He said that he was troubled by the negativity of the McCain campaign and Sarah Palin. I saw just a bit of the announcement but heard him say that he is still a Republican. He is troubled by the calling Obama a socialist because there should be a distrubution of wealth and that is not socialism.

I am waiting to see an article on it so I can read the entire announcement.

He did say that Obama has shown constant leadership.



http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/19/colin.powell/

ETA: link

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GO NAVY WRESTLING!!BEAT ARMY!!!
RJB 3/18/60 - 5/22/04
We miss you, sweet brother
God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!

http://mylifeundertheabaya.blogspot.com/

I had read about this last week, and was kind of surprised to hear the media on TV saying they didn't know who he would support. I'm sure that was just media hype.

I think people pretty much have their minds made up at this point, so I don't know how much this will effect anything. Not everyone thinks highly of Colin Powell. Sadly, some people don't even know who he is.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

Now, I think that if Gen Powell came out today and said that he supported McCain, it would be touted as the greatest thing since sliced bread.

McCain camp came right out and said that he had four former Sec of States in his camp. If it didn't matter, why state it?

This is huge. Lots of symbolism. Colin Powell is a statemen and for years the American public has thought of as a historic figure and the fact that he is a good friend of McCain and has been for years, makes this important and the fact that he has serious credentials in foreign policy even more so.

Let's not downplay how important this is. With the shoe on the other foot, this would be a major coup. Just like it is for Obama.

__________________
GO NAVY WRESTLING!!BEAT ARMY!!!
RJB 3/18/60 - 5/22/04
We miss you, sweet brother
God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!

http://mylifeundertheabaya.blogspot.com/

I certainly like the reasons he gives because they are similar to my own reason for supporting Obama:
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell announced Sunday that he will be voting for Sen. Barack Obama, citing the Democrat's "ability to inspire" and the "inclusive nature of his campaign."

"He has both style and substance. I think he is a transformational figure," Powell said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

"Obama displayed a steadiness. Showed intellectual vigor. He has a definitive way of doing business that will do us well," Powell said. [snip]

The former general, who has largely steered clear of politics since leaving the Bush administration, noted that the next president will need to work to restore America's standing in the world.

"I will ultimately vote for the person I believe brings to the American people the kind of vision the American people want to see for the next four years," he said. "A vision that reaches out to the rest of the world, that starts to restore confidence in America, that starts to restore favorable ratings to America. Frankly, we've lost a lot in recent years."This last statement, I believe says it all.

Another reason he cited had to do with the ugliness of Palin and the nasty underhanded attacks that she has launched.

I completely agree. General Powell's endorsement of Obama speaks volumes, imo.

I'm glad to see he had the courage to say this, too.

Political Radar: Powell Voting for Obama, 'Disappointed' by McCain Camp

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“You don’t suspend your campaign, Do you suspend your campaign? No, because that makes me think, well, you know, maybe there will be other things down the road –- if he’s in the White House, he might just suspend being president. I mean, we've got a guy like that now!” David Letterman, September 24, 2008

Things that make you go hmmm.

Colin Powell - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"In the beginning of 2008, his name was mentioned as a possible running mate of Republican nominee John McCain for the 2008 U.S. presidential election.[33] In the summer of 2007, Powell donated the maximum to John McCain's campaign.[34] However, some have speculated that Powell may ultimately endorse Barack Obama.[35]
But on August 23, The Politico reported that Powell was considered by John McCain for the vice-presidency. [38] On 19th October 2008, it was announced that Powell had endorsed Barack Obama in the race for the Presidency of the United States.[39]

The Politico reported Aug. 23
"Retired Gen. Colin Powell is among the potential running mates who have been considered by John McCain, campaign advisers told Politico.

Powell was among the possible vice presidential choices the Arizona Republican senator was thinking of when he said he would not rule out a supporter of abortion rights, a key adviser said."

Here is youtube where Gen. Powell spoke.


