"All covert agents' identities are classified as "secret" by the CIA. Therefore, anyone in the Bush administration who read this would've clearly known that the info was classified, and that it'd be a crime to reveal Plame's identity to the press. The memo was given to then-Secretary of State Colin Powell who was flying to Africa with the president. Interestingly, Novak's now-infamous column appeared 7 days later. The timeline is highly suspect." -- Andy Ostroy July 25, 2005

Andy implies powell broke the law during the Valerie Plame non-scandal

Anonymous said...

Why would Powell fear Obama as President?

He wouldn't! Powell already has his millions. It is those of us who are working and trying to make our first million that need to fear Obama. Obama will take all incentive to succeed away from working Americans. Obama wants to "spread the wealth" by taking those of us who are trying to earn our first million and by giving it to those who are happy to no work and take government handouts.

Anonymous said...

I typo'd in my last post and think the correct statement is worth repeating. I did not make a Joe Biden "JOBS is a three letter word" mistake, I just typed to fast...

Obama wants to "spread the wealth" by taxing those of us who are trying to earn our first million and by giving it to those who are happy to not work and accept government handouts.

Anonymous said...

Powell's endorsement, along with that of the "Chicago Tribune"--the FIRST time they've ever endorsed a Democrat for Prsident in the over-100 year history of the paper--is the unmistakable handwriting on the wall for McCain and the morally bankrupt campaign he's conducted. But McCain won't give up by any means and I suspect his campaign will only become dirtier, if that's even possible.

Vigilante said...

Unsubscribing again. I had forgotten anonymous comments are still tolerated here.

Anonymous said...

To "Anonymous":
The contradictions you're noting are in fact mostly McCain and Powell contradicting themselves.


Powell is clearly a war criminal - he was among those who fabricated false evidence against Iraq and he even presented it at the UN. However, he too seems to have changed his mind since - towards sanity. I still don't trust or like him, but he's not as bad a war criminal as his fellow Iraq warmongers. His endorsement of Obama, to me, is like a murderer showing some remorse and trying to do something good.

The torture thing is clearly McCain contradicting himself -- he initially spoke out against Bush's torture plans, but later reversed his positions and approved of waterboarding and of torture in general as long as it is applied to "terrorist suspects" (which could be anyone of course, suspect doesn't mean guilty).

As for the tax plans, Obama's plan will increase taxes for those making more than $250,000 a year, or $20,833.33 a month - if you made that much you could make your first million within 10 years even if you were taxed 50% (which Obama isn't planning). It is reasonable to increase taxes there, and in turn reduce taxation of hard working people who happen to be in low paid jobs - like an assembly line worker making $24000 a year from his main job, and having to take a second job at night to sustain his family.

I agree that those who are happy not to work shouldn't be given any more than what they need to stay alive - but that's not the group Obama is planning to help. It's those who work and still don't get a lot of money.

Anonymous said...

Colin Powell is inconsequential. NO one cares that Powell endorsed Obama.

Powell has faded into the political sunset. He's just another of the 13% of AAs supporting another possible AA. Possible because we, as a country, don't KNOW if Obama is really a citizen of the United States of America.

Third lawsuit was filed in Hawaii this time to get Obama's COLB. With Grandma in Kenya insisting that he was born in Kenya, it's more important now to find out who Obama really is.


Really, WAKE UP!!!

Anonymous said...

The significance of the Powell endorsement is not so much that his critics, like Andy and others, but the fact that the right wing was so in love with him and now must come to the realization that one of their major heroes has deserted them.

Of course, those that continually ignore Sarah Palin's demonstrated links to the Alaskan Independence party while attempting to turn the most insignificant molehills into mountains of doubts about Obama and his loyalty, are the reason why this country is so divided.
They are hate mongers in a thin disguise. Does anybody really believe poster at 1.49 would really be satisfied in knowing for absolute sure where Obama was born? Or for that matter does anyone doubt that of the "concerns" about who Obama are are nothing more than hate disguised as honest inquiry?
Sean. Bill, Gretta, are you reading this?

Anonymous said...

CORRECT PREVIOUS POSTING..
The significance of the Powell endorsement is not so much that he had his critics, like Andy and others, but the fact that the right wing was so in love with him and now must come to the realization that one of their major heroes has deserted them.