YouTube - Colin Powell Endorses Barack Obama on Meet The Press

__________________
GO NAVY WRESTLING!!BEAT ARMY!!!
RJB 3/18/60 - 5/22/04
We miss you, sweet brother
God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!

http://mylifeundertheabaya.blogspot.com/

Powell has been one of my favorite guys for a very long time....and I was disappointed that he wasn't on the ticket. McCain was also on my short list of Washington guys/gals that I have a lot of respect for, and he still is for the most part.....but, my feeling mirror Powell's.

I think he did an excellent job on Meet the Press, and regardless of who he was or wasn't going to endorse this morning, he is an important voice in this country. I have a lot of respect for someone who crossed party lines to make a decisions for the good of the country.

You may not like the fact that he says he is voting Obama, but....it's a fact....and it's also a fact that he's friends of McCain and has been for a long time. It's business, not personal.

I just watched the youtube again, and there is no doubt that man is a class act.

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I'm the kind of woman when my feet hit the floor in each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, she's up."

I'm repulsed, but not surprised, to hear some Republican stalwarts already claiming that the endorsement is completely race-based.

Which is pretty much the kind of garbage that Powell cited as influencing his endorsement Obama.

There is simply no depth to which some Republicans will not sink.

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Reading is Fundamental.

I guess they are basing it on the fact that Powell has before made a campagin donation to a black Dem. candidate. He has made campagin donations to several "liberal" Repb.
Powell also made the max. ($2.300) campaign donation to McCain at the end of 2007.

Newsmax.com – Powell Backed Black Democrat Before

"But a review of Powell’s own campaign contributions with the FEC shows that he has crossed party lines once before to help an African-American Democrat in a federal race.
In 1994, then-Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, the state’s first African-American governor, entered the Democratic primary in a bid for the U.S. Senate.
Records show that Powell donated $1,000 to Wilder’s campaign. Wilder later withdraw from the primary as polls showed him lagging three other candidates.
On “Meet the Press” Sunday, Powell’s explanation for his backing of Obama made clear that he thought Obama’s race was a major factor for his support, but not the only one.
Powell also described Obama as a “transformational” candidate."

Trying to correct a typo: should say "endorsed" in my statement below.

ETA: I do not think the whole reason Powell endosed Obama is based on race.

Excuse me, but -- WHAT?? Your post makes no sense whatsoever.

Must be the socialist in me not understanding whatever it is in you.

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Reading is Fundamental.

What don't you understand?

Powell has given money to Republicans and black Democrats.

__________________
"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

Can you tell me where exactly Col. Powell made this so clear?

Here is a link to the transcript Oct. 19: Former Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell (Ret.), Chuck Todd, political roundtable - Meet the Press, online at MSNBC - MSNBC.com

If the Black people, including Colin Powell vote only for Obama because he is black, then it would follow that Jesse Jackson would have been president long ago.

You just can't believe that it might be that Gen Powell believes that Obama is best for the country. It would have been a coup for him to endorse McCain and he would have been smart and thought of as a great statesman. But because he endorses Obama, it is only because of their shared race.

FL, I watched the MTP twice and I don't think race came up.

Face it, it hurt the McCain campaign. A lot.

__________________
GO NAVY WRESTLING!!BEAT ARMY!!!
RJB 3/18/60 - 5/22/04
We miss you, sweet brother
God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!

http://mylifeundertheabaya.blogspot.com/

you betcha!

I did not state that myself. I quoted it from the link I provided. I did put it into quotation marks. Please if you are responding to my post it would be proper to included the full quote ..otherwise it appears that I said certain things that I did not say.

The main point I was trying to bring up was the fact of Powell's donations was probably why some media outlets was talking about race.
I did notice that the article I linked in my above post should have stated that Powell did make a donation to Douglas Wilder (once a dem. gov.) but switched to run ind. when trying for the Senate.
To see Powell's campaign donations:
NEWSMEAT ▷ Colin Powell's Federal Campaign Contribution Report

Oh, so it is okay to blindly post something from a nutty website in quotes and not be able to support it? Weak....

Nutty website? NEWSMAX
Maybe Democrats do not like it but Newsmax is a national news website.
I was not trying to support every word they said but rather provide information that is credible about Powell's history of donations. Which I think is important but I highly doubt if others do.

If by "national news website" you mean anyone in the Nation can get to it. You are probably correct.

truble2301 I am with you 100 percent. I am so happy to hear that Colin Powell is endorsing Obama to be our new President. As a matter of fact I love Colin Powell, he is a very smart intelligent man of sheer honor. I personally would not have minded that him and Obama be the president and vice president of our country. There is one thing I know about Colin Powell is that he is totally honest and a no nonsense man and a man of honor and his word. He is a man to be respected of .Catherine

Hmmmm... Colin Powell had been talked about to be McCain's VP at one point. Perhaps the slight caused him to turn to Obama. Would you be so kind with your words about him had he endorsed McCain??

MR. BROKAW: And you are fully aware that there will be some--how many, no one can say for sure--but there will be some who will say this is an African-American, distinguished American, supporting another African-American because of race.

GEN. POWELL: If I had only had that in mind, I could have done this six, eight, 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. It will also not only electrify our country, I think it'll electrify the world.

Look what it say-If he had only race in mind he could of done this 6, 8 10 months ago.......

That has got to be one of the silliest things I have ever seen you write. Did you have these same "thoughts" when Sen. Lieberman endorsed, spoke for at the convention and campaigned for Sen. McCain?

According to Fox, we should have predicted this once he started Hip-Hop dancing...

Hip-Hop-Dancing Colin Powell Fuels Speculation He'll Endorse Obama - FOXNews.com Elections

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Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box.

I cant answer for the others on this board, but I would still think the same about Colin Powell if he would of endorsed Mccain.

Are there any inexperienced, very liberal, white candidates that Powell has endorsed in the past?

Read or watch the Meet the press, I think he states clearly why he went with Obama. He still had high praise for John Mccain....if he was upset about not being picked for VP he would of not talk so highly of Mccain.

Well 2 out of 3 ain't bad -- he did endorse/work with G. W. Bush who was both inexperienced and white.

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Ana
The Republicans have been putting lipstick on a pig for 8 years. Is a pitbull wearing lipstick an attempt to keep us from noticing the pig?

1 out of 3 is all I see.
Governor of Texas trumps any experience Obama could lay claim to.

while I am a proud democrat, yes I would still support Colin Powell if he was to endorse Senator John Mccain, that would be Mr Powell personal choice, not mine. I would still adorn and admire Mr Powell always . However I would not agree with his choice, but again its his choice.It would not matter to me because as I said before I highly respect Mr. Powell and even more now if his choice of whom should be our new leader. Personally I feel honored to know that Mr. Powell wants BaracK Obama as the new president of our country. Catherine

I don't understand why Powell giving money to politicians of both major parties makes his endorsement race based.

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Reading is Fundamental.

Well, of course, it is because he didn't support McCain, silly.

__________________
GO NAVY WRESTLING!!BEAT ARMY!!!
RJB 3/18/60 - 5/22/04
We miss you, sweet brother
God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!

http://mylifeundertheabaya.blogspot.com/

Actually, I would think considerably less of Powell's intellect if he'd endorsed McCain.

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Reading is Fundamental.

Other folks and organizations endorsing Obama:
Republican Christopher Buckley, William F. Buckley's son, endorsed Obama (and subsequently lost his column at the National Review over it).
Republican talk show host Michael Smerconish announced he'd be voting for a Democrat for the first time in 28 years.
AFL-CIO
The Chicago Tribune - the first time in the paper's history that they are endorsing a Democrat for president.

I didn't say it was. I don't think it is. You said you were confused by her post and I explained it. . .

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

Did you feel so highly about Powell when he stood in front of the UN and closed the deal on going to Iraq because of WMDs?

Or when he was sooooo right on when he said:

He's been wrong on some big doozeys. I hope he's not wrong again.

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

Wow.

You're really going to question Powell and his service? You may not like how he is going to vote, which is understandable.....but, you are seriously going to question the role he played with WMD and with what he said about Bush and Dick while he was also serving on the admin?