Of course, those that continually ignore Sarah Palin's demonstrated links to the Alaskan Independence party while attempting to turn the most insignificant molehills into mountains of doubts about Obama and his loyalty, are the reason why this country is so divided.
They are hate mongers in a thin disguise. Does anybody really believe poster at 1.49 would really be satisfied in knowing for absolute sure where Obama was born? Or for that matter does anyone doubt that of the "concerns" about who Obama are are nothing more than hate disguised as honest inquiry?
Sean. Bill, Gretta, are you reading this?

Anonymous said...

One black liberal endorses another black liberal. This is news?

Anonymous said...

Ahh, another lawsuit filed against Obama.

PA, UT, WA, HI, and now one ready to go in TX. Do you suppose it's time to find out about Obama once and for all?

Powell's endorsement just reflects on Powell as a go along to get along kind of Washington DC insider.

Who cares.

Anonymous said...

Powell's support of Obama proves that race trumps everything else with him and as it seems to becoming apparent, with most black people.

There were those who longed for Powell to RESIGN from the Bush administration in protest of Bush policies, of the war, of the lies about WMDs, and even about the personal humiliation Powell endured when he, I always thought, was coerced to lie to the UN and generally "go along" with the administration's deceit and wrong moves. What a service that kind of bold statement of disassocation by one so trusted and admired as Powell, would have done for America. But, no, he silently skulked away, making no comments. .

Suddenly, when a black candidate is in line for the Presidency Powell is willing, NOW, to dump the Administration he served and supported, as well as the Republican Party.

I'm afraid of people in powerful government positions who don't put America first, before race, gender, or any other consideration.

Anonymous said...

4:26 Maybe ACORN applied pressure and forced Powell to endorse Obama, like they did the banks to make loans. THe news is that people are getting threatening calls to say they'd better support Obama. Maybe Powell and his family have been threatened.

Anonymous said...

the troll comments here are truly funny

cuz there are at least two guys who cant deal with the reality that the neocons and right wing christians have destroyed the republican party

its over...your time is done

it is now up to the real conservatives to step up and take back their party

can they do it? we will see

but if they cannot, the republican party will remain in the minority for the rest of my life

and ya...powell sure is a minor player...hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Anonymous said...

What has been apparent all along is now confirmed, 4:53. You are senile.

Anonymous said...

im senile?

no...you are just an insignificant racist

your party is made up of insignificant racists

your party was once the party of ideas...now it is the party of hate and true socialism

unless you think that nationalizing banks is real capitalism

your party is dying the same death as your god reagan...babbling and sitting in your own filth

powell sees it...too bad you cant

Anonymous said...

Obama said he is grateful for Colin Powell's endorsement. And he said he's going to have Colin Powell as an ADVISOR IN HIS ADMINISTRATION. So the monumental flip-flopper Powell is now going to advise the socialist Obama, What a mishmash that will turn out to be for governing - a conservative capitalist and a far left socialist. Obama has already promised the ACORN and community leaders of the country that they're going to have an advisory part in his administration, too. Let's add his mentor, Wright, keep his Fannie Mae advisors, see how Ayers thinks America is behaving and throw in Michelle. We will then enter the Twilight Zone.

Anonymous said...

Obama, Biden, H. Clinton and Dowd all voted against making Enlgish the national language. I wonder who among his foreign admiers Obama will have as an advisor since other languages and countries come first.

Anonymous said...

bacci40, it is obvious that you do not know what true conservatism is. from your spewing, true conservatives would be more liberal. if I am wrong tell me what is the difference in your mind between a "true conservative" and a candidate you would like?

Anonymous said...

I am stunned and disappointed by the lack of loyalty of those who would rule us. Powell dumped the Republican Party and its members afer being well-treated and respected and promoted by that Party for his entire career. Bill Richardson dumped Bill and Hillary despite owing his career to them. Obama dumped Wright after clinging to him and being counseled by him for twenty years.

These people do not have a sense of loyalty, gratitude nor purpose. It is self, self, self and how they can benefit.

Powell's son even got a cushey job courtesy of the Republicans. I presume he has tenure now.

Anonymous said...

It is a fact that only two kinds of people vote Republican: the very wealthy and the very stupid. Anonymous' vapid, illogical, and uninformed posts show he is clearly the latter. Obama's tax programs would most certainly not stifle job creation by small businesses. Gross receipts are not taxed, you blithering idiot. Net profits are.

The owner of a small business can pay himself or herself a salary well below the $250,000 benchmark and still do quite well. In fact, in order for the owner of a contracting business to clear over $250,000, he or she would need to realize gross annual receipts in the neighborhood of $5 million. That is not a small business by anybody's definition.