If he would have come out and said he was voting for McCain, you would have been singing a different tune.

Sad.

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I'm the kind of woman when my feet hit the floor in each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, she's up."

No I wouldn't.

I don't question his service, but I do question people that have bitched and moaned about things that he has done now singing his praises. I'd like to see Bush endorse Obama and see how the Dems react.

You see. . .my opinions don't change with the wind on people. If Clinton came out and endorsed McCain I wouldn't all of a sudden be having a lovefest for him.

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

Nope, you didn't, because i still don't know what the heck she was trying to say.

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Reading is Fundamental.

What does being national have to do with not being nutty? National Enquirer is national too, as are Weekly World News and The Star.

Newsmax is as loony as they come.

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Reading is Fundamental.

No matter what I still personally think that General Colin POwell is a true man of honor and interigty and I have the upmost respect for him. Again he speaks his mind and is a no nonsense man of his words. And why should he not be happy that we might have a Black American become the new President.I do not want this to turn into any racism, but I do know if I was a African Black American I too would be happy to see him get elected into being the new president and for making history as being the first Black American to serve our country... Peace... Catherine

Hambirg this question is for you, when General Colin Powell made those comments about Dick Cheney and George BUsh about being a great president and vice president when exactly I mean the date were those comments made can you kindly plmk I would love to know... Catherine

It was the 2000 RNC I believe.

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

It was mentioned in the transcript from Meet the Press

Oct. 19: Former Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell (Ret.), Chuck Todd, political roundtable - Meet the Press, online at MSNBC - MSNBC.com

"MR. BROKAW: There's a summing up going on now as, as the Bush/Cheney administration winds down. We'd like to share with our audience some of what you had to say about the two men who are at the top of the administration. At the convention in 2000, this is Colin Powell on President Bush and Dick Cheney at that time.

(Videotape, July 31, 2000)

GEN. POWELL: Dick Cheney is one of the most distinguished and dedicated public servants this nation has ever had. He will be a superb vice president.

The Bush/Cheney team will be a great team for America. They will put our nation on a course of hope and optimism for this new century.

(End videotape)"

Just shows you what an appalling turn the Republican party has taken, that Powell would so completely reject the current course of the GOP.

I'm sure his endorsement would be much more important if McCain had gotten it, right?

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Reading is Fundamental.

What I don't understand is that Colin Powelll said they are too far to the right, or something to that effect. WEll, I thought that's where the Republicans are supposed to be, isn't it???

I mean, do we want a Republican that is to the "left"?? They are not really a Republican then, are they? Maybe I have this all wrong, but, that is my understanding.

Anyone care to comment on that?

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

You do understand that he was basically fired by Bush? He stood up at the UN and made the convincing argument about WMD's. Then when that proved to be wrong. . .he was the fall guy. I think he has a bit of an axe to grind.

I would have been very surprised if he endorsed McCain. Powell was a Bush man and there is no love lost between Bush and McCain.

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

Well considering mainstream America is more in the center. Most libs are just to the left and most cons are just to the right. I think the point he was trying to make is that Mccain the Maverick, who actually was considering changing parties after Bush screwed him in 2000, has moved way to the right out of the mainstream. A little too Mavericky for me.

Hambirg to bring up how General Powell felt about BUsh and Cheney 8 years was not fair, so so much has happened since then, personally I feel at the time General Powell felt that they the BUsh Administration was well equipped to handle and run our country but again those views he posted for them was 8 lonnnnnnnnng years ago. So I do not understand why you would bring something up like that. If he General Powell had made those statements recently and then changed his mind about Brack Obama then I could see you bringing the statement up. So its clear to me General Powell has had alot of time 8 years worth to realize all the damage the Bush Administration has caused and he General Powell is now endorsing the right people to run our country. To edit these are my personal views on the subject. My vote is for Obama and Biden all the way .... Catherine

I do understand that the truth matters little, if at all, to the Bush and McCain supporters.

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Reading is Fundamental.

closed thread........post limit reached

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