Once again, yet another Republican swallows a lie designed to appeal to the lowest common denominator, and compounding his almost infinite ignorance with an overweening and totally unjustified arrogance, preumes to lecture those of us who know far more than he does.

Oh and voting against English as the official language of the US does not prove or even imply that one who does so is under foreign influence. That position is clearly a non sequitur, as the conclusion drawn by anonymous does non logically follow his premise.

What an ignoranus (and no, that is neither a spelling error nor a typo).

Anonymous said...

10;33 Nor is it witty,clever or funny.

If you were as smart as you think you are you would identify the "Anonymous" to whom you are responding. If anyone cared, he should not have to read all the "Anonymous" comments to find the one you are answeing.

Neither do you write clearly. Are you suggesting that a business owner can pay himself anything he wishes in order to avoid taxes?

FYI: "overweening" and "arrogant" are synonymous. And the meaning of arrogance is "unwarranted pride and self-importance' exaggerated importance." You do see the error in writing "unjustified arrogance"??

You are as ignorant as those you belittle. In fact your mistakes are as serious as the grammatical error Obama makes everytime he speaks.

Anonymous said...

10:33 Everybody knoww we pay tax only on net profit. And that was the only comment you made that is correct. Your business analysis is pathetic.

Anonymous said...

I think 10:33 is that Sidney again. He's the only one who writes on this blog who thinks every Anonymous is one and the same person.

Visible said...

You can stick a fork in McCain, he's done. For the few of us that know what's really going on; for instance, that 9/11 was done by the Israeli Mossad and the American CIA and that the present financial meltdown was orchestrated by the same band of crooks that have had free rein throughout, Powell doesn't mean a lot. But to the people on the street it means a great deal. This is huge and now it puts voter fraud out of the question. Unfortunately it guarantees another 9/11 and martial law but that was coming any way... sooner or later.

I've got one piece of advice, stay out of the cities.

Anonymous said...

McCain supporters: You should be ashamed.

I am a white woman and all I see at McCain/Palin rallies are bitter, racist, ignorant white people.

I am embarrashed and ashamed of them.

We Obama supporters are taking nothing for granted and working our tails off. We still fear that no matter the state by state polls,

Republicans will just steal the election again. I hope we do not just take it this time.

The Ostroy Report said...

Some simple advice to my Democractic friendfs on this message board: just ignore the right-wing fanatics here. They're sounding more desperate and erratic than McCain. Unless they steal the election (which they've been know to do) or there's some sort of unexpected crisis, act of terrorism or major Obama scandal in these next two weeks...it's over. Donbe. Kaput. You can stick a fork in Grandpa Grumpy. And the Repubs on this board know it. So, let 'em rant and rave about Rezko, Ayers, Wright, Acorn...whatever it is they want to yap about...because, judging from all the polls and the atest electoral map, no one is listening. Please don't engage them here. All it does is slop up this board. Let them spew their nonsense over on Hannity's board. Ignore them, as they deserve to be ignored. Let's revel together in what is likely to be a President Obama in just 2 weeks....and not waste our time with these fools who come here simply to spew their bigotry and ignorance.
Andy

Anonymous said...

Yeah, Powell's endorsement is not about race.

Can anyone name one white liberal as inexperienced as Obama that Powell has EVER endorsed?

The answer is 'no'.

Anonymous said...

When I rant on this blog it's not as a Republican. It is as a along-time Democrat who supported Hillary and can't believe what may be in store for us if Obama is elected. In my life, nationally or personnally I have never met anybody with such shady, crooked associates. Yeah, what a laugh - the Republicans stealing the race -- They're out-ranked by ACORN's stealing skills. I'm an Independent now and will either not vote or vote for McCain.
I can't vote for a person who represents a huge racist segment of our population.

Anonymous said...

Instead of endorsing a presidential candidate Colin Powell should be explaining to the American public why he caved in so easily - and readily - to the Neocons. (We can only hope that Obama doesn't rely on him as an astute advisor.)

Anonymous said...

Who is Barack Hussein Obama?

Our next President, that's who.

President Obama may very well have a difficult time during his term.
But his third term will be noted as a golden age in America, a golden-green age. And his fourth term will be even better.

Anonymous said...

Andy,

Please revise and extend your remarks to include as a reminder to your Democratic friends that early voting has started in many states.

Go vote and do it as soon as possible if allowed in your state. One never knows what may prevent you from doing so on election day.

Thanks